AI DamageSubaru Outback Sport reliability: problems, complaints, recalls
Summary for the Subaru Outback Sport across 3 model years: 14 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 43% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 21% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 4 Electronic stability control 7% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 7% of all complaints
- Air bags: 6 complaints (43% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (21% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 14 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Dashboard is melted and too sticky to wash up it shines bright causing reflection against visual to drive, it's a safely issue.
Alternative transportation was suppose to be provided at no additional cost to me. They provided me with a rental car which required me to put a $25.00 deposit down and which the rental company would not refund me the end after I returned the car.
For an oil leak, was there for 3 weeks while I went back and forth with my insurance company. On the second to last day I learned of the air bag recall and called to inform my service advisor of this since at this point I was unaware of the recall.
Airbag light at the lower l side of the instrument cluster remains illuminated. Annoying chime sounds the entire time the car is on. I've read online that the problem lies in a pcb up by the map lights. Will check the solder on all resisters and leds on that pcb.
We have received notice over a month ago that the passenger side airbag is defective and that no one should ride in seat. Unfortunately, the subaru is our only car and we have 2 carseats in the back so if we are driving as a family, which we do on a daily basiss, someone has to sit in the front.
The airbag warning light remained on after ignition and while driving. This happened intermittently until I replaced the map light console recently. Problem solved. This should be a recall item as it affects an important safety feature of the car, I.e., the airbags.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.