Model record
Subaru Outback Years to Avoid: Reliability and Recalls
Every Subaru Outback model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2025: how many complaints each year drew, the problem owners named most, and the recalls to check before you buy.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 2, 20267,626 complaints16 model years
The Subaru Outback years with the most owner complaints are 2019, 2017 and 2020. Owners named the electrical system most for 2019 and 2017, and the wiper system for 2020.
It's a count of reports, not a failure rate, and the newest years have had less time on the road to collect them.
The 2015 to 2019 generation drew about half of the complaints, and the busiest single years are 2019, with 1,032, and the all-new 2020, with 896.
Subaru Outback complaints by model year
Every Subaru Outback model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2025. Years with 2,000 or more complaints are dark; beside each bar is the system owners named most that year.
- 2010Powertrain22%360
- 2011Powertrain32%651
- 2012Powertrain35%292
- 2013Engine23%296
- 2014Airbag system17%208
- 2015Wiper system26%509
- 2016Electrical system47%643
- 2017Electrical system42%917
- 2018Electrical system32%807
- 2019Electrical system34%1,032
- 2020Wiper system35%896
- 2021Wiper system33%295
- 2022Wiper system55%461
- 2023Electrical system19%88
- 2024Wiper system22%96
- 2025Electrical system13%75
Best Subaru Outback years by complaint count
Of the years with at least five years on the road, these drew the fewest owner complaints. Fewer reports is not a clean bill of health: check the recalls for the exact car, and remember 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 have had less time to collect complaints. 2014 drew few complaints but has 10 recall campaigns, so check its recalls first. 2012 drew few complaints but has 16 recall campaigns, so check its recalls first.
- 2014Few complaints, but 10 recalls208
- 2012Few complaints, but 16 recalls292
- 2021Wiper system · 4 recalls295
Most common Subaru Outback problems
The systems owners named most across all 16 model years, counted from each year's six most-named systems.
- Electrical systemNamed most in 6 of 16 years1,959
- Wiper systemNamed most in 5 of 16 years1,679
- PowertrainNamed most in 3 of 16 years641
- EngineNamed most in 1 of 16 years596
- Airbag systemNamed most in 1 of 16 years224
Our guides for these problems
Subaru Outback years to avoid by generation
Subaru called the 2010, 2015 and 2020 Outback all-new, so the years in the file fall into three groups. NHTSA's file has the Outback from 2010 to 2025.
2010–2014
All-new for 2010
2011 most complaints · powertrain
- 2010360
- 2011651
- 2012292
- 2013296
- 2014208
1,807 complaints · 5 model years
2015–2019
All-new for 2015
2019 most complaints · electrical system
- 2015509
- 2016643
- 2017917
- 2018807
- 20191,032
3,908 complaints · 5 model years
2020–2025
All-new sixth generation for 2020
2020 most complaints · wiper system
- 2020896
- 2021295
- 2022461
- 202388
- 202496
- 202575
1,911 complaints · 6 model years
Subaru Outback recalls by year
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each model year, read Oct 2, 2026. A campaign that covers several years counts in each of them. NHTSA's recall service returned no answer for 2024 and 2025, so those years are not counted. Recall repairs are free at the dealer; check one car with its VIN.
- 2010Most often: airbag system18
- 2011Most often: airbag system16
- 2012Most often: airbag system16
- 2013Most often: airbag system12
- 2014Most often: airbag system10
- 2015Most often: stability control5
- 2016Most often: powertrain4
- 2017Most often: steering4
- 2018Most often: visibility3
- 2019Most often: fuel system3
- 2020Most often: powertrain6
- 2021Most often: powertrain4
- 2022Most often: engine and cooling4
- 2023Most often: powertrain2
- 2024No answer from NHTSA—
- 2025No answer from NHTSA—
Subaru Outback crash test ratings by year
NHTSA's overall star rating for each model year, with the frontal, side and rollover stars beside it.
- 2010No overall rating—
- 2011Frontal 4 · Side 4 · Rollover 44/5
- 2012Frontal 4 · Side 4 · Rollover 44/5
- 2013Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2014Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2015Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2016Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2017Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2018Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2019Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2020Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2021Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2022Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2023Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2024Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2025Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
Federal investigations
NHTSA's defect office has opened 2 investigations into 2 problems that cover Subaru Outback model years from 2010 to 2025. An investigation looks into a possible defect; it is not a finding.
Common questions
What are the Subaru Outback years to avoid?
The years with the most owner complaints are 2019, 2017 and 2020. Treat them as the years to inspect hardest, not as a verdict on every car: run the VIN for open recalls and have the systems owners named checked before you buy.
What year is the most reliable Subaru Outback?
Complaints can't name a most reliable year, because the file counts reports, not failures per car sold. Of the years with at least five years on the road, 2014 drew the fewest complaints: 208. Newer years have fewer still, but they have had less time to collect them.
What is the most common problem with the Subaru Outback?
Across every year in the file, owners named the electrical system most, in 1,959 complaints, then the wiper system, in 1,679.
Which Subaru Outback years have the most recalls?
2010, 2011 and 2012, with 18, 16 and 16 recall campaigns.
Outback year pages
20191,032What the complaint record can't tell you
Sources
Show all 5 sources
Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.