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Hyundai Santa Fe vs Subaru Outback: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 310 complaints per model year about the Hyundai Santa Fe and 403 about the Subaru Outback.

Side by side

Hyundai Santa FeSubaru Outback
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints6,5198,453
Complaints per model year310403
Recalls4055
Years to avoid20072008201320142017201120162017201820192020
Best years200620182021200720092014
Most common problemEngineElectrical
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy21-36 mpg combined (2026)23-27 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Hyundai Santa Fe: 1062006 Subaru Outback: 27720062007 Hyundai Santa Fe: 6842007 Subaru Outback: 1312008 Hyundai Santa Fe: 5412008 Subaru Outback: 22620082009 Hyundai Santa Fe: 3592009 Subaru Outback: 1062010 Hyundai Santa Fe: 2602010 Subaru Outback: 36020102011 Hyundai Santa Fe: 1812011 Subaru Outback: 6532012 Hyundai Santa Fe: 3552012 Subaru Outback: 29520122013 Hyundai Santa Fe: 6052013 Subaru Outback: 2972014 Hyundai Santa Fe: 4932014 Subaru Outback: 20820142015 Hyundai Santa Fe: 2552015 Subaru Outback: 5102016 Hyundai Santa Fe: 2382016 Subaru Outback: 64420162017 Hyundai Santa Fe: 9752017 Subaru Outback: 9212018 Hyundai Santa Fe: 1102018 Subaru Outback: 81620182019 Hyundai Santa Fe: 2062019 Subaru Outback: 1,0362020 Hyundai Santa Fe: 2182020 Subaru Outback: 90620202021 Hyundai Santa Fe: 1702021 Subaru Outback: 3002022 Hyundai Santa Fe: 2042022 Subaru Outback: 46720222023 Hyundai Santa Fe: 2162023 Subaru Outback: 892024 Hyundai Santa Fe: 1652024 Subaru Outback: 10620242025 Hyundai Santa Fe: 1392025 Subaru Outback: 842026 Hyundai Santa Fe: 392026 Subaru Outback: 212026
Hyundai Santa FeSubaru Outback

Problems compared

Santa FeOutback
Engine2,489764
Fuel system864272
Transmission834807
Electrical7582,212
Brakes576442
Acceleration453385
Visibility2572,034
Airbags340572

Questions about the Hyundai Santa Fe vs Subaru Outback

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai Santa Fe or the Subaru Outback?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Hyundai Santa Fe has 5 years to avoid and the Subaru Outback 6. The Hyundai Santa Fe has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Hyundai Santa Fe drew fewer complaints per model year (310 vs 403), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Santa Fe or the Subaru Outback?

From 2006 to 2026, the Hyundai Santa Fe was covered by 40 recalls and the Subaru Outback by 55.

What years of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Subaru Outback should you avoid?

Hyundai Santa Fe: 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2017. Subaru Outback: 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

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