MYRModel Year Report

Subaru Outback — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

8 model years to avoid, 6 to watch and 12 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid8 years

Caution6 years

Best bets12 years

Complaint history

1995: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1995 1996: 46 complaints, Recommended 1997: 79 complaints, Recommended 1998: 127 complaints, Recommended 1999: 111 complaints, Recommended 2000: 207 complaints, Recommended 2000 2001: 171 complaints, Recommended 2002: 143 complaints, Recommended 2003: 93 complaints, Recommended 2004: 90 complaints, Recommended 2005: 273 complaints, Caution 2005 2006: 277 complaints, Caution 2007: 129 complaints, Recommended 2008: 226 complaints, Recommended 2009: 106 complaints, Recommended 2010: 360 complaints, Caution 2010 2011: 652 complaints, Avoid 2012: 292 complaints, Caution 2013: 297 complaints, Caution 2014: 208 complaints, Recommended 2015: 509 complaints, Avoid 2016: 642 complaints, Avoid 2017: 918 complaints, Avoid 2018: 813 complaints, Avoid 2019: 1,034 complaints, Avoid 2019 2020: 899 complaints, Avoid 2021: 296 complaints, Caution 2022: 465 complaints, Avoid 2023: 89 complaints, Recommended 2024: 103 complaints, Recommended 2025: 81 complaints, Recommended 2025 2026: 16 complaints, Not enough data 2019 · 1,034
1995: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1995 1996: 46 complaints, Recommended 1997: 79 complaints, Recommended 1998: 127 complaints, Recommended 1998 1999: 111 complaints, Recommended 2000: 207 complaints, Recommended 2001: 171 complaints, Recommended 2001 2002: 143 complaints, Recommended 2003: 93 complaints, Recommended 2004: 90 complaints, Recommended 2004 2005: 273 complaints, Caution 2006: 277 complaints, Caution 2007: 129 complaints, Recommended 2007 2008: 226 complaints, Recommended 2009: 106 complaints, Recommended 2010: 360 complaints, Caution 2010 2011: 652 complaints, Avoid 2012: 292 complaints, Caution 2013: 297 complaints, Caution 2013 2014: 208 complaints, Recommended 2015: 509 complaints, Avoid 2016: 642 complaints, Avoid 2016 2017: 918 complaints, Avoid 2018: 813 complaints, Avoid 2019: 1,034 complaints, Avoid 2019 2020: 899 complaints, Avoid 2021: 296 complaints, Caution 2022: 465 complaints, Avoid 2022 2023: 89 complaints, Recommended 2024: 103 complaints, Recommended 2025: 81 complaints, Recommended 2025 2026: 16 complaints, Not enough data 2019 · 1,034
1995: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1995 1996: 46 complaints, Recommended 1997: 79 complaints, Recommended 1997 1998: 127 complaints, Recommended 1999: 111 complaints, Recommended 1999 2000: 207 complaints, Recommended 2001: 171 complaints, Recommended 2001 2002: 143 complaints, Recommended 2003: 93 complaints, Recommended 2003 2004: 90 complaints, Recommended 2005: 273 complaints, Caution 2005 2006: 277 complaints, Caution 2007: 129 complaints, Recommended 2007 2008: 226 complaints, Recommended 2009: 106 complaints, Recommended 2009 2010: 360 complaints, Caution 2011: 652 complaints, Avoid 2011 2012: 292 complaints, Caution 2013: 297 complaints, Caution 2013 2014: 208 complaints, Recommended 2015: 509 complaints, Avoid 2015 2016: 642 complaints, Avoid 2017: 918 complaints, Avoid 2017 2018: 813 complaints, Avoid 2019: 1,034 complaints, Avoid 2019 2020: 899 complaints, Avoid 2021: 296 complaints, Caution 2021 2022: 465 complaints, Avoid 2023: 89 complaints, Recommended 2023 2024: 103 complaints, Recommended 2025: 81 complaints, Recommended 2025 2026: 16 complaints, Not enough data 2019 · 1,034
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2026 ○ Not enough data 16 Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 ▲ Recommended 81 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2024 ▲ Recommended 103 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 ▲ Recommended 89 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2022 ■ Avoid 465 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2021 ◆ Caution 296 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 ■ Avoid 899 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2019 ■ Avoid 1,034 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2018 ■ Avoid 813 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2017 ■ Avoid 918 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2016 ■ Avoid 642 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2015 ■ Avoid 509 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2014 ● Recommended 208 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2013 ◆ Caution 297 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2012 ◆ Caution 292 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2011 ■ Avoid 652 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2010 ◆ Caution 360 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 ▲ Recommended 106 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2008 ● Recommended 226 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2007 ▲ Recommended 129 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2006 ◆ Caution 277 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2005 ◆ Caution 273 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2004 ▲ Recommended 90 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 ▲ Recommended 93 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2002 ▲ Recommended 143 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 ● Recommended 171 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2000 ● Recommended 207 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1999 ▲ Recommended 111 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1998 ▲ Recommended 127 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1997 ▲ Recommended 79 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1996 ▲ Recommended 46 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1995 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

72

recalls on file across every Subaru Outback model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Subaru models