2025 Subaru Outback reliability
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Subaru Outback over 2 years — 41 per year. It is too early to rank against other Outback years: a year is compared here only after 3 years on the road. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
81
41
0
2
The complaints owners file most often name Forward collision avoidance (20 of 81), then Lane departure (14) and Electrical system (13). The most filings arrived in 2026 (40 of 81). Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.
The 2024 Outback has 2 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2026 has 0 complaints, 0 per year.
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 2025 Subaru Outback. How we count. Data as of .
Recalls (0)
No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.
Complaints by component (81 total)
Show 17 more Show less
5
2
1
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Complaints filed per year
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
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"July 4, 2025 car had about 4100 miles Severe dangerous phantom braking on highway CA 280 N just prior to foothill expressway exit at about 7:30 pm. Suddenly while traveling 60 MPH on mid lanes of freeway car auto…"
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"The brakes failed and could be inspected upon request. My safety and the safety of two other passengers was put at risk because my vehicle rear ended an another vehicle at a red light. The problem has not yet been…"
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"See attached document for complaint."
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"While traveling along I-94E outside of Macomb County on September 10th at around 8:30AM, forward collision warning triggered twice while facing the direct sun. It triggered for around 6 seconds. Shortly after getting…"
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"The large LCD screen infront the shifter just goes blank. Been to the dealer the reload the operating system to no avail."
NHTSA crash ratings
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| 2025 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 | 2.5L, 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel drive | 26 | 32 | 28 MPG | $2300 |
| Outback all-wheel drive | 2.4L, 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel drive | 22 | 29 | 25 MPG | $2600 |
| Outback Wilderness all-wheel drive | 2.4L, 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel drive | 21 | 26 | 23 MPG | $2800 |
Specs and fitment
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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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2025 Subaru Outback reliable?
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Subaru Outback over 2 years — 41 per year. It is too early to rank against other Outback years: a year is compared here only after 3 years on the road. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
What are common problems with a 2025 Subaru Outback?
The complaints owners file most often name Forward collision avoidance (20 of 81), then Lane departure (14) and Electrical system (13). The most filings arrived in 2026 (40 of 81). Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.
Is the 2025 Subaru Outback more reliable than the years next to it?
The 2024 Outback has 2 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2026 has 0 complaints, 0 per year.
Has the 2025 Subaru Outback been recalled?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2025 Subaru Outback.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2025 Subaru Outback?
Owners have filed 81 complaints about the 2025 Subaru Outback with NHTSA.
What mpg does a 2025 Subaru Outback get?
EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2025 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).