What Subaru Outback owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Subaru Outback safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 58 |
| 2025 | 81 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 154 |
| 2024 | 102 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 236 |
| 2023 | 89 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 327 |
| 2022 | 464 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 397 |
| 2021 | 296 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 480 |
| 2020 | 899 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 612 |
| 2019 | 1,034 | 24 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 422 |
| 2018 | 812 | 27 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 432 |
| 2017 | 917 | 32 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 390 |
| 2016 | 643 | 22 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 472 |
| 2015 | 510 | 20 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 544 |
| 2014 | 208 | 14 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 362 |
| 2013 | 297 | 18 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 514 |
| 2012 | 292 | 15 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 320 |
| 2011 | 652 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 333 |
| 2010 | 360 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 313 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Subaru Outback complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Catastrophic motor failure at highway speed. I had just come of the Interstate 10 and stopped at the end of the off ramp. I made a right turn on to a 2 lane county highway and accelerated back up to 65MPH. As I attained speed, the vehicle lost power. The accelerator pedal was dead and the vehicle did not respond to my input. The oil pressure warning light illuminated, power surged back and was immediately lost again with dead pedal again. The vehicle would not respond to my input to accelerate and effected my ability to control it safely. I had to abruptly pull to the should and coast to a stop. Loud engine knock immediately occurred indicating catastrophic motor failure. The vehicle was…
The 8-inch Gen 3 Harman STARLINK touchscreen is delaminating/bubbling. It registers phantom touch inputs and becomes unresponsive on its own while the vehicle is in motion, changing audio, navigation, and system settings without driver input. If a phone is ever attached, the screen will randomly calling phone numbers. These unintended inputs and lockups are an extreme distraction hazard while driving. This is a known defect previously covered under Subaru's extended warranty and the Udeen settlement, and now covered to 8 years/150,000 miles on 2019â2023 models. No crash or injury has resulted. These issues began many years ago (at least as early as 2020), when the car still belonged to my …
Noticed minor hesitation in the reverse down our driveway Aug 2024. By Aug 2026, the transmission hesitation has turned into very noticeable shudder and slip. In reverse down the driveway, the TR580 CVT was showing premature initial failure resulting in unexpected loss of motive power control as well as acceleration hesitation in forward. This transmission defect compromised the ability to safely navigate down the driveway and through traffic, creating an risk of a rear end collision and stranding the vehicle in a hazardous roadway position. The vehicle was driven to Austin Subaru dealer early September 2026 where certified technicians inspected it. They diagnosed a catastrophic internal …
Unknown. Best assessment between 2:09 and 2:15 pm on the XXX pass outside of [XXX] heading west. There were wind gusts up to 27 mph. I was traveling highway speeds 75-80mph. I had been driving highway speeds since 10:30 am coming from [XXX] No warning. As in: no flutter of the hood, hood not popped, no warning lights. The hood flew open and smashed my windshield during a gust at 80mph. I believe that even though the hood was closed, the latch either failed or was not fully catching, but there is no way to know that since it is completely closed, does not rattle and there are no indicator lights. You can not see under the hood when it is closed. I have all fluids changed at dealerships. The…
2010-2018 TR580 Outback Torque Converter Lock-up failure symptoms in TSB 16-90-13R fits my 2011 Subaru Outback. 2.5I Premium, (TSB) Originally issued on 1/6/2014 + later revised on 5/7/2014, Early yrs of the TR580 suffer from TCLUF, which causes stalls + bogs down during stops or idling at traffic lights, premature wear, valve-body/solenoid failure, overheating, breakdown of transmission fluid/coolant + Catastrophic Chain Failure. These issues were exacerbated by Subaru specifying these transmissions have a "lifetime fluid" that never has 2 be replaced. Most Subaru failures were related 2 fluid breakdowns. The Subaru lineartronic CVT, designed in house by Subarun2 integrate w the company's …
Subaru has a tsb for a steering rack pinion rattle noise problem front end rattle, Subaru refused to repair it
July 4, 2025 car had about 4100 miles Severe dangerous phantom braking on highway CA 280 N just prior to foothill expressway exit at about 7:30 pm. Suddenly while traveling 60+ MPH on mid lanes of freeway car auto braking caused car to brake/slow to 1/2 speed with no visible obstacle seen by any of 4 adults in car. Multi[ple Dash lights up with eyesite failure and all red , green and yellow lights. Gas pedal ws unresponsive no power. Eminent crash danger. Driver responded trying to hit gas then brake to steer off freeway. After several seconds the car gas pedal eventually responded and I was able to exit freeway at next exit. Taken to dealer July 23, 2025 Reported to Subaru of Santa Cruz .…
9/20/26 my 2020 Subaru Outback experienced repeated electrical failures followed by loss of power-steering assistance. The underlying failed component is unknown. The vehicle is parked and available for inspection. While driving, the vehicle intermittently lurched/jerked as the center display went completely black and restarted and EyeSight repeatedly became unavailable and returned. After stopping for fuel, I attempted to restart the vehicle. It initially started and then became completely electrically unresponsive: no response from the push-button start and no accessory power. Electrical power unexpectedly returned after I opened the driver's door, and I was able to restart the vehicle. La…
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4 Denso CP1 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin announces an inspection procedure for the Smart Rear View Mirror Assembly.
This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
This service bulletin announces a repair procedure for the weatherstrips on the front of the rear doors. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
This service bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for TR690 and TR580 CVT-equipped vehicles. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin announces availability of new reprogramming files developed to address SYMPTOM 1: A jerk or judder sensation felt from the powertrain during braking with the air conditioning on. SYPMTOM 2: A shudder is felt from the powertrain along with a screeching type of sound. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20
The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: electrical system, visibility/wiper, unknown or other. 7,672 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
