Is available for inspection. Car would not start and lots of dash indicator lights turned on. Car seemed to have power as headlights worked fine and computer held power. Lots of clicking indicated starter was engaging and included an srs airbag system notice. A quick google search indicated a recall for this make and model but not my VIN. It described problema from humidity in cracked electrical systems and it did rain heavy throughout the night.
Subaru Outback headlights problems
297 of the 9,791 owner complaints about the Subaru Outback describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2011 model year.
- owner complaints
- 297
- worst model year
- 2011
- typical repair cost reported
- $500
- typical mileage
- 50,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Won't start 8Battery drain 7Wipers 5Warning lights 4Stalling 4Fire or smoke 4Check engine light 4CVT failure 3
What owners say
Was notified by the dealer upon completion of an oil change, on May 20, 2026, that the driver side front daytime LED running light was not functioning. The light was not on. I am a faithful user of either turning on my headlights in the absence of DRL or using the factory DRL on the vehicle. The failure of one DRL compromises the safety effect of using DRL by 50% and jeopardizes the safety of the driver and others compared to two (2) operating fully functional DRL. There are no dashboard of other system warning indicators on the car to indicate that the DRL is not functioning properly. The repair cost is unreasonable and subjects any 2018 Subaru Outback Owner with a factory defective DRL to spend over $1,000 to essentially "change a light bulb" to have the DRL system work as designed by Subaru itself. Not only does the failed DRL compromise the engineered and manufactured safety of the Subaru, the remedy to fix the Subaru DRL is cost prohibitive for most owners.
The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front headlights became inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the daytime running light module needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the part needed to do the repair was discontinued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
The driver’s side mirror vibrates excessively at speeds above 20 mph, causing the reflected image to become blurry and difficult to focus. This creates a safety hazard during lane changes and especially at night, when blurred headlight/taillight reflections make it hard to judge the distance and speed of approaching vehicles. I brought this to the dealership’s attention and was told the vibration is normal, but I believe this significantly impairs the mirror’s intended safety function under real driving conditions.
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the low beam headlights failed to illuminate the road ahead while going uphill or downhill. The contact had to activate the high beam headlights. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71.
The headlights ... and: and; yes it is available for inspection at any time, preferably at night!!! If you look at the photos attached you can see when headlights are on there is little or no visibility and what you see is what appears to be like a black line. We live in a very rural area and can not see at night with these headlights. So I would say we and the other vehicles on the road are at great risk. We did take vehicle right back to dealer the following day, they informed me that this has been a known problem on these cars and that I should just drive with my high beams. Not a solution!! I do not want to blind other cars coming at me. Not inspected by anyone except dealership. There were no warnings about this problem, and; I was very much shocked and disappointed that the dealership was aware of this issue. They appeared the first time I drove at night and needed head lights on!
Halo light is out and it does not show on dashboard. Halo light is part of headlight system. It is part of daylight running lights. Unable to replace light without replacing the entire headlight.
Headlights produce a distracting shadow. It looks like something is crossing the road in front of you. In addition, as a driver, it focuses your attention on the shadow instead of the road. It's a common complaint online and definitely a real safety concern for motorists.
Headlight lenses fill up with water on interior of lenses causes headlights to distort lighting and reduced visibility.
Headlights appear to be adjusted too high from the factory, causing considerable distress to other drivers who are blinded by my bright LED headlights shining directly into their cabin. At night, oncoming drivers are flashing their lights at me constantly, thinking my brights are on. In fact, it's difficult to tell when my brights are on because the headlights are aimed so high that the brights make little difference in terms of sight distance. I asked the dealership to check the lights and all they were able to tell me is that "it's a common complaint." Numerous online forums provide instructions for adjusting the headlight angle downward.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting
- What is wrong
- Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (such as road spray that has road salt in it) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector(s).
- Risk
- Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system. This may generate heat which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1‑800‑782‑2783 for more information.
Recall number 12V602000 · Recall details
Questions about the Subaru Outback headlights
Which Subaru Outback years have headlights failing or too dim problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2011 (122 complaints), 2010 (37 complaints) and 2005 (22 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Subaru Outback?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $500 (median of 14 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Subaru Outback?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history