NHTSA Data Explorer

Subaru Outback

Data refreshed August 8, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Subaru Outback.

Complaints

9,704

Active records

Recalls

72

Active records

TSBs

2,062

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

5

Injuries

268

Crashes

401

Fires

93

Top reported issues — Subaru Outback

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

3,679

Operating state

2,467

Electrical issue

1,902

Reporting mechanism

883

Engine behavior

829

Driver assistance issue

680

Safety restraint issue

601

Braking behavior

556

Infotainment behavior

551

Performance issue

478

Vibration/harshness

437

Fluid issue

402

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

397

Starting behavior

389

Noise

342

Access/entry issue

316

Lighting behavior

310

Ride/handling behavior

281

Thermal issue

237

Steering behavior

199

Safety restraint behavior

165

Powering on/off behavior

152

Smell

149

Recent change

124

HVAC behavior

55

Wiper/washer behavior

49

Communication/network issue

18

Electrified system issue

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2022 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Aug 5, 2026


When traveling eat 6-65 mph and needing to merge and stepping on the gas pedal all the way the car would just sit there and do nothing for 1-2 seconds. this was not a one off situation. The car would do this regularly until I found out subaru had a fix for the transmission software. I recently had to pay to have this done even though my car was still within the powertrain warranty because Subaru said it is maintenance .

2020 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Aug 5, 2026


From when we purchased this car new until the day we traded it. There were many times on the freeway at 60-65 MPH that you would need to move over a couple of lanes and went to wide open throttle and the car would simply do nothing for 1 to 2 seconds. I recently learned that in 22' Subaru had a software update to rectify this issue. Meaning there are plenty of Subaru owners who are driving around in cars that put their safety at risk. When you step on the gas you need and expect the car…

2025 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Aug 5, 2026


The passenger seat airbag light does NOT always come on when my wife, 93 lbs, sits in the passenger seat. It will come on with someone heavier. This also happened in the loaner car I was given, 2026 Forester, by the dealer while they investigated my car. The airbag light did not come on when my wife was in the seat. Dealer says thereshold switch is operating according to factory specification. I say the specification needs adjustment. This was NOT a problem with my 2021 WRX.

2019 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Aug 3, 2026


The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH the front windshield cracked approximately 6 inches from the heat sensor, no warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted however the vehicle was not diagnosed as the contact was advised that the vehicles VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,250.

2023 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Aug 3, 2026


Phantom Braking of Pre-Collision Braking 2023 Subaru Outback Turbo Wednesday, July 29, 2026. 9:30 am, sunny day Driving south on local city street. Brakes slammed on, car stopped, flashing yellow lights on left Combination Meter stating that Pre-Collision Braking was activated. There was no vehicle/obstacle/animal in the road. No parked cars, no cars backing out of a driveway. Road was completely clear. No strange shadows, no cracks in street. Pre-collision braking system hallucinated an…

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Aug 3, 2026


I have advised Autozone about premature failure of this part number ball joint. Originally the part number was FA267. Autozone changed the part number and color but did not address the quality and/or longevty concern. I have had to replace all of these part numbered ball joints with oem Subaru parts. The Autozone version will not last until the next oil change(approximately 5k miles) before it is loose and making a knocking noise. The is a safety concern as the ball joint may break or fail…

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Aug 3, 2026


Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Subaru Outback. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase on 2/26/2026, the mileage was 95,999. The contact found a bill of sale from 07/29/2026, that stated that the mileage was approximately 95,999; however, the title stated that the mileage was approximately 94,669. The contact stated that the current approximate mileage was 90,000.

2024 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Aug 2, 2026


My battery prematurely drained and it caused my car to not start at all. It's a new car and was checked at the dealership and was confirmed to be in perfect working order when I bought it. Not even six months of owning it and then battery died, I had to pay out of pocket for a replacement battery. I can't imagine what could've happened, had I been actively driving it. It has not been taking to a dealership to officially confirm the issue but I've seen the recent lawsuits and know my vehicle…

2018 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Aug 1, 2026


I am reporting a safety defect involving the infotainment touchscreen in my 2018 Subaru Outback). The touchscreen has developed visible bubbles under the screen lamination, with lines and bubbling appearing beneath the surface of the display. As the weather got warmer, the issue worsened, and the screen constantly registers false touch inputs (“ghost touches”) without any physical contact. While driving, the infotainment system repeatedly activates buttons and menus on its own. The vehicle will…

2022 SUBARU OUTBACK

Filed Jul 31, 2026


Vehicle is exhibiting signs of a possible design defect which causes windshields to prematurely crack, break, or shatter. My vehicle is a 22 Subaru Outback that when bought new, in the first week of ownership developed a windshield crack that the dealer ship refused to replace under warranty. We worked a deal out and were responsible for a percentage of the repair on our part, and they replaced the windshield. The 2nd Windshield cracked after a few months, no visible impact this incident…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated August 8, 2026. Refreshed nightly.