Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2010 Subaru Outback
NHTSA data on file today
The 2010 Subaru Outback has 18 NHTSA recall campaigns and 360 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V297000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V007000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V009000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V008000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V626000 Electronic Parking Brake may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V013000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V012000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V014000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V694000 Windshield Wiper Motor Bottom Cover may Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V358000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V061000 Remote Engine Starter Fob Malfunction NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V602000 Accessory Puddle Light may Short-circuit NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V326000 TRANSMISSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V283000 OPEN CIRCUIT OF STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V196000 CRACK OF THE CVT FLUID COOLER HOSE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 94 complaints
- Air Bags 44 complaints
- Engine 44 complaints
- Steering 41 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 35 complaints
- Service Brakes 35 complaints
Of the 360 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 360 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2010 Subaru Outback shows mixed reliability signals with 18 recalls and 360 owner complaints. Recalls primarily affect the airbag system, but there are also concerns with power train and electrical issues. With significant recall activity and moderate complaint volumes, evidence suggests average reliability for this model.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,200–$3,000 | common |
| air bags | Unknown | $300–$800 | occasional |
| engine | 70,000–110,000 miles | $2,000–$5,000 | occasional |
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 changes
- Brake pads and rotors
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush
- Tire rotation and balance
- Engine air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual engine noises
- Transmission hesitation
- Airbag warning light
- Steering stiffness
- Excessive oil consumption
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2010 Subaru Outback at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.