Subaru Outback 2015–2019 problems by year and mileage
5th generation (BS)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20263,915 complaints, 2,164 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2015 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 20,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 510
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2015
- Visibility/wiper130 reports · median 9,000 mi
- Electrical system127 reports · median 30,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise108 reports · median 23,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2015: Steering — column; Electronic stability control (esc); Power train — driveline. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 35,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 643
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2016
- Electrical system309 reports · median 40,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise124 reports · median 36,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper83 reports · median 38,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2016: Air bags — air bag/restraint control module; Steering — column; Power train — driveline. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 30,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 917
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2017
- Electrical system391 reports · median 31,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper205 reports · median 33,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise177 reports · median 28,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2017: Air bags — air bag/restraint control module; Air bags — knee bolster; Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 17,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 811
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2018
- Electrical system265 reports · median 16,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper233 reports · median 22,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise160 reports · median 12,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2018: Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Visibility — rearview mirrors/devices; Electrical system — software. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2019 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 10,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,034
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2019 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2019
- Electrical system363 reports · median 13,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper326 reports · median 10,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise204 reports · median 9,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2019: Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Structure. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2016 reports latest and the 2019 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2016 has had 3 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 20,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 62,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 2,164
- Recalls
- 14
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Electrical system37.2% of complaints · median 25,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper25.0% of complaints · median 18,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise19.7% of complaints · median 20,000 mi
Owners filed 3,915 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback; the electrical system leads with 37.2% of them, and half of the 2,164 that record an odometer reading came by 20,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
37% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 17.2 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2015–2019 Subaru Outback last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback, half of the 2,164 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 20,000 miles and 90% by 62,000 miles.
10 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 5 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Outback reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Subaru Outback 2015–2019 · 2,164 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 406 complaints.
- First 12,000 miles — 37% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 5 complaints (0.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,500
- 25%
- 7,200
- Median
- 20,011
- 75%
- 40,000
- 90%
- 62,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 406 | 18.8% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 250 | 11.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 214 | 9.9% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 168 | 7.8% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 162 | 7.5% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 149 | 6.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 152 | 7.0% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 114 | 5.3% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 105 | 4.9% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 78 | 3.6% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 83 | 3.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 41 | 1.9% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 44 | 2.0% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 50 | 2.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 24 | 1.1% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 28 | 1.3% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 19 | 0.9% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 13 | 0.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 7 | 0.3% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 7 | 0.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 5 | 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% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
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.
Common Outback problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Subaru Outback 2015–2019
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Steering131 reports4,500500–14,000Steering: 131 reports, median 4,500 miles, middle half 500 to 14,000 miles.
- Visibility/wiper977 reports18,0006,500–33,000Visibility/wiper: 977 reports, median 18,000 miles, middle half 6,500 to 33,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise773 reports20,0006,000–36,000Problems owners could not categorise: 773 reports, median 20,000 miles, middle half 6,000 to 36,000 miles.
- Electrical system1,455 reports25,00012,000–44,000Electrical system: 1,455 reports, median 25,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 44,000 miles.
- Engine219 reports26,0004,000–50,000Engine: 219 reports, median 26,000 miles, middle half 4,000 to 50,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline158 reports30,0006,000–45,000Transmission and driveline: 158 reports, median 30,000 miles, middle half 6,000 to 45,000 miles.
- Visibility equipment156 reports32,00015,000–50,000Visibility equipment: 156 reports, median 32,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 50,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1,455 | 37.2% | 25,000 | 12,000–44,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 977 | 25.0% | 18,000 | 6,500–33,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 773 | 19.7% | 20,000 | 6,000–36,000 |
| Engine | 219 | 5.6% | 26,000 | 4,000–50,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 158 | 4.0% | 30,000 | 6,000–45,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 156 | 4.0% | 32,000 | 15,000–50,000 |
| Steering | 131 | 3.3% | 4,500 | 500–14,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 123 | 3.1% | 10,000 | 2,500–35,000 |
| Body structure | 120 | 3.1% | 14,000 | 3,000–35,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 113 | 2.9% | 7,500 | 2,500–25,000 |
System by system, in words
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 37.2% of complaints (1,455 reports, 624 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 44,000 miles.
A single system taking 37.2% 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 25.0% of complaints (977 reports, 684 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 18,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,500 and 33,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 19.7% of complaints (773 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 6,000 and 36,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 5.6% of complaints (219 reports, 99 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 26,000 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 4.0% 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 6,000 and 45,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 4.0% of complaints (156 reports, 150 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 32,000 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 15,000 and 50,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2015–2019 Outback
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.
Before you buy a 2015–2019 Outback: the 3-minute check
Generated from 2,164 mileage-tagged complaints, 14 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation. Run the VIN before you drive it home — the fix is free at an authorized dealer.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 14 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for steering repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 4,500 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Ask for throttle and speed control repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 10,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Check transmission on 2015–2018 cars. CVT shudder and failure complaints continue; Subaru subsequently extended CVT coverage for MY2016-2018 vehicles as well.
- Check electrical on 2015–2019 cars. Parasitic battery drain causing repeated no-start, and widely reported windshield cracking from minimal impact.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
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 18,000, 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.
Outback problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi89% below | At 90k mi97% below | At 120k mi99% below | At 150k mi100% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 12,000–44,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility/wiper | 6,500–33,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 6,000–36,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 4,000–50,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 6,000–45,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility equipment | 15,000–50,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Steering | 500–14,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Subaru Outback 2015–2019 · 2,164 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 89% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 100%: the remaining 0.2% of reports (5) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2015–2019 Subaru Outback recalls (14)
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.
1 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.
The campaigns cluster around the fuel system (2), the airbag system (2), the transmission and driveline (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
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.
Jul 2021 · 2018–2019 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
What can happen. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614.…
Apr 2020 · 2019 · Fuel System, GasolineIf the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
What can happen. If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's…
Dec 2019 · 2016–2017 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Outback vehicles. A replacement air bag control module may have been installed that is not compatible with the passenger air bag module, possibly affecting air bag deployment.
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.…
Jun 2019 · 2019 · StructureIn the event of a crash, the reduced strength of the vehicle body may increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Legacy and Outback vehicles. Spot welds located on the duct below the cowl panel may have been improperly applied, impacting the vehicle's body strength.
What can happen. In the event of a crash, the reduced strength of the vehicle body may increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and repair or repurchase the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer…
Dec 2018 · 2018 · VisibilityFailure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the…
What can happen. Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
The free fix. Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at…
Nov 2018 · 2018 · Electrical SystemThe inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate…
What can happen. The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.…
Oct 2016 · 2017 · Air BagsIf the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam…
What can happen. If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing…
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners…
Aug 2016 · 2017 · Service Brakes, HydraulicIf any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Outback vehicles manufactured June 20, 2016, to June 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may have improperly tightened attaching bolts for the front left and right brake calipers, wheel hubs…
What can happen. If any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the related components would also become loose and may detach possibly making the vehicle unstable…
The free fix. Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bolts for proper torque, and replace any loose bolts, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer…
May 2016 · 2015–2017 · Steering do not driveThe loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the…
What can happen. The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may…
Apr 2016 · 2015 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic…
What can happen. Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer…
Nov 2015 · 2016 · Power TrainIf the drive shaft detaches from the rear differential, it may strike the fuel tank and result in a fuel…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016 Legacy vehicles manufactured October 24, 2015, to November 16, 2015, and Outback vehicles manufactured October 24, 2015, to November 17, 2015. Due to the improper tightening of the securing…
What can happen. If the drive shaft detaches from the rear differential, it may strike the fuel tank and result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the fastening nuts, and tighten or replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 10, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru…
Aug 2015 · 2015–2016 · Power TrainIf the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
What can happen. If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is…
Jun 2015 · 2015 · Forward Collision AvoidanceIf the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April…
What can happen. If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.…
Sep 2014 · 2015 · Trailer HitchesThe mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Outback vehicles manufactured January 22, 2014, to August 18, 2014, and equipped with a Subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may…
What can happen. The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break. If this were to happen while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not…
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge. The recall began on…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 3,915 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 125 (3.2%)
- Fires
- 17
- Injury reports
- 60
- Fatality reports
- 0
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Outback problems by model year
The 2019 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,034, most of them about the electrical system, and the 2015 the fewest, 510. A typical year drew about 811.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 510 | 343 | 20,000 | Visibility/wiper (130) | 5 |
| 2016 | 643 | 349 | 35,000† | Electrical system (309) | 4 |
| 2017 | 917 | 515 | 30,000† | Electrical system (391) | 4 |
| 2018 | 811 | 488 | 17,000† | Electrical system (265) | 3 |
| 2019 | 1,034 | 469 | 10,000† | Electrical system (363) | 3 |
What Outback owners reported
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale, but the contact discovered the seller was associated with a car dealer. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage…
2016 · 207,000 miles · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera was inoperable. The maps and radio were glitching and then seized stuck. The screen was difficult to read. The screen was pixelated due to the brightness outside. The camera was inoperable. The local dealer was…
2015 · 73,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH the front windshield cracked approximately 6 inches from the heat sensor, no warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted however the vehicle was not diagnosed as the contact was advised that the vehicles VIN was…
2019 · 40,000 miles · Visibility equipment
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the exhaust manifold detached from the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer advised the contact…
2015 · 244,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Built from 2,164 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Outback generations
- Outback 1995–1999 155 reports with mileage, most about the engine and its cooling system
- Outback 2000–2004 418 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Outback 2005–2009 761 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Outback 2010–2014 1,292 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Outback 2020–2025 572 reports with mileage, most about visibility/wiper