Subaru years to avoid
For every Subaru model, the model years with more than twice that model's typical number of owner complaints, and the years with the fewest. Based on 26,744 owner complaints.
The worst Subaru model years
Years to avoid from the last 20 model years, with the most owner complaints. The last column shows how far each year is above a typical year of the same Subaru model.
| Car | Complaints | vs typical year | Main problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Subaru Outback | 1,036 | 3.5x | Visibility |
| 2017 Subaru Outback | 921 | 3.1x | Electrical |
| 2020 Subaru Outback | 906 | 3.1x | Visibility |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 834 | 4.7x | Visibility |
| 2018 Subaru Outback | 816 | 2.8x | Visibility |
| 2011 Subaru Outback | 653 | 2.2x | Transmission |
| 2016 Subaru Outback | 644 | 2.2x | Electrical |
| 2015 Subaru Forester | 617 | 3.5x | Engine |
| 2020 Subaru Forester | 604 | 3.4x | Visibility |
| 2017 Subaru Forester | 594 | 3.3x | Airbags |
| 2018 Subaru Forester | 498 | 2.8x | Visibility |
| 2019 Subaru Ascent | 443 | 4.2x | Electrical |
Subaru models: years to avoid and best years
Amber: more than twice the typical complaints for that model. Green: the years with the fewest complaints among years with enough cars on the road.
Questions about the Subaru years to avoid
What Subaru years should you avoid?
The Subaru model years with the most owner complaints, each well above a typical year of the same model, are the 2019 Outback (3.5 times typical, mostly visibility), the 2017 Outback (3.1 times typical, mostly electrical), the 2020 Outback (3.1 times typical, mostly visibility), the 2019 Forester (4.7 times typical, mostly visibility) and the 2018 Outback (2.8 times typical, mostly visibility).
What is the most common problem with Subaru vehicles?
Across all models, most Subaru owner complaints are about visibility, electrical and engine.
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