Subaru Outback
Every model year 2018–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every Subaru Outback model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per yearWhich model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2018 is the cleanest Outback year we hold, and the 2020 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
Which Subaru Outback years reported which system early
Source: NHTSA complaints, odometer at reportEarliest on the record: 2021 electrical system complaints at 0.09× the mileage of same-age vehicles (median 2,500 miles). Latest: 2019 forward collision avoidance at 1.2× (22,000 miles).
| Year | Visibility/Wiper | Electrical System | Steering | Engine | Fuel/Propulsion System | Forward Collision Avoidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0.5× | 1.0× | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 0.2× | 0.09× | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 0.86× | 0.51× | — | 0.16× | — | 1.11× |
| 2019 | 1.05× | 0.89× | 0.14× | 0.28× | 0.89× | 1.2× |
| 2018 | 1.12× | 0.75× | 0.34× | 0.12× | 0.19× | — |
Each cell is that model year’s median odometer when owners reported the system, divided by the median for the same system across every make’s complaints on the same model year. under 0.67× reported early; 1.5× or more late; a dash means too few readings. When problems get reported, not how often — complaint counts are in the table above. Across the whole fleet: which systems go first.
What owners filed about the Subaru Outback, by system
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsEvery system, every year →The systems the federal record is deep on for this nameplate: the complaints per model year, the mileage owners reported them at, and every recall, investigation and manufacturer bulletin filed under the heading — each one linked, none a failure rate.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2026: best combined mpg 28 → 27
- 2023: best combined mpg 29 → 28
- 2022: 2 → 3 EPA configurations
- 2020: best combined mpg 28 → 29
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Outback vs Kia Niro · Compact SUV | Niro +11 | |
| 2027 Outback vs Kia Sorento · Compact SUV | Sorento +11.9 | |
| 2027 Outback vs Kia Seltos · Compact SUV | Seltos +4.1 | |
| 2027 Outback vs Kia Sportage · Compact SUV | Sportage +18 | |
| 2027 Outback vs Honda CR-V · Compact SUV | CR-V +10.3 | |
| 2027 Outback vs Tesla Model Y · Compact SUV | Model Y +31.5 | |
| 2026 Outback vs Toyota RAV4 · Compact SUV | Toss-up |
In the studies
Source: computed from the same record, method on each pageCommon questions about the Subaru Outback
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Subaru Outback year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2018 Outback comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade B (83/100), 3 recalls and 816 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Subaru Outback years should I avoid?
2020 has the weakest recall record in this range. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every Outback model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the Subaru Outback have?
Across model years 2018–2027, NHTSA has posted 22 recall campaigns for the Subaru Outback. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.