Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2011 Subaru Outback
NHTSA data on file today
The 2011 Subaru Outback has 16 NHTSA recall campaigns and 653 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V003000 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 #19V008000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode 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 #18V626000 Electronic Parking Brake may Fail 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 #11V467000 MOONROOF GLASS - SEPARATION/DETACHMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V326000 TRANSMISSION NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 216 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 117 complaints
- Engine 85 complaints
- Air Bags 73 complaints
- Electrical System 67 complaints
- Service Brakes 67 complaints
Of the 653 complaints on file, 24 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 653 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2011 Subaru Outback exhibits below-average reliability due to numerous recalls, particularly for airbag and electrical issues, and a significant number of owner complaints concerning the powertrain. These issues suggest higher maintenance and repair costs over time.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| powertrain | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | very common |
| airbags | 50,000–90,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | common |
| ignition switch | 60,000–80,000 miles | $200–$500 | 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.
- Replace timing belt at 100,000 miles
- Change oil every 5,000 miles
- Inspect brake system annually
- Replace spark plugs every 60,000 miles
- Change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Check engine light flickering
- Unusual vibrations from transmission
- Frequent airbag warning lights
- Parking brake not engaging properly
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2011 Subaru Outback at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.