Subaru

Outback

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · model years 2005 to 2027

Includes Outback AWD and Outback Wagon AWD as listed by the EPA.

See all 71 Outback trims All Subaru cars

The verdict

Best year: 2027. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 195; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 5.

Worst year: 2011. complaints: 652, about 2.2x this model's typical 292; recalls: 16, about 3.2x this model's typical 5.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Subaru Outback
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2005	6Gas	20	no data	$3,850	9	273	0	no data	SUSPENSION 16%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%, AIR BAGS 11%
complaints: 273, below this model's typical 584 recalls: 9, about 1.8x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 47 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	7Gas	20	no data	$3,850	7	281	0	no data	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 24%, ENGINE 11%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 281, below this model's typical 681 recalls: 7, above this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 63 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	7Gas	21	no data	$3,650	8	129	0	no data	AIR BAGS 26%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%
complaints: 129, below this model's typical 681 recalls: 8, about 1.6x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 59 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	5Gas	20	no data	$3,850	8	230	0	no data	AIR BAGS 37%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%, SERVICE BRAKES 11%
complaints: 230, below this model's typical 487 recalls: 8, about 1.6x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 55 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	5Gas	20	no data	$3,850	13	112	0	no data	AIR BAGS 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 112, below this model's typical 487 recalls: 13, about 2.6x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 45 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	3Gas	22	no data	$2,850	18	360	0	216	POWER TRAIN 20%, AIR BAGS 9%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 360, above this model's typical 292 recalls: 18, about 3.6x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 20 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	3Gas	22	no data	$2,850	16	652	0	230	POWER TRAIN 25%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 14%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 652, about 2.2x this model's typical 292 recalls: 16, about 3.2x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	3Gas	22	no data	$2,850	16	292	1	217	POWER TRAIN 29%, ENGINE 14%, AIR BAGS 11%
complaints: 292, in line with this model's typical 292 recalls: 16, about 3.2x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 25 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	3Gas	24	256	$2,600	12	297	0	305	ENGINE 17%, POWER TRAIN 15%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 297, above this model's typical 292 recalls: 12, about 2.4x this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 11 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	3Gas	24	256	$2,600	10	208	0	228	AIR BAGS 14%, ENGINE 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 208, below this model's typical 292 recalls: 10, about 2x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 21 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 39 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	2Gas	25	216	$2,525	5	510	1 (1 open)	345	VISIBILITY/WIPER 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%
complaints: 510, about 2.6x this model's typical 195 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 5 NHTSA advised parking the 2015 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	2Gas	25	216	$2,525	4	643	1 (1 open)	304	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 40%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 11%
complaints: 643, about 3.3x this model's typical 195 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 3 NHTSA advised parking the 2016 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	2Gas	25	216	$2,525	4	918	1 (1 open)	249	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 36%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%
complaints: 918, about 4.7x this model's typical 195 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 25 complaints reporting a fire: 3 NHTSA advised parking the 2017 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	2Gas	25	216	$2,525	3	813	0	222	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 24%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%
complaints: 813, about 4.2x this model's typical 195 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 19 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	2Gas	25	216	$2,525	3	1,035	0	202	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 29%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 26%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%
complaints: 1035, about 5.3x this model's typical 195 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 18 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 19 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	2Gas	27.5	221	$2,275	6	899	0	289	VISIBILITY/WIPER 28%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 899, about 4.6x this model's typical 195 recalls: 6, above this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 17 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	2Gas	27.5	221	$2,275	4	296	0	236	VISIBILITY/WIPER 24%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%
complaints: 296, about 1.5x this model's typical 195 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 47 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Gas	27.5	221	$2,275	4	465	0	197	VISIBILITY/WIPER 47%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 465, about 2.4x this model's typical 195 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 21 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	2Gas	26.5	221	$2,350	2	89	0	161	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 14%
complaints: 89, below this model's typical 195 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 76 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	2Gas	26.5	221	$2,350	0	104	0	120	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 15%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 12%
complaints: 104, below this model's typical 195 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	2Gas	26.5	221	$2,550	0	82	0	82	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, LANE DEPARTURE 12%
complaints: 82, below this model's typical 195 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 83 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	2Gas	25.5	no data	$2,650	0	16	0	no data	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 26%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 17%
complaints: 16, below this model's typical 195 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 90 of 100, where higher is better.
2027	2Gas	25.5	no data	$2,650	0	0	0	no data	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 195 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 5 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2005: 20 to 2027: 25.5

Owner complaints2005: 273 to 2027: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Subaru Outback to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.