Subaru Outback years to avoid
More than twice the Outback's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Subaru Outback years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Subaru Outback complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Subaru Outback problems
All model years combined.
- Electrical2,288
- Visibility2,084
- Engine1,003
- Transmission992
- Airbags695
- Brakes598
- Acceleration532
- Driver assistance420
- Fuel system392
- Steering369
- Lights341
- Suspension320
Most reported problems on the Subaru Outback
Subaru Outback problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | - | 21 | Electrical | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2025 | - | 83 | Driver assistance | 2,000 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2024 | - | 106 | Visibility | 3,395 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2023 | - | 89 | Driver assistance | 9,000 | 2 | 8 | |
| 2022 | 57 | 466 | Visibility | 13,947 | 4 | 10 | |
| 2021 | 72 | 300 | Visibility | 3,600 | 4 | 9 | |
| 2020 | 31 | 906 | Visibility | 5,800 | 6 | 19 | Avoid |
| 2019 | 29 | 1,036 | Visibility | 10,200 | 3 | 24 | Avoid |
| 2018 | 37 | 816 | Visibility | 16,927 | 3 | 27 | Avoid |
| 2017 | 32 | 921 | Electrical | 30,000 | 4 | 33 | Avoid |
| 2016 | 45 | 644 | Electrical | 35,000 | 4 | 22 | Avoid |
| 2015 | 51 | 510 | Visibility | 20,000 | 5 | 20 | |
| 2014 | 68 | 208 | Airbags | 36,000 | 10 | 14 | Fewest complaints |
| 2013 | 64 | 297 | Engine | 45,000 | 12 | 18 | |
| 2012 | 66 | 295 | Transmission | 90,000 | 16 | 15 | |
| 2011 | 40 | 653 | Transmission | 85,000 | 16 | 24 | Avoid |
| 2010 | 62 | 360 | Transmission | 70,000 | 18 | 12 | |
| 2009 | 83 | 106 | Airbags | 70,503 | 13 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2008 | 73 | 226 | Airbags | 79,600 | 8 | 12 | |
| 2007 | 77 | 130 | Airbags | 83,000 | 8 | 9 | Fewest complaints |
| 2006 | 71 | 277 | Acceleration | 95,333 | 7 | 7 | |
| 2005 | 69 | 273 | Suspension | 83,000 | 9 | 13 | |
| 2004 | 76 | 90 | Airbags | 68,006 | 10 | 9 | |
| 2003 | 81 | 93 | Airbags | 74,000 | 14 | 7 | |
| 2002 | 79 | 143 | Fuel system | 71,000 | 4 | 9 | |
| 2001 | 77 | 171 | Fuel system | 74,000 | 3 | 16 | |
| 2000 | - | 207 | Transmission | 68,635 | 1 | 17 | |
| 1999 | - | 110 | Transmission | 91,000 | 1 | 13 | |
| 1998 | - | 127 | Engine | 91,486 | 2 | 9 | |
| 1997 | - | 79 | Engine | 107,990 | 4 | 7 | |
| 1996 | - | 46 | Engine | 135,906 | 2 | 12 | |
| 1995 | - | 2 | Brakes | 1 | 1 |
Recalls 71
Compare the Outback
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Questions about the Subaru Outback
What years of the Subaru Outback should you avoid?
2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Each has more than twice the Subaru Outback's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2019 alone has 1,036, mostly about visibility and electrical.
What is the best year for a used Subaru Outback?
2009, 2007 and 2014 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (106, 130 and 208).
What is the most common problem with the Subaru Outback?
Electrical, with 2,288 complaints across all years, followed by visibility (2,084) and engine (1,003).
How many recalls does the Subaru Outback have?
71 recalls between 1995 and 2026. The 2010 model year has the most, with 18.
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