Reliability & cost of ownership
Subaru Outback Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Subaru Outback? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Subaru Outback problems by model year
199 recall entries and 9732 owner complaints on file across 32 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Subaru Outback, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system2275 complaints
- visibility/wiper1756 complaints
- unknown or other1324 complaints
- power train980 complaints
- engine713 complaints
- air bags692 complaints
- service brakes577 complaints
- vehicle speed control529 complaints