2009 SUBARU OUTBACK

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    airbag system

    16 unsafe

    16
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=14, median 80,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD (WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER IS) FOR DRIVER'S AIR BAG COMES ON WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW ABOUT 44 DEGREES. IT STAYS ON 95% OF THE 8 WINTER MONTHS. I BOUGHT THIS USED (2014) FROM A DEALER, AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT IT. HE…"~40,000 mi, complaint #1348629
    • ""AIR BAG" WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (COMBINATION METER) IS ON. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON SINCE IT HAS BEEN COLD OUT. IT KEEPS ON EVERY COLD DAY. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF POSSIBLY NOT DEPLOYING THE SRS TO PROTECT DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN A COL…"~56,789 mi, complaint #1126281
    • "MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN TURNING ON AND OFF WITH NO APPARENT CONSISTENCY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. SOMETIMES, ITS ON, SOMETIMES NOT, I MADE AN APPT TO TAKE IT TO A SUBARU DEALER, MONTHS AGO, THEN A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE, IT WENT OFF AND STA…"~85,000 mi, complaint #1375631
    • "TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK -- VEHICLE HAS 113,000 MILES ON IT AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR TWO WEEKS HAS NOT GONE OFF SINCE . -- 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN TK HOLDINGS POSTCARD CB "~113,000 mi, complaint #1441608
    • "THE DRIVER AIRBAG IN MULTIPLE MODELS OF SUBARU ARE DISABLED BECAUSE OF AN APPARENT FAULT IN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE.THIS REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE PART. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE TOPIC IN MULTIPLE AUTO WEBSITES AND IT APPEAR…"~142,000 mi, complaint #1077234
  2. #2

    wiring harness

    11 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    12
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=22, median 100,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "PROBLEM 1: EXPERIENCED REAR WIPER (STATION WAGON) NOT WORKING. CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES THROUGH THE HINGE AREA WAS BROKEN. IT WAS REPAIRED. NOW THE CAR HAS 72,000 MILES AND I AM HAVING REAR WIPER…"~35,251 mi, complaint #1152158
    • "STARTED MY CAR AT NIGHT TO FIND OUT MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, BUT THE SAFELY LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK EITHER. THE LIGHTS ABOVE MY REAR LICENSE PLATE HAD BEEN OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WE…"~48,000 mi, complaint #987353
    • "THE BRAKE LIGHTS, HATCH LOCK, WIPER AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE REAR PART OF MY SUBARU 2009 OUTBACK STOPPED WORKING OR WORKING ERRATICALLY. I CHECKED THE RUBBER BOOT CONTAINING THE REAR WIRING HARNESS FOR DAMAGE AND DISCOVERED 13 OUT OF 14 WIRES WE…"~99,500 mi, complaint #1232124
    • "REAR HATCH WIRING HAS WORN TO THE POINT OF FULLY BREAKING FOUR AND DAMAGING FIVE OTHER WIRES OUT OF APPROXIMATELY 14 TOTAL GOING THROUGH THE FLEXIBLE BOOT BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE HATCH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SYSTEMS AFFECTED: REAR WIPER, REAR…"~118,000 mi, complaint #1262521
    • "AFTER FUSES BLOWN REPEATEDLY AND REPLACED, REAR WIPER, WASHER PUMP AND LOCK CEASED TO OPERATE FOR PERHAPS A YEAR. RECENTLY THE HEADLIGHTS GOT REAL FUNKY - WOULD NOT OPERATE IN NORMAL "ON" POSITION. BUT THEN SOME STRANGE BEHAVIOR WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE (IGNI…"~182,000 mi, complaint #1344410
  3. #3

    engine stall or no start

    10 unsafe

    10
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=13, median 117,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "MY 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK BEGAN IDLING ERRATICALLY IN NOVEMBER 2009, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN SLOWLY ENTERING PARKING SPACES AND RESULTING IN ROAD SERVICE PULLING ME FROM A DITCH AT THE END OF A POST OFFICE PARKING SPACE. AS A RESULT I DRIVE WIT…"~1,436 mi, complaint #794562
    • "THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE. MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, PULLING ONTO MAIN TWO-WAY ROAD, THE DASH LIGHTS FLASHED ON, CAR JERKED AND THEN STALLED. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS 50 MPH CARS AND TRUCKS WERE COMING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT US - WITH…"~46,000 mi, complaint #842927
    • "THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY BUCKS/CHUGS WHILE DRIVING AND THEN STALLS. ALL THE LIGHTS FLASH ON. IT IS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL STREETS. IT ALSO IDLES VERY ROUGH WHEN AT STOPS OR IN PARK AND SHUDDERS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL - S…"~117,000 mi, complaint #1744417
    • "PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED COMPLAINT REGARDING MY SUBARU OUTBACK STALLING. I WAS ASSIGNED COMPLAINT NUMBER 11414502 (ATTACHED) BUT WHEN I DIDN'T RECEIVE THE EMAIL, I CHECKED AND IT DIDN'T PULL UP SO I'M RESUBMITTING."~117,000 mi, complaint #1744570
    • "2009 SUBARU OUTBACK STALLING WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH LIGHT ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS (5-20 MPH) WITHOUT WARNING. WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE THE CA…"~162,400 mi, complaint #1639006
  4. #4

    door latch and hinge

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HOOD POPPED UP. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RE-FASTEN THE HOOD. AFTER TRAVELING 100 MILES, THE HOOD POPPED UP AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRE…"~24,811 mi, complaint #1264860
    • "WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED MY HOOD WAS UNLATCHED. I HAD NOT RECENTLY HAD IT OPEN FOR ANY REASON.."~50,000 mi, complaint #1262206
    • "I RECENTLY FILLED OUT THIS FORM (COMPLAINT # 10837114) CONCERNING MY HOOD LATCH BECOMING UNLATCHED ON ITS OWN. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER AN APPROXIMATE [REDACTED ADDRESS] I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND NOTED THAT THE HOOD OF THE CAR HAD BECOME UNLATCHED…"~52,412 mi, complaint #1263345
    • "INSIDE CAB HOOD LATCH CAN TRIGGER BY CONTACT WITH RIGHT LEG WHEN EXITING VEHICLE, DRIVER CAN USUALLY SEE HOOD NOT SECURE WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN STOP VEHICLE AND SECURE HOOD. ON 1/6/2016 WHILE TRAVELING OVER THE JAMESTOWN BRIDGE, HOOD FLEW UP AND SMASHED…"~86,000 mi, complaint #1252567
  5. #5

    alignment and pull

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=10, median 26,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "VEHICLE HAS A SHIMMY WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS: 70-75 MPH. SHIMMY HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE VEHICLE DELIVERY. 5 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER 10 MONTHS DID NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR"~800 mi, complaint #792793
    • "DRIVING ON SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS ICE/SNOW ON FREEWAY WITH LIGHTLY LOADED SUBARU OUTBACK (4 PASSENGERS, WHICH INCLUDED 2 FEMALES IN BACK SEAT AND LIGHT LUGGAGE FOR FOUR). THE REAR OF CAR BEGAN "GHOSTWALKING" OSCILLATING SIDE TO SIDE ABOUT 3-4" AT APPROXIMATELY…"~22,400 mi, complaint #896199
    • "ROAD CONDITIONS: POOR, ICY. VEHICLE: 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON LOADED WITH 4 PASSENGERS (2 ADULT, 2 TEEN, PLUS "LIGHT" LUGGAGE). WHEN THE VEHICLE PASSED OVER AN ICY PATCH, THE CAR SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE VIOLENTLY. ON SUBARU FORUM WEBSITES, THIS TYPE OF L…"~26,000 mi, complaint #843565
    • "DRIVING ON STRAIGHT, SEMI-ICY ROADS BETWEEN NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN AT SPEEDS FROM 40MPH TO 50MPH THE 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK LOADED WITH APPROX 500LBS OF CARGO AND PASSENGERS (DRIVER INCLUDED) WOULD SUDDENLY SWERVE BACK AND FORTH ( REFERRED TO AS…"~62,500 mi, complaint #1029841
    • "OUR 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK IS RADICALLY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON COMPACTED SNOW OR ICE. THE CAR BECOMES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE WITH REAR OVERSTEER ON MODERATELY SLIPPERY ROADS; EVEN AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS WITHOUT APPLYING ANY ACCELERATION. OUR VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS D…"~84,675 mi, complaint #1035959
  6. #6

    brake hydraulics

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "CONTACTED DEALER (MIKE SHAW SUBARU, NORTHGLENN, CO) PER THE NHTSA RECALL 14V-311 -- RECALL STATES INSPECT AND REPAIR. INSISTED ON INSPECTION ONLY AND REPLACEMENT IN THE EVENT OF VISIBLE CORROSION ONLY. DID NOT OFFER THE APPLICATION OF ANTI-CORROSIVE MATER…"~25,345 mi, complaint #1100017
    • "The contact owned a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact swerved to avoid a crash and moved over to the median. The contact s…"~106,000 mi, complaint #2084118
    • "The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while attempting to come to a complete stop, the contact stated that the brake pedal depressed fully to the floor without applying the brakes. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illumin…"~170,000 mi, complaint #1784474
  7. #7

    engine head gasket

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 2009 OUTBACK WAGON WHICH AS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. *TR"~63,000 mi, complaint #1112396
    • "THE HEAD GASKETS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE DEVELOPED LEAKS AT JUST OVER 80,000 MILES. THIS IS A FREQUENT (AND KNOWN) PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS ON THIS VEHICLE. ALL SUBARU-SPECIFIC MECHANICS, MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL AND EVEN SUBARU DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES HAVE EX…"~80,100 mi, complaint #1374303
    • "VEHICLE WITH ONLY 105 K MILES REQUIRES NEW HEAD GASKET DUE TO LEAK."~105,000 mi, complaint #1455652
    • "2009 SUBARU OUTBACK HEAD GASKET SEEPAGE. THIS ISSUE SOA HAS BEEN AWHERE OF AND SAID IT CAN BE NORMAL OVER TIME. YET I FOUND THAT THE GASKET USED AT THAT TIME WAS SUBSTANDARD. A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED. I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS, BUT DID`NT. PER…"~126,000 mi, complaint #1252125
  8. #8

    other

    1 unsafe, 1 broken, 3 annoyance

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "REAR GATE ELECTRICAL CORD PREMATURE FAILURE AT RUBBER ACCORDION BEND"complaint #1239735
    • "TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REA…"complaint #1303993
    • "TAKATA RECALL - THE LETTER FROM NHTSA VIA SUBARU RE. THE RECALL WAS MISLEADING. 1. IT SAID THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE APPROX. 1 HOUR 48 MINUTES. IT TOOK ALL DAY. I UNEXPECTEDLY HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR OVERNIGHT AT GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO ME. 2. THE DIRECTIVE NO…"complaint #1367569
    • "TAKATA RECALL I COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL BY TAKING IT TO KENDALL SUBARU IN EUGENE, OREGON ON MARCH 1, 2018 AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. I HAD SPOKEN TO ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THIS AND SHE GAVE ME A RA#1271579."complaint #1512308
    • "WENT TO LOCAL SUBURB DEALERSHIP AND WAS EXPECTING A FREE LOANER VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT AND THAT WAS IN THE RECALL SO THEY LOCAL DEALERSHIP DID NOT DELIVER THE SERVICE THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO FIX FOR THE RECALL!"complaint #1595898
  9. #9

    lighting exterior

    3 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHTLY ENOUGH TO PROVIDE PROPER VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. AN AU…"~20,000 mi, complaint #896196
    • "The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front headlights became inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the daytime runni…"~51,000 mi, complaint #2236202
  10. #10

    engine internal

    1 stranded, 2 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "IN JUNE OF 2009 MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2009 V6 SUBARU OUTBACK (VIN [XXX]) FROM MANCHESTER SUBARU IN MANCHESTER, NH FOR $29,843.00.IN DECEMBER OF 2010, WITH APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING,…"~30,000 mi, complaint #835422
    • "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. APPARENTLY, A NOT UNCOMMON PROBLEM (ENGINE BEARING). VEHICLE UNDER BOTH FACTORY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. SUBARU NORTH AMERICA IS TRYING TO AVOID FIXING UNDER WARRANTY (AGAIN, IT SEEMS A NOT UNCOMMON PROBLEM). SUBARU CLAIMS OIL LE…"~54,000 mi, complaint #914690
    • "The contact owned a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle had failed to accelerate above 60 MPH without warning. The contact soon began to notice heavy white smoke in her rear-view mirror as the smoke quickly spread…"~200,000 mi, complaint #2150467
  11. #11

    transmission automatic

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN EVERY SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE…"~13,357 mi, complaint #802823
    • "ABOUT A MONTH AGO (APRIL 2011) WHILE MOVING FORWARD AT AROUND 5 TO 10 MPH I REACHED FOR THE GLOVE BOX AND MY SHIRT CUFF CAUGHT THE SHIFT HANDLE AND THRU THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. WHILE I WAS LUCKY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS S…"~32,000 mi, complaint #856258
  12. #12

    catalytic converter

    1 unsafe, 1 broken

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED ONCE BACK IN 2013. THIS WEEK HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN DUE TO PROBLEM WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MILEAGE AT 105,000."~105,000 mi, complaint #1455646
  13. #13

    fuel injector

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. LUCKILY WE WERE ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED ROAD AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE. THE ENGINE WOULD START, RUN FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND, THEN DIE. WHILE WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK, A GEARHEAD-TYPE FRIEND THAT I HAD CALLED TO T…"~115,000 mi, complaint #1340108
  14. #14

    interior trim

    2 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "DASHBOARD IS VERY STICKY AS THOUGH MELTING. NOTICED FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND GETTING WORSE."~100,000 mi, complaint #1700438
  15. #15

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "MY SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT USUALLY WENT OFF IF I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. BUT NOW IT'S ON CONSTANTLY. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S A MALFUNCTION INVOLVING THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT APPARATUS AND IT'S NOT C…"~39,000 mi, complaint #1068206
    • "The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that both the driver’s and passenger’s side seat belts failed to retract upon release. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where the parts to repair both seat belts were ordered. When the v…"~70,198 mi, complaint #1786280
  16. #16

    tpms

    2 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE TIRE PRESSUURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ON MY 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 XT LTD HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AND THE LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE CENTER (WACKERLI OF IDAHO FALLS), THE REGIONAL SERVIC EMANAGER AND SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR"complaint #853801
    • "2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE ADJUSTED THE TIRE PRESSURE TO THE COLD PRESSURE OF 32 PSI FRONT AND 30 PSI REAR WHICH WAS LISTED ON THE STICKER ON TH…"complaint #859407
  17. #17

    transmission manual clutch

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "THE VEHICLE IS A STATION WAGON WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, DRIVEN ONLY BY MY WIFE AND I. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, WE EXPERIENCED AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WHERE IT WOULD POP OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEEDS. I DID NOT REPORT THIS PROBLEM DURING…"~4,500 mi, complaint #961311
    • "BROUGHT IT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT USED. 18 MONTHS LATER, I'M HAVING THE CURRENT ISSUE. THOUGHT IT WAS AS SIMPLE AS USING WHITE LITHIUM GREASE TO DEAL WITH THE SQUEAK IN THE CLUTCH. THEY SAID IT WAS A RUBBER GASKET THAT IS PART OF THE FOOT PEDAL ASS…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1326572
  18. #18

    wiper and washer

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WHILE TRAVELING ON A [REDACTED ADDRESS] AT NIGHT DURING A HEAVY RAINFALL, MY DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DISCONNECTED AND JAMMED INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD, JAMMING THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER AS WELL. VISIBILITY IN THE RAIN WAS REDUCED TO ALMOST NOTHING.…"~88,000 mi, complaint #1135155
  19. #19

    driveshaft axle cv

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "AT 37450 MILES, BOTH CV JOINT BOOTS ADJACENT TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING GREASE TO COAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2009 FROM GILES SUBARU. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER…"~37,457 mi, complaint #1307751
  20. #20

    engine oil consumption

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "AIR BAGS HAVE BECOME DISABLED DUE TO EITHER THE SWITCH IN THE SEAT OR IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE. THE ENGINE ALSO CONSUMES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OIL (HAS SINCE NEW) ABOUT 2 QUARTS EVERY OIL CHANGE OR 3000 MILES SOMETIMES MORE"complaint #1336597
  21. #21

    fluid leak unspecified

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE…"~149,000 mi, complaint #1138677
  22. #22

    fuel pump

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "POSITIVE WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP BURNED THROUGH TO THE OPEN GAS TANK LEAVING THE CAR ABLE TO RUN INTERMITTENTLY. THE PLASTIC HOUSING WAS MELTED AND BURNED AND THE WIRING CONNECTOR WAS RUINED. MY CONCERN IS THE HOT WIRE CONNECTOR, HOT ENOUGH TO MELT AND LEAVE T…"~139,000 mi, complaint #1373903
  23. #23

    fuel tank and lines

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE FUEL PIPE FILLER AND VALVE ASSEMBLY FAILED AND ALLOWED GASOLINE TO LEAK. THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK ON THE FUEL PUMP THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE LOCATE ON THE FIRST TWO ATTEMPTS. THE LEAKS WERE MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND COULD HAVE POSSIBLY…"~58,178 mi, complaint #1342387
  24. #24

    glass and windshield

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, DASH STARTED TO GET STICK AND ALSO PRODUCES A BAD GLARE ON WINDSHIELD. HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS HEAT HAS PROGRESSED IN SC DURING THE SUMMER. *TR"~47,000 mi, complaint #1104589
  25. #25

    power windows and locks

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WHEN LOCKING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR LIFT GATE WILL NOT LOCK. SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOUND A BROKEN WIRE LEADING TO THE REAR LIFT GATE ACTUATOR, AND FIXED. JUNE 2015, PROBLEM OCCURRING AGAIN. JUST LOOKED, AND WIRE WAS BROKEN AGAIN (FOUND BY REMOVING PASSENGER SIDE RU…"~72,290 mi, complaint #1195403
  26. #26

    stability and traction control

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 SPECIAL EDITION. WHILE DRIVING ON I-35 NEAR CLOQUET, MN, THE CAR EXHIBITED DANGEROUSLY UNSTABLE HANDLING THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY OTHER SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ICY AND EVEN WITH GREATLY…"~3,700 mi, complaint #701698
  27. #27

    starter

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart after being parked. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery was charged to start the vehicle. T…"~115,000 mi, complaint #1889553
  28. #28

    tire failure

    1 stranded

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "SIDEWALL TIRE FAILURE IN ORDINARY USE; 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK, 5500 MILES, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRE FAILED, INNER RIGHT REAR SIDEWALL FRACTURED. NO EXCESSIVE DRIVING, SPEED, OR SEVERE USE AT ALL. I REPLACED ALL BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES AND HAVE THEM AVAILA…"~5,540 mi, complaint #706940
  29. #29

    unintended acceleration

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN IN REVERSE BEFORE CRASHING INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND A BRICK WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLIC…"~22,000 mi, complaint #940864

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for SUBARU OUTBACK directly.