Subaru Legacy, Outback Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy high
A capacitor inside the sensor that detects whether the front passenger seat is occupied may crack and short circuit. If this happens, the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash.
Subaru Outback recalls
15 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
- 15 recalls
- 8 rated high or critical
- 3,587 owner complaints
- Mar 22, 2024 newest recall
Subaru Outback, Forester switch failure disables reverse lights, camera medium
Subaru is recalling certain Crosstrek, Forester, Legacy and Outback vehicles. A weld that was not strong enough can let water get into the inhibitor switch, the switch that tells the car which gear the transmission is in, and the water can make that switch fail. If it does, the reverse lights may not come on and the rearview camera image may not appear. Dealers will replace the switch free of charge.
Subaru Driveshaft Bolts May Loosen And Disconnect high
Subaru is recalling certain 2023 Ascent, Impreza, Legacy, and Outback vehicles because of a problem with the driveshaft. The bolts that hold the center support brace for the driveshaft in place may loosen over time. If those bolts loosen too much, the front end of the driveshaft can come apart from the rest of the vehicle. To fix this, dealers will clean the surfaces where the bolts attach and put in new bolts, at no cost to the owner.
Subaru Impreza and Outback Windshields May Detach high
In some Subaru Impreza and Outback vehicles, the wrong paint clearcoat was used during manufacturing. This can leave the windshield insufficiently bonded, or glued, to the vehicle body. A windshield that is not attached as firmly as it should be does not meet federal safety standards for how windshields must be mounted in a vehicle. This bonding problem happened because of an error made during the painting process at the factory.
Subaru Legacy and Outback Transmission Chain May Slip medium
In some Legacy and Outback vehicles, a programming error in the transmission control unit may let the clutch engage before the drive chain is fully clamped. If the chain isn't properly secured, it can slip and break.
Subaru Outback Wiring Fault May Cause Engine Stall medium
In these vehicles, the wiring that runs to the engine's control computer may have been damaged. This damage can create a loose electrical connection where the wiring plugs into the computer. A loose connection like this can cause the engine to stall while you are driving. Subaru will fix this by replacing the damaged wiring harness along with the engine control computer, so this loose connection can no longer cause the engine to stall.
Subaru Ascent, Legacy, Outback Drive Chain Risk high
Subaru is recalling certain Ascent, Legacy, and Outback vehicles because a programming error in the transmission control unit may let the clutch engage before the drive chain is fully clamped. If the chain isn't properly secured, it may slip and break. A broken drive chain causes a loss of drive power, which increases the risk of a crash.
Subaru, Toyota 86 Fuel Pump May Fail high
The low-pressure fuel pump, located inside the fuel tank, may fail on these vehicles. If the pump fails, the engine can stall while the vehicle is being driven. To fix the issue, dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump. This repair is free of charge, and it applies to a number of affected Subaru models as well as the Toyota 86.
Subaru Impreza, Outback Shifter Cable Nut May Loosen medium
On certain 2021 Subaru Outback and Impreza vehicles with a continuously variable transmission, a nut on the shift lever cable may not have been tightened properly. Over time, this nut can loosen, which can cause the cable to lose its grip and the gear selector to stop working correctly. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the nut and tighten it if needed.
Subaru Legacy, Outback Rearview Camera Can Cut Out medium
Subaru is recalling certain Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with the high or mid grade multimedia navigation system. An earlier over-the-air software update did not finish installing correctly, which corrupted some data. As a result, the rearview camera image on the display can shut off intermittently instead of staying on while the driver is backing up.
Subaru Vehicles May Have Fuel Pump Failure high
Certain Subaru Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles have a low pressure fuel pump that may stop working. Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump to fix the problem.
Subaru Legacy, Outback brake pedal bolt problem high
Some 2020 Subaru Outback and Legacy vehicles may have a bolt in the brake pedal mounting bracket that is either missing or was not tightened enough. Without that bolt properly in place, the metal bracket that holds and supports the brake pedal may gradually bend or shift out of its correct shape as the vehicle continues to be driven.
Subaru Legacy and Outback Body Weld Issue high
Subaru is recalling certain 2019 Legacy and Outback vehicles because spot welds on the duct below the cowl panel may have been applied improperly. These welds affect the strength of the vehicle's body. If the vehicle is involved in a crash, this reduced body strength may increase the risk of injury to the people riding inside, since the body may not hold up as well as it should during a collision.
Subaru Legacy, Outback, BRZ backup camera screen may stay blank medium
Subaru is recalling certain Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. A software problem can keep the audio display system from starting up, and when that happens the camera display stays blank. If that occurs, the rear camera image will not appear while you are backing up. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet the federal rearview mirror safety standard. Dealers will reprogram the audio system display software at no charge. Subaru has notified owners, and the recall began February 5, 2019.
Subaru Legacy and Outback Fuel Gauge Software Error medium
Subaru is recalling certain 2018 Legacy and Outback vehicles because of a software error affecting the fuel display. The low fuel warning light may not turn on when it should, and the miles-to-empty display can show a positive number even when the tank is actually empty. Because the display isn't accurate, a driver may not realize how little fuel actually remains in the tank while driving.
Subaru problem guides that cover the Outback
- Subaru Power Train Recalls Involving Driveshafts, Transmissions, and Gear Selection · 8 recalls
- Subaru Electrical Recalls Involve Stalling, Power Loss and Fire · 7 recalls
- Subaru Visibility Recalls Involving Glass, Defrosters, and Backup Cameras · 5 recalls
- Subaru Engine Recalls Cover PCV Failures, Stalling and Coolant Leaks · 4 recalls
- Subaru Structure Recalls Cover Body Welds and Rear Hatch Supports · 3 recalls
Outback model years compared
Recalls and NHTSA owner complaints for each model year, side by side. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and better-selling or older years naturally collect more — read this as a record, not a ranking.
| Model year | Recalls | High / critical | Do-not-drive / park-outside | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 811 | 27 | 4 | 19 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1,033 | 24 | 2 | 18 |
| 2020 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 896 | 19 | 7 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 296 | 9 | 1 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 462 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 89 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
Subaru Outback recall questions
How many recalls does the Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA lists 15 safety recalls covering the 2018–2023 Subaru Outback. 8 of them are rated high or critical on this site. The most recent is "Subaru Legacy, Outback Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy" (NHTSA campaign 24V227000), reported Mar 22, 2024.
Which Subaru Outback model year has the most recalls?
The 2020 Subaru Outback has the most, with 6 recalls. The 2023 model year has the fewest of the years we cover, with 2. Newer model years have had less time to collect recalls, so a low count on a recent year is not a guarantee.
Is there a do-not-drive or park-outside recall on the Subaru Outback?
No. None of the 15 Subaru Outback recalls on file carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory from NHTSA.
How do I check whether my Subaru Outback has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall often applies to only some vehicles of a model year, and the VIN lookup shows the ones still unrepaired on your car. Recall repairs are free at any franchised Subaru dealer, including for second owners.
Buying a used Outback?
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: