2023 Subaru Outback reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Subaru Outback holds 89 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 28 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Outback years here — under the median of the other years, which is 69. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Park/neutral start switch and Driveshaft.

2012 Subaru Outback — Photo by Vauxford, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Forward collision avoidance (22 of 89), then Electrical system (17) and Visibility and wipers (16). The most filings arrived in 2023 (47 of 89). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2022 and 2024

The 2022 Outback has 463 complaints, 132 per year, and the 2024 has 2 complaints, 1 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has more complaints per year than the 2024.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2023 Subaru Outback. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, park/neutral start switch 2023-11-09 · NHTSA campaign 23V755000

Summary Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

Remedy Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.

Recall Driveshaft 2023-09-21 · NHTSA campaign 23V647000

Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.

Remedy Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.

Complaints by component (89 total)

Forward collision avoidance

Electrical system

Visibility and wipers

Service brakes

Exterior lighting

Powertrain

Latches, locks, and linkages

Speed control

Visibility

Air bags

Fuel and propulsion system

Lane departure

Steering

Structure

Tires

Chest clip, buckle, and harness

Engine

Seats

Show 10 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"While driving on the highway I had my cruise control on with my driving assist turned on. My car tried to veer to the left, hard, almost into the guardrail. It had happened before but not as severe as this time. Going…"
Lane departure · filed 2026-09-02
"Driving at speeds around 40 and when braking to turn, the brakes jerk and feel like they are not engaging properly. It has happened to a different driver, twice both times on a 90 degree day, a few minutes after the…"
Powertrain, Service brakes · filed 2026-08-20
"Phantom Braking of Pre-Collision Braking 2023 Subaru Outback Turbo Wednesday, July 29, 2026. 9:30 am, sunny day Driving south on local city street. Brakes slammed on, car stopped, flashing yellow lights on left…"
Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-08-03
"The original equipment Yokohama Avid GT tires experienced rapid, catastrophic structural degradation (extreme inner-edge wear and chunking of the exterior edge over ~7,000 mi.). I have photos of the tires, and Carr…"
Tires · filed 2026-07-30
"The Advanced Driver Assistance System (EyeSight/Automatic Emergency Braking), the Service Brakes, and the Central Electrical System malfunctioned. The vehicle is currently held at an authorized dealership and is…"
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-07-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2023 Subaru Outback SW AWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness SW AWD	Not rated	5 stars	5 stars	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Outback all-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S8)	All-wheel drive	22	29	25 MPG	$2600
Outback all-wheel drive	2.5L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S8)	All-wheel drive	26	32	28 MPG	$2300
Outback Wilderness all-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S8)	All-wheel drive	21	26	23 MPG	$2800

Specs and fitment

6th generation (BT), 2020–present

Body styles Wagon

Oil 0W-20 synthetic (2.4L turbo and 2.5L; 5W-30 if 0W-20 unavailable) , 5.1 qt capacity

Tire size 225/65R17 to 225/60R18 (trim dependent)

Towing capacity 3,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V-766 covers certain 2020 Legacy and Outback models with mid- or high-grade multimedia navigation when an August 2020 over-the-air update can time out and corrupt data, intermittently shutting off the rearview display and failing FMVSS 111. Subaru's remedy is software reprogramming and, if needed, replacement of the cockpit control module (recall WRH-20). Recall 22V-485 covers certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles: Transmission Control Unit programming may engage the clutch before the drive chain is fully clamped, risking chain slip or break and loss of drive; dealers reprogram the TCU and replace the transmission if damage is found. Recall 24V-227 covers certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles: an Occupant Detection System sensor capacitor may short and prevent passenger air bag deployment; dealers replace the ODS sensors. Legacy and Outback share these campaign unit totals.

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Previous year 2022 Subaru Outback See every Subaru Outback model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Subaru Outback reliable?

What are common problems with a 2023 Subaru Outback?

Is the 2023 Subaru Outback more reliable than the years next to it?

Has the 2023 Subaru Outback been recalled?

The 2023 Subaru Outback has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2023 Subaru Outback?

Owners have filed 89 complaints about the 2023 Subaru Outback with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2023 Subaru Outback get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Subaru Outback is 25.3 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Subaru Outback use?

US manuals specify 0W-20 synthetic for recent FB and turbo engines, with temporary 5W-30 only when 0W-20 is unavailable.

What does NHTSA recall 19V-008 cover on the Subaru Outback?

Recall 19V-008 covers certain 2010-2014 Subaru Outback and Legacy vehicles (among other Subaru models) sold or ever registered in listed Zone B states: the front passenger air bag inflator may explode during deployment and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin.

What generation is the 2013 Subaru Outback?

4th generation (BR) (2012-2014).