Subaru Outback Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2017 draws 7.17 complaints per run and the 2014 1.66, a 4.3-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 55.1% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 2,155 complaints, typically at 3.6 years.

Subaru Outback years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Subaru Outback — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2026	1.33	12	9	too new
2025	1.56	78	50	too new
2023	1.62	89	55	too new
2022	4.2	462	110	too new
2021	2.96	296	100	too new
2020	8.17	891	109	yes
2019	9.25	1017	110	yes
2018	7.02	800	114	yes
2017	7.17	903	126	yes
2016	3.56	633	178	yes
2015	2.66	477	179	yes
2014	1.66	198	119	yes
2013	1.81	278	154	yes
2012	1.96	278	142	yes
2011	2.75	594	216	yes
2010	1.95	328	168	yes
2009	2.13	102	48	yes
2008	3.22	206	64	yes
2007	2.28	114	50	yes
2006	2.8	235	84	yes
2005	2.53	228	90	yes

ROWS 21·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2017 Outback asks a median $12,000, against $13,775 for a 2018, the next model year: about 13% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 8 Subaru Outback years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2017, 2016, 2011; the three worth hunting are 2014, 2013, 2010.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Subaru Outback — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	1494	18.8%	covered
1 year	1161	33.5%	covered
2 years	909	44.9%	covered
3 years	875	55.9%	you pay
4 years	785	65.8%	you pay
5 years	721	74.9%	you pay
6 years	488	81.1%	you pay
7 years	391	86%	you pay
8 years	342	90.3%	you pay
9 years	225	93.2%	you pay
10 years	186	95.5%	you pay
11 years	134	97.2%	you pay
12 years	93	98.4%	you pay
13 years	51	99%	you pay
14 years	53	99.7%	you pay
15 years	26	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 44.9% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 55.1% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 17% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Subaru Outback, the early trouble is Electrical System and Visibility/wiper — reported at around 3.6 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 5.4 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Subaru Outback — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Electrical System	2155	3.6 yrs	23	25
Visibility/wiper	1709	1.7 yrs	6	1
Unknown Or Other	1262	3.3 yrs	30	18
Power Train	770	5.4 yrs	27	6
Engine	662	5.4 yrs	23	26
Air Bags	571	6.2 yrs	77	3
Service Brakes	435	6.3 yrs	65	2
Vehicle Speed Control	380	5.1 yrs	83	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Outback's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Land Cruiser draws 1.49, the Subaru Forester 3.35 and the Chevrolet Trailblazer 8.46, against 3.64 for the Outback.

FIG.05·Subaru Outback — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Outback	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Land Cruiser	257	85	1981–2026
Subaru Forester	6,521	121	1998–2026
Chevrolet Trailblazer	8,447	57	2002–2026
Honda Element	1,308	100	2003–2011
Jeep Liberty	8,880	80	1993–2013
Toyota FJ Cruiser	907	65	2007–2014

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Subaru Outback

Recalls159 campaigns Fuel economy29 mpg best Common problems8,587 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space35 cu ft Used prices11,190 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2005–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Subaru Outback reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.64 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Outback years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2017, 2016, 2011. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2014, 2013, 2010. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Outback problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 3.6 years, followed by Visibility/wiper.

Will the warranty cover Outback problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 44.9% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 17% of the complaints here.

Is the Outback more reliable than the Toyota Land Cruiser?

No: 3.64 complaints per production run for the Outback against 1.49 for the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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