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Subaru Outback vs Subaru Forester: which has more problems

Subaru Outback and Subaru Forester side by side: owner complaints by component, problem years, service bulletins and engines. Same data as on each model page.

More complaints often just means more cars sold, so compare the pattern of problems and the years, not only the total.

At a glance

Subaru Outback

  • Model years in data: 1995–2026
  • Owner complaints: 9,792 (after a crash 408, fires 0)
  • Complaints per model year (average): 306
  • Service bulletins: 1,057
  • Worst years: 2019 (1,036), 2017 (921), 2020 (906)

Subaru Forester

  • Model years in data: 1998–2026
  • Owner complaints: 6,540 (after a crash 555, fires 0)
  • Complaints per model year (average): 226
  • Service bulletins: 867
  • Worst years: 2019 (834), 2015 (617), 2020 (604)

Components: owner complaints

Component Subaru Outback Subaru Forester
Visibility 2,084 21% 1,263 19%
Electrical system 2,288 23% 806 12%
Engine 723 7% 832 13%
Air bags 695 7% 821 13%
Powertrain 992 10% 559 9%
Vehicle speed control 532 5% 532 8%
Service brakes 579 6% 384 6%
Suspension 320 3% 416 6%
Fuel/propulsion system 271 3% 351 5%
Steering 369 4% 181 3%
Structure 296 3% 215 3%
Engine and cooling 282 3% 189 3%

Which is more reliable: Subaru Outback or Subaru Forester?

This data alone can't settle it: complaint counts depend on sales. Compare which components draw the most complaints (visibility, electrical system, engine) and which years are worst, then check the specific car by VIN and photos.

Check a specific car by VIN and photos

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