MYRModel Year Report

Subaru Outback — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 2019, 2017, 2020, 2018, 2011, 2016 · Best bets: 1996, 2025, 1997, 2023, 2024, 2004

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Subaru Outback Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2026 highlighted. 1995: 2 complaints 1995 1996: 46 complaints 1997: 79 complaints 1998: 127 complaints 1999: 111 complaints 1999 2000: 207 complaints 2001: 171 complaints 2002: 143 complaints 2003: 93 complaints 2003 2004: 90 complaints 2005: 273 complaints 2006: 276 complaints 2007: 129 complaints 2007 2008: 226 complaints 2009: 105 complaints 2010: 359 complaints 2011: 649 complaints 2011 2012: 290 complaints 2013: 295 complaints 2014: 208 complaints 2015: 505 complaints 2015 2016: 639 complaints 2017: 917 complaints 2018: 803 complaints 2019: 1029 complaints 2019 2020: 890 complaints 2021: 291 complaints 2022: 453 complaints 2023: 85 complaints 2023 2024: 89 complaints 2025: 65 complaints 2026: 8 complaints 2026
2026: 8 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19952
199646
199779
1998127
1999111
2000207
2001171
2002143
200393
200490
2005273
2006276
2007129
2008226
2009105
2010359
2011649
2012290
2013295
2014208
2015505
2016639
2017917
2018803
20191029
2020890
2021291
2022453
202385
202489
202565
20268

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2026 Not enough data 8 Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 Recommended 65 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2024 Recommended 89 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 Recommended 85 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2022 Avoid 453 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2021 Caution 291 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 Avoid 890 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2019 Avoid 1029 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2018 Avoid 803 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2017 Avoid 917 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2016 Avoid 639 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2015 Avoid 505 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 295 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2012 Caution 290 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2011 Avoid 649 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2010 Caution 359 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 Recommended 105 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 276 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.