KnownCarProblemsSubaru Outback Problems by Year
Owners have filed 9,405 complaints with NHTSA about the Subaru Outback since the 2000 model year. The years with the most are 2019, 2017, 2020. The most common problem overall: electrical.
Counts are not adjusted for sales: popular years collect more complaints, and recent years have had less time to.
Subaru Outback problems by model year
| Year | Complaints | Top problem | Recalls | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Outback | 83 | Driver assistance | 0 | 5 |
| 2024 Outback | 104 | Other or unspecified | 0 | 5 |
| 2023 Outback | 89 | Driver assistance | 2 | 8 |
| 2022 Outback | 465 | Visibility and wipers | 4 | 10 |
| 2021 Outback | 298 | Visibility and wipers | 4 | 9 |
| 2020 Outback | 900 | Visibility and wipers | 6 | 19 |
| 2019 Outback | 1,036 | Visibility and wipers | 3 | 24 |
| 2018 Outback | 814 | Visibility and wipers | 3 | 27 |
| 2017 Outback | 919 | Electrical | 4 | 32 |
| 2016 Outback | 643 | Electrical | 4 | 22 |
| 2015 Outback | 510 | Visibility and wipers | 5 | 20 |
| 2014 Outback | 208 | Air bags | 10 | 14 |
| 2013 Outback | 297 | Engine | 12 | 18 |
| 2012 Outback | 294 | Transmission | 16 | 15 |
| 2011 Outback | 652 | Transmission | 16 | 23 |
| 2010 Outback | 360 | Transmission | 18 | 12 |
| 2009 Outback | 106 | Air bags | 13 | 1 |
| 2008 Outback | 226 | Air bags | 8 | 12 |
| 2007 Outback | 129 | Air bags | 8 | 9 |
| 2006 Outback | 277 | Speed control | 7 | 7 |
| 2005 Outback | 273 | Suspension | 9 | 13 |
| 2004 Outback | 90 | Air bags | 10 | 9 |
| 2003 Outback | 93 | Engine | 14 | 7 |
| 2002 Outback | 143 | Fuel system | 4 | 9 |
| 2001 Outback | 171 | Fuel system | 3 | 16 |
| 2000 Outback | 207 | Transmission | 1 | 17 |
184 recalls in total across these years. Years with fewer than 25 complaints have no separate page.
Questions about the Subaru Outback
- What years of the Subaru Outback have the most problems?
- By owner complaints to NHTSA: 2019 (1,036), 2017 (919), 2020 (900).
- What is the most common problem with the Subaru Outback?
- Across all model years, owners complain most about the electrical (2,261), visibility and wipers (2,049), other or unspecified (1,300).
- Which Subaru Outback years have the fewest complaints?
- Among model years at least four years old: 2004 (90), 2003 (93), 2009 (106). Fewer complaints can also mean fewer cars sold, so compare with sales before you decide.