Subaru Outback Problems and Recalls by Year (2012-2023)
Thinking about a used Subaru Outback? Here is what the US government's records show for model years 2012 to 2023: how many owner complaints and safety recalls NHTSA has on file for each year, and which parts owners report most. Use it to decide which years deserve a closer look, then check the exact car you are considering.
At a glance
- Owner complaints on file (2012-2023): 6,479
- Years with the most complaints: 2019 (1,036), 2017 (921), 2020 (902)
- Years with the most recall campaigns: 2012 (16), 2013 (12), 2014 (10)
- Most reported problem areas overall: electrical system, visibility/wiper, power train, visibility
Complaints and recalls by model year
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recall campaigns | Most reported areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 295 | 16 | power train (108), air bags (36), electrical system (32) |
| 2013 | 297 | 12 | power train (58), engine (46), air bags (40) |
| 2014 | 208 | 10 | air bags (36), electrical system (30), engine (28) |
| 2015 | 509 | 5 | electrical system (124), visibility/wiper (112), power train (34) |
| 2016 | 642 | 4 | electrical system (294), visibility/wiper (76), power train (45) |
| 2017 | 921 | 4 | electrical system (381), visibility/wiper (187), power train (42) |
| 2018 | 816 | 3 | electrical system (256), visibility/wiper (214), visibility (41) |
| 2019 | 1,036 | 3 | electrical system (360), visibility/wiper (284), visibility (63) |
| 2020 | 902 | 6 | visibility/wiper (284), electrical system (246), visibility (70) |
| 2021 | 299 | 4 | visibility/wiper (90), electrical system (75), air bags (16) |
| 2022 | 465 | 4 | visibility/wiper (239), electrical system (50), visibility (24) |
| 2023 | 89 | 2 | electrical system (16), visibility/wiper (15), forward collision avoidance (12) |
Source: NHTSA (nhtsa.gov) complaint and recall records. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer model years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare years with care. A high count does not mean every car of that year has the problem.
What owners report most
- Electrical System: among the top three areas in 11 of 12 model years
- Visibility/Wiper: among the top three areas in 9 of 12 model years
- Power Train: among the top three areas in 5 of 12 model years
- Visibility: among the top three areas in 4 of 12 model years
- Air Bags: among the top three areas in 4 of 12 model years
Before you buy a used Subaru Outback
- Run the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recalls are listed by model year, not by car, so only the VIN shows which are still open.
- Get a vehicle history report (Carfax, AutoCheck or an NMVTIS-based report) for accidents and title problems.
- Ask for service records for the areas above, then have an independent mechanic inspect the car.
- Compare the asking price with similar cars at the same mileage, not just the listed average.
Check a specific car
Enter the VIN or paste the listing to get recalls, a fair-price range from live dealer listings, red flags and what to say to the seller.
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