Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2006 Subaru Outback
NHTSA data on file today
The 2006 Subaru Outback has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 277 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V297000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V323000 Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V311000 Brake Lines may Fail due to Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V110000 Brake Lines may Fail due to Corrosion NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 98 complaints
- Engine 43 complaints
- Electrical System 42 complaints
- Air Bags 40 complaints
- Suspension 37 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 29 complaints
Of the 277 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 277 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2006 Subaru Outback has an average reliability rating. It has multiple recalls related to airbags and brake lines, significant issues with vehicle speed control, and several engine-related complaints. While it performs reasonably in most areas, potential buyers should be cautious of the common failures highlighted in the report.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ignition switch | 70,000–110,000 miles | $150–$400 | common |
| Airbag inflator | 60,000–100,000 miles | $100–$300 | common |
| Brake lines | 80,000–120,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 20,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 30,000 miles
- Timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Intermittent stalling or hesitation
- Weak ignition response
- Squealing or grinding brakes
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2006 Subaru Outback at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.