NHTSA owner complaints

Brand record

Subaru Recalls by Model: Reliability and Common Problems

Every Subaru model in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2025: the recall campaigns for each model, which models and years owners complain about most, and the problems they report.

NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 2, 202618,345 complaints11 models

Short answer

The Outback drew the most owner complaints of any Subaru in NHTSA's file for 2010 to 2025, then the Forester and the Impreza. The Outback and the Legacy have the most recall campaigns, 49 and 43.

Best-sellers draw the most reports, so a high count is not a failure rate. Check one car with its VIN.

What we know beyond the file

NHTSA lists no recall or investigation for the electrical complaints on the 2017 and 2019 Outback, or for the wiper complaints on the 2020 Outback.

Subaru recalls by model

Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each Subaru model, model years 2010 to 2025, read Oct 2, 2026. Each campaign counts once per model, however many years it covers. NHTSA's recall service returned no answer for Outback 2024 and 2025; Legacy 2024; Forester 2020 and 2021; Crosstrek 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2025, so those years are not counted. Recall repairs are free at the dealer; check one car with its VIN.

  • Outback
    Most often: airbag system
    49
  • Legacy
    Most often: airbag system
    43
  • Impreza
    Most often: airbag system
    34
  • Forester
    Most often: airbag system
    32
  • Crosstrek
    Most often: electrical system
    13
  • Ascent
    Most often: powertrain
    13

Subaru complaints by model

Owner complaints to NHTSA for each Subaru model with at least 1,000 of them, model years 2010 to 2025, and the year that drew the most. A best-seller draws more reports than a rare model, so read these as counts, not failure rates. 5 smaller models are left out.

  • Outback
    Most: 2019 · electrical system
    7,626
  • Forester
    Most: 2019 · wiper system
    5,014
  • Impreza
    Most: 2013 · airbag system
    1,461
  • Legacy
    Most: 2011 · powertrain
    1,398
  • Crosstrek
    Most: 2019 · wiper system
    1,159
  • Ascent
    Most: 2019 · electrical system
    1,018

Subaru model years with the most complaints

The ten Subaru model years owners complained about most, with the system they named most. These are the years to inspect hardest before you buy, not a verdict on every car.

  • 2019 Outback
    Electrical system34%
    1,032
  • 2017 Outback
    Electrical system42%
    917
  • 2020 Outback
    Wiper system35%
    896
  • 2019 Forester
    Wiper system45%
    831
  • 2018 Outback
    Electrical system32%
    807
  • 2011 Outback
    Powertrain32%
    651
  • 2016 Outback
    Electrical system47%
    643
  • 2015 Forester
    Engine21%
    613
  • 2020 Forester
    Wiper system42%
    596
  • 2017 Forester
    Airbag system28%
    583

Most common Subaru problems

The systems owners named most across every Subaru model and year in the file, counted from each model year's six most-named systems.

  • Electrical system
    20% of the complaints
    3,647
  • Wiper system
    19% of the complaints
    3,528
  • Engine
    11% of the complaints
    2,086
  • Powertrain
    9% of the complaints
    1,592
  • Airbag system
    7% of the complaints
    1,252
  • Braking system
    3% of the complaints
    502

Our guides for these problems

Electrical system
Electrical systemAlternator or battery?Electrical systemDashboard warning lights
Engine
EngineBlown head gasket signsEngineCar shuts off while drivingEngineEngine power reduced
Powertrain
PowertrainBad transmission symptomsPowertrainTransmission slippingPowertrainJerks when accelerating
Braking system
Braking systemBrake warning lightBraking systemABS light onBraking systemWarped brake rotors

Common questions

Are Subarus reliable?

The complaint file can't grade a brand, because it counts reports, not failures per car sold. What it shows is where Subaru owners report trouble: the electrical system most, then the wiper system, and the Outback, Forester and Impreza draw the most complaints.

Which Subarus should you stay away from?

No model is bad in every year. The model years with the most owner complaints are 2019 Outback, 2017 Outback, 2020 Outback and 2019 Forester; inspect those hardest and check their recalls before you buy.

Which Subaru has the most recalls?

The Outback, with 49 recall campaigns across model years 2010 to 2025, then the Legacy with 43.

What is the most common problem with Subarus?

Owners name the electrical system most, in 3,647 complaints, 20% of the Subaru record, then the wiper system, in 3,528.

How do I check if my Subaru has a recall?

Enter the 17-character VIN in our free recall checker or on NHTSA's recall page. It lists open recalls for that one car, and the dealer does the repair for free.

What the complaint record can't tell you

How many were soldA best-seller looks worse than a rare model.
Whether your car has itA count isn't a probability for one car.
Who filedRecalls and news send owners to the form.
What it costsNo repair prices on this page.

Sources

Show all 3 sources
NHTSA owner complaints fileFederal file of Aug 25, 2026
Complaints by model, year and system
NHTSA recallsRead Oct 2, 2026
Recall campaigns by model
NHTSA recalls and investigationsRead Oct 3, 2026
None found for 2017 and 2019 Outback electrical or 2020 Outback wipers

Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.