MODELYEARINDEX

Which Subaru Outback years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2020, 2019 and 2017 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Subaru Outback Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2020 vs model median 3.0×
Model median3× median
Lights & Visibility 394
Electrical 252
Driver Assist 95
Avoid

2019 · 2020

Best

2012 · 2014

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.68× 181 C
2011
0.76× 238 C
2012
0.25× 72 B
2013
0.56× 164 B
2014
0.51× 146 B
2015
1.04× 347 C
2016
0.96× 326 C
2017
2.05× 743 F
2018
2.23× 764 F
2019
2.73× 984 F
2020
3.02× 1,059 F
2021
1.08× 378 C
2022 P
1.60× 546 D
2023 P
0.42× 124 B
2024 P
0.41× 131 A
2025 P
0.37× 113 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2019 F 984 reports · median 10,227 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 367

    The car was not used over the weekend except for a 5 mile trip to church where it did not encounter any rocks, hits, etc. Drove home and the car windshield was find. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 255

    Navigation system failure! I have 3200 miles on my 2019 outback and since day 1 have had problems using the nav system. The system freezes up completely causing everything not work radio back up camera etc. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 52

    2019 subaru outback. Consumer writes in regard to design or malfunctioning of technology. The adaptive cruise control failed to maintain adjusted speed. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

38 crash · 2 fire · 17 injuries

2020 F 1,059 reports · median 6,000 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 394

    The headlights on this car are too bright or not adjusted correctly. I have been high beamed on many occasions. 9 times one evening, 13 times another evening, and 17 times on another evening. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 252

    1. The backup and front camera are downgraded from previous models of outback.subaru of america denies this. The night visibility is dangerous. The dealership agrees. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 95

    The car has a faulty electronic system that controls the stability and the adaptive cruise control. Transmission also needs replacement. Problems happen at high speed on freeways. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

30 crash · 5 fire · 5 injuries

The best year for the Outback

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2012 is the best-scoring Outback model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 78.8 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2012 0.25× 72 B
2014 0.51× 146 B
2013 0.56× 164 B

Recalls

49 campaigns on record, 1 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
12V602000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2010, 2011 633,842
16V694000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR 2010–2014 592,647
19V009000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 452,630
19V008000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 330,120
16V358000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 302,127
20V001000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 258,813
18V773000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2018 228,648
21V955000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) 2020 198,255
20V218000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2019 188,207
21V587000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2018–2020 175,968
20V002000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 127,547
24V227000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 2020–2022 118,723

+ 37 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2020 were reported at a median of 6,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Subaru Outback years should you avoid?
2020, 2019, 2017 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Subaru Outback model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Subaru Outback?
2012 is the best-scoring Subaru Outback model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 78.8 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Subaru Outback have?
49 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Subaru Outback model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2020 Outback
Complaints in window
1,059
Severity-weighted
1,315
Model median (weighted)
435
vs model median
3.02×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
6
Open investigations
0
Score 10 F