Subaru Outback engine problems, 2018–2027
187 of the 3,793 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Outback 2018–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2020 (51), 2019 (40), 2018 (37). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 manufacturer bulletin. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Subaru Outback engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | 7 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 6 | 7% | — | 27 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 7 | 7% | — | 62 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 0 | — | — | 77 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 23 | 5% | — | 93 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 23 | 8% | — | 107 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 51 | 6% | 8k | 116 TSBs | the record → |
| 2019 | 40 | 4% | 12k | 48 TSBs | the year → |
| 2018 | 37 | 5% | 6k | 46 TSBs | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2018: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 27 · 2022: 27 · 2023: 32 · 2024: 25 · 2025: 16 · 2026: 28
Across the model years, half of the 58 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 6,000 and 19,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
3 weeks ago the all of the warning lights came on. Had vehicle towed to dealership. Could not find out what was wrong. Saw there was a lot of carbon build up which was unusual since there is only 26,000 miles on vehicle. After a week a dealership a cleaning took it home. Went back the next day.
The EyeSight system will randomly not load at times and need to be reset for Rear Automatic Braking and other EyeSight safety features to become available. This usually only occurs within 30 seconds of engine startup but always occurs when plugging in a phone with Android Auto (a phone with Apple Car Play has never been used for…
The vehicle has developed an exhaust leak which allows exhaust to enter the cabin of the vehicle especially at lower speeds and when stopped. There is a crack which develops in the exhaust manifold which causes this issue.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated the low lever oil warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and he stated that the oil was low in the engine and more oil was added to the engine.
I had pulled into our garage and had come to a stop. With my foot on the brake, I was reaching for the ignition button to turn the car off when the car suddenly accelerated forward and struck our large metal tool box, pushing it through the rear wall of the garage. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications1 manufacturer bulletin filed under this heading, any model year
- Aug 20, 2026
- This service bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Subaru Outback
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Subaru Outback problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Subaru Outback years have the most engine complaints?
2020, 51; 2019, 40; 2018, 37. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2021 (8%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Subaru Outback?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the Subaru Outback?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 9,846 miles across the model years; half of them between 6,000 and 19,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.