Subaru Outback 2015–2019
5th generation (BS)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20264,801 complaints, 2,610 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 37% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 4 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 37% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 5 complaints (0.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,243
- 25%
- 6,987
- Median
- 20,000
- 75%
- 39,134
- 90%
- 61,100
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 522 | 20.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 298 | 11.4% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 255 | 9.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 203 | 7.8% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 190 | 7.3% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 176 | 6.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 185 | 7.1% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 134 | 5.1% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 128 | 4.9% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 86 | 3.3% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 102 | 3.9% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 48 | 1.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 49 | 1.9% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 60 | 2.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 27 | 1.0% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 32 | 1.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 23 | 0.9% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 19 | 0.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 16 | 0.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 6 | 0.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 10 | 0.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 7 | 0.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 6 | 0.2% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 5 | 0.2% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 4,801 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback, and 2,610 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
37% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 4 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (30.4% of complaints, typically around 25,000 miles), visibility/wiper (20.3% of complaints, typically around 18,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (16.0% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles).
14 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Electrical system25,000median 25,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 44,000
- Visibility/wiper18,000median 17,600 miles, middle half 6,500 to 33,000
- Problems owners could not categorise20,000median 20,000 miles, middle half 6,000 to 36,000
- Engine26,000median 26,313 miles, middle half 4,000 to 50,000
- Transmission and driveline30,000median 30,000 miles, middle half 6,000 to 45,000
- Visibility equipment31,000median 31,156 miles, middle half 15,000 to 50,000
- Steering4,500median 4,500 miles, middle half 500 to 14,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1,459 | 30.4% | 25,000 | 12,000–44,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 977 | 20.3% | 18,000 | 6,500–33,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 770 | 16.0% | 20,000 | 6,000–36,000 |
| Engine | 218 | 4.5% | 26,000 | 4,000–50,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 158 | 3.3% | 30,000 | 6,000–45,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 157 | 3.3% | 31,000 | 15,000–50,000 |
| Steering | 130 | 2.7% | 4,500 | 500–14,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 122 | 2.5% | 10,000 | 2,500–35,000 |
| Body structure | 120 | 2.5% | 14,000 | 3,000–35,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 116 | 2.4% | 22,000 | 13,000–31,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 20,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 30.4% of complaints (1,459 reports, 628 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 25,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 43,522 miles.
A single system taking 30.4% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Visibility/wiper accounts for 20.3% of complaints (977 reports, 684 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 17,600 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,558 and 33,400 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 16.0% of complaints (770 reports, 368 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 20,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,141 and 36,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 4.5% of complaints (218 reports, 99 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 26,313 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,000 and 50,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 3.3% of complaints (158 reports, 102 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 30,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,100 and 45,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 3.3% of complaints (157 reports, 151 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 31,156 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,702 and 50,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2019 model year drew the most — 1,286 complaints — while 2015 drew the fewest at 646. The median year sits at 991.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the fuel system (2), the airbag system (2), the transmission and driveline (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 4,801 complaints filed against this generation, 229 reported a crash; 27 reported a fire; 152 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 4.8% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 37% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the electrical system and visibility/wiper are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Visibility/wiper in particular shows a median failure mileage of 17,600, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission 2015–2018
CVT shudder and failure complaints continue; Subaru subsequently extended CVT coverage for MY2016-2018 vehicles as well.
Electrical 2015–2019
Parasitic battery drain causing repeated no-start, and widely reported windshield cracking from minimal impact.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 646 | 430 |
| 2016 | 772 | 412 |
| 2017 | 1,106 | 620 |
| 2018 | 991 | 584 |
| 2019 | 1,286 | 564 |
Recalls (14)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 21V587000 | 2021-09-24 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 20V218000 | 2020-06-04 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 19V910000 | 2020-02-03 | Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module |
| 19V493000 | 2019-07-26 | Structure |
| 18V773000 | 2019-02-20 | Electrical System:software |
| 18V935000 | 2019-02-05 | Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices |
| 16V716000 | 2016-11-14 | Air Bags:knee Bolster |
| 16V576000 | 2016-08-08 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper |
| 16V251000 | 2016-05-20 | Electronic Stability Control (esc) |
| 16V292000 | 2016-05-13 | Steering:column |
| 15V794000 | 2015-12-10 | Power Train:driveline:driveshaft |
| 15V502000 | 2015-08-28 | Power Train:driveline:driveshaft |
| 15V366000 | 2015-07-20 | Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking |
| 14V577000 | 2014-10-07 | Trailer Hitches |
What owners reported
I was going 55 MPH on a straight flat surface when all of a sudden the RPM's shot up to around 4000 but the car was not accelerating. It was like it went into neutral. I pulled over to the side of the road and the car proceeded to die. Fortunately, it started right up and i drove home. I had a almost a full tank of…
2015 · 2 miles · Transmission and driveline
After just picking up my new 2015 Subaru Outback and driving in bright sunlight, i realized there is a hazardous condition related to the car's infotainment center. The area surrounding the display screen is an extremely glossy black mirror-like reflective surface. While driving, the sun reflects off of this surface…
2015 · 5 miles · Problems owners could not categorise
There is a gloss finished plastic touch pad kind of cover that covers the entire navigation system. This is approximately 6"x8". It is not only the navigation system, but the radio, fuel information, etc. It is slanted as part of the front dashboard, and when the sun hits it, it bounces directly into the drivers…
2015 · 7 miles · Body structure
Built from 2,610 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page