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Subaru Outback vs Toyota 4RUNNER: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 403 complaints per model year about the Subaru Outback and 82 about the Toyota 4RUNNER.

Side by side

Subaru OutbackToyota 4RUNNER
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints8,4531,724
Complaints per model year40382
Recalls5538
Years to avoid2011201620172018201920202006
Best years200720092014201320172021
Most common problemElectricalAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-27 mpg combined (2026)21-23 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 Subaru Outback: 2772006 Toyota 4RUNNER: 38120062007 Subaru Outback: 1312007 Toyota 4RUNNER: 1542008 Subaru Outback: 2262008 Toyota 4RUNNER: 9620082009 Subaru Outback: 1062009 Toyota 4RUNNER: 222010 Subaru Outback: 3602010 Toyota 4RUNNER: 14720102011 Subaru Outback: 6532011 Toyota 4RUNNER: 1632012 Subaru Outback: 2952012 Toyota 4RUNNER: 9620122013 Subaru Outback: 2972013 Toyota 4RUNNER: 362014 Subaru Outback: 2082014 Toyota 4RUNNER: 7720142015 Subaru Outback: 5102015 Toyota 4RUNNER: 872016 Subaru Outback: 6442016 Toyota 4RUNNER: 8120162017 Subaru Outback: 9212017 Toyota 4RUNNER: 362018 Subaru Outback: 8162018 Toyota 4RUNNER: 6020182019 Subaru Outback: 1,0362019 Toyota 4RUNNER: 662020 Subaru Outback: 9062020 Toyota 4RUNNER: 3320202021 Subaru Outback: 3002021 Toyota 4RUNNER: 362022 Subaru Outback: 4672022 Toyota 4RUNNER: 3920222023 Subaru Outback: 892023 Toyota 4RUNNER: 332024 Subaru Outback: 1062024 Toyota 4RUNNER: 1020242025 Subaru Outback: 842025 Toyota 4RUNNER: 622026 Subaru Outback: 212026 Toyota 4RUNNER: 92026
Subaru OutbackToyota 4RUNNER

Problems compared

Outback4RUNNER
Electrical2,212150
Visibility2,03465
Transmission807119
Engine764100
Airbags572389
Brakes442190
Body234275
Suspension180162
Steering334125

Questions about the Subaru Outback vs Toyota 4RUNNER

Which is more reliable, the Subaru Outback or the Toyota 4RUNNER?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Subaru Outback has 6 years to avoid and the Toyota 4RUNNER 1. The Toyota 4RUNNER has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Toyota 4RUNNER drew fewer complaints per model year (82 vs 403), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Subaru Outback or the Toyota 4RUNNER?

From 2006 to 2026, the Subaru Outback was covered by 55 recalls and the Toyota 4RUNNER by 38.

What years of the Subaru Outback and Toyota 4RUNNER should you avoid?

Subaru Outback: 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Toyota 4RUNNER: 2006.

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