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NHTSA Safety Recalls

Subaru Outback Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 68 recall campaigns for the Subaru Outback, across 24 model years from 2000 to 2023. The 2010 has the most (18); the fewest among years with a recall is 2023 (2).

Subaru Outback years to avoid by our method: 2011 (2.2× the median year), 2015 (2.9× the median year), 2016 (2.4× the median year), 2017 (4.5× the median year), 2018 (6.7× the median year), 2019 (8.4× the median year), 2020 (11× the median year), 2021 (3.2× the median year) and 2022 (4.2× the median year).

Model years
24

2000–2023, with a recall

Recall campaigns
68
Most recalls
2010

18 recalls

Owner complaints
9,412

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 9,412 complaints with NHTSA about the Subaru Outback across 27 model years; the most, 1,036, concern the 2019.

Owners marked a crash on 365 of the Subaru Outback complaints (4%) and a fire on 87.

Across all Subaru Outback model years, owners name the electrical system most often (at least 2,196 complaints), then the visibility/wiper (1,689).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the Subaru Outback in 2021: 1,402, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the Subaru Outback is air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module, in 79 model-year listings.

The newest Subaru Outback recall, 24V227000, was reported on March 22, 2024 and concerns the air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger.

Subaru Outback years to avoid

The 2020 Subaru Outback stands out most: 794 complaints between 2019 and 2023, 35% of them naming the visibility/wiper.

The best-measured Subaru Outback years are 2007 (0.3×), 2004 (0.3×) and 2003 (0.4×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the Subaru Outback, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
2026020—not ranked
2025083—not ranked
20240104—not ranked
2023289—not ranked
2022avoid4465432
4.2×
2021avoid4298262
3.2×
2020avoid6901794
11.4×
2019avoid31,036723
8.4×
2018avoid3816580
6.7×
2017avoid4919406
4.5×
2016avoid4643212
2.4×
2015avoid5510253
2.9×
20141020890
1.0×
201312297101
1.1×
20121629448
0.6×
2011avoid16653156
2.2×
201018360121
1.7×
20091310618
0.4×
2008822633
0.4×
2007813027
0.3×
2006727734
0.5×
2005927359
0.8×
2004119026
0.3×
2003159331
0.4×
2002514368
0.7×
2001417179
0.8×
20002207112
1.0×

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Subaru Outback years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the Subaru Outback

  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE79
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS10
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH10
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP9
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
  • STEERING:COLUMN5
  • VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR5
  • PARKING BRAKE5
  • POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT4
  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4

Subaru Outback model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every Subaru Outback recall campaign (68)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the Subaru Outback, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
24V227000March 22, 2024air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger2020–2022crash and injury118,723
23V755000November 9, 2023power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch2021–2023crash95,830
23V647000September 21, 2023power train: driveline: driveshaft2023crash4,311
22V712000September 22, 2022visibility: windshield2022crash and injury42
22V485000July 8, 2022power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)2020–2021crash182
22V473000July 1, 2022engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ecm)2022crash15
21V955000December 9, 2021power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)2020crash198,255
21V587000July 29, 2021fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2018–2020crash175,968
21V024000January 26, 2021power train: shift linkage/cable/rod2021crash383
20V766000December 10, 2020back over prevention: display function2020crash7,741
20V218000April 16, 2020fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2019crash188,207
20V001000January 2, 2020air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2003–2014injury and death258,813
20V002000January 2, 2020air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2003–2014injury and death127,547
20V003000January 2, 2020air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2003–2014injury and death111,562
19V910000December 19, 2019air bags: air bag/restraint control module2016–2017crash and injury46
19V664000September 18, 2019service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages2020crash3,467
19V493000June 26, 2019structure2019crash and injury2,107
19V297000April 11, 2019electrical system: ignition: switch2005–2014crash and injury511
19V007000January 9, 2019air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2010–2014injury and death43,394
19V008000January 9, 2019air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2010–2014injury and death330,120
19V009000January 9, 2019air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2010–2014injury and death452,630
18V935000December 31, 2018visibility: rearview mirrors/devices2018crash71,190
18V773000November 1, 2018electrical system: software2018crash228,648
18V626000September 13, 2018parking brake2010–2014crash27,175
18V012000January 9, 2018air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2013injury and death64,179
18V013000January 9, 2018air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2010injury and death93,209
18V014000January 9, 2018air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009injury and death72,150
17V026000January 11, 2017air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009injury and death69,529
17V014000January 10, 2017air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2012injury and death53,480
16V738000October 13, 2016electrical system2007–2009fire100,127
16V716000October 6, 2016steering: column2017crash and injury54
16V694000September 27, 2016visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor2010–2014crash and fire592,647
16V576000August 3, 2016suspension2017crash99
16V358000May 25, 2016air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2003–2004, 2009–2011injury and death302,127
16V359000May 25, 2016air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2003–2004injury and death146,010
16V361000May 25, 2016air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2003–2004injury and death62,940
16V292000May 11, 2016steering: column2015–2017crashdo not drive48,819
16V251000April 27, 2016electronic stability control (esc)2015crash766
15V794000November 24, 2015power train: driveline: driveshaft2016fire3,251
15V502000August 10, 2015power train: driveline: driveshaft2015–2016fire2,893
15V366000June 12, 2015forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking2015crash71,710
15V323000May 28, 2015air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2003–2008crash, injury and death432,016
14V763000December 1, 2014air bags2003–2005crash, injury and death4,175
14V577000September 19, 2014trailer hitches2015crash56
14V311000June 10, 2014service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2005–2009crash461,338
13V336000August 1, 2013power train: automatic transmission2014crash202
13V194000May 13, 2013steering2013crash5,379
13V110000March 27, 2013service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2005–2009crash274,402
13V077000March 5, 2013visibility: sun/moon roof assembly2012crash14
13V078000March 5, 2013visibility/wiper2012fire16
13V061000February 25, 2013electrical system2010–2013—47,419
12V602000December 26, 2012exterior lighting2010–2011fire633,842
12V047000February 9, 2012air bags: side/window2012injury381
11V562000November 29, 2011service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages2012crash32,685
11V467000September 7, 2011visibility: sun/moon roof assembly2011crash69,590
10V326000July 20, 2010power train: manual transmission2010–2011crash809
10V283000June 24, 2010steering: column2010crash73,698
10V196000May 7, 2010engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings2010crash29,443
04V274000June 9, 2004air bags: side/window2005injury1,987
04V128000March 16, 2004vehicle speed control: cables2001–2004crash127,580
03V303000August 20, 2003fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap2004fire7,874
03V232000June 26, 2003suspension: front2003crash350
03V153000April 22, 2003suspension: rear2000–2003crash170,000
02V282000October 30, 2002power train: automatic transmission2001–2003crash172,564
02V240000September 13, 2002engine and engine cooling: cooling system2003—555
02V235000September 5, 2002wheels2003crash100
02V079000March 12, 2002service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder2002crash1,252
13E065000fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2000–2004fire—

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Subaru Outback. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: October 22, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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