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2015 Subaru Outback Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 510 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Outback, most often about the visibility and wipers (28% of complaints, typically around 10,000 miles). It is 7th of 27 Outback model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2015 Subaru Outback problems
Visibility and wipers
143 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, sun/moon roof assembly, defroster/defogger/hvac system, windshield wiper/washer.
Interior rear view mirror broke off the mounting with glass attached to the mounting. Their was no forceful movement or adjustment being applied to the mirror at the time, it just came down. Distracting my driving.
Three days ago, our new Subaru Outback (purchased in late february 2015) developed a crack in the windshield overnight that is now over two feet in length. The crack runs from the top edge, mid-windshield on the driver's side, and circles around the rear view mirror before tailing off a foot or so above the bottom…
Electrical
127 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, horn, wiring, instrument panel.
The infotainment system freezes up about every other day and this has been happening again for the last month. Rear backup camera stays on at times. Screen freezes and hard knob controls of infotainment system will not work when touch screen is frozen. This is the second module that has been installed due to these…
The car would stall when coasting to a stop light or stop sign a few times and have been back to the dealer and can't replicated the problem. This is a dangerous situation and can cause an unsafe and huge accident with my family. The car would die while in drive and sometimes can't be restarted. It's happening again…
Other or unspecified
108 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles.
Pulling into a parking space, stopping when vehicle accelerated at high speed jumped curb an hit a tree, happened in a couple seconds. ## VIN passed ## Subaru Outback 2015 ##
Unexpected acceleration after parking, jump curb into tree, causing $7,000 in damage. Air bags did not deploy, both myself and passenger hit knees on dash, even with our seat belts still on. Had other computer issues earlier that day, back up sensors didn't work while backing car right behind mine. Car has now been at…
Engine
50 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 46,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
We noticed an exhaust leak (noisy) on our 2015 Outback, upon inspection by the dealer they determined the catalytic converter needed to be replaced, they initially rejected our warantee claim because Subaru authorizes replacement only if a mil is present. After some discussion the dealer (Subaru) agreed to replace as…
Excessive oil consumption between oil change. When the vehicle reached to 45,000 miles, the low oil light is on less than 5,000 miles between oil change. If the driver ignore the warning and not add oil to the vehicle, the engine can be damages. A three years old vehicle with 45,000 miles should not have to change oil…
Transmission
37 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles.
The transmission has been leaking since we purchased the car in jan 2015. One dealer told US there was no leak and finally decided it was the right differential and repaired that. The transmission still leaked. Took it back to dealer where bought, they found leak and said it was repaired but it is still dripping. Plan…
After 2 years of ownership on my brand new Subaru Outback 2015, I have noticed a loud squeaky sound coming from the engine when I start my car after it rained/snowed. The sound would go away after a few minutes, however, it didn't seem normal. I took the car to the dealership to have it checked out. The dealership…
Body and structure
33 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 17,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Vehicle was parked outside overnight. In the morning a 12" s shaped crack had appeared in the passenger side of the windshield. There was no detectable prior damage and no known impact to cause the crack. The crack has continued to grow and branch. Dealer states the windshield fails the "pen test," I.e. There is a…
Rear electric liftgate sporadically fails to open. This condition persists whether I press the button on the liftgate, the dashboard liftgate button, or the key fob button. I can hear the liftgate unlatch, however it fails to open more than a couple inches. Lithia Subaru (oregon city) has not been able to repair. We…
Brakes
28 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles.
On february 25 I was driving my Subaru on a city street and traveling about 40 MPH. I noticed that a traffic light ahead of me would be turning red so I tried to slow down. The power brakes did not work at all. Not only did the power brakes go out but the car began to accelerate on it's own. I looked around for…
2015 Outback with 43,300 miles. Total brake failure while driving down a hill. I was able to stop the car with the transmission before it reached the railroad tracks. Dealer said this was due to excessive corrosion of the underbody of the car. Brake lines corroded and ruptured. Dealer said this was normal amount of…
Speed control
26 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles.
While pulling my father-in-laws Subaru Outback into my garage I place the vehicle into drive while applying the brake. The car immediately accelerated while my foot was on the brake. The car proceeded into garage first hitting the side of the garage door frame and then into the back of my other car which was parked…
File uploaded below pictures #4 and #5 were not able to be downloaded which show closeups of the tire marks in the bark chips. #3 shows the complete tire mark in the bark chips.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Subaru Outback recalls
Steering: column
Risk: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began may 13, 2016. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is wtd-65. Note: until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 legacy and outback vehicles manufactured february 29, 2016, to may 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
Stability control: electronic stability control (esc)
Risk: Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on may 20, 2016. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is wtc-64.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 legacy and outback vehicles manufactured on july 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 126, "electronic stability control systems."
Transmission: driveshaft
Risk: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on august 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is wqu-56.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year subaru legacy 4-door and outback vehicles manufactured july 3, 2015, to july 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Driver assistance: crash imminent braking
Risk: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on july 20, 2015. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is wqs-54.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 legacy vehicles manufactured march 10, 2014, to april 16, 2015, outback vehicles manufactured february 24, 2014, to april 16, 2015, impreza vehicles manufactured september 9, 2014, to april 14, 2015, xv crosstrek vehicles manufactured october 16, 2014, to april 15, 2015, and 2016 wrx vehicles manufactured march 23, 2015, and equipped with the eyesight driver assist system. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break. If this were to happen while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not be able to operate the vehicle as desired or the trailer may detach from the vehicle. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge. The recall began on october 7, 2014. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is wqn-50.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 outback vehicles manufactured january 22, 2014, to august 18, 2014, and equipped with a subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2015 Subaru Outback
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Outback?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (143 complaints, typically around 10,000 miles); electrical (127 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles); other or unspecified (108 complaints, typically around 23,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Outback have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 11, 2016 (steering). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Subaru Outback?
- It is 7th of 27 Outback model years by number of complaints, with 510 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.