2015 Subaru Outback problems and recalls

Owners have filed 509 complaints on the 2015 Subaru Outback, and NHTSA has issued 5 recalls. The most cited component is the Visibility/Wiper (130 complaints).

509
Complaints
5
Recalls
19
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
16
Injuries
48.4
Severity index

Severity index 48.4 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 48.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 112 of 143 by severity index among 2015 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 22% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2015 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 130 complaints (25.5%)130 26%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 127 complaints (25.0%)127 25%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 108 complaints (21.2%)108 21%EngineEngine: 47 complaints (9.2%)47 9%Power TrainPower Train: 37 complaints (7.3%)37 7%StructureStructure: 33 complaints (6.5%)33 6%Service BrakesService Brakes: 28 complaints (5.5%)28 6%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 26 complaints (5.1%)26 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
VISIBILITY/WIPER13025.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12725.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER10821.2%
ENGINE479.2%
POWER TRAIN377.3%
STRUCTURE336.5%
SERVICE BRAKES285.5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL265.1%

Complaints filed per year

0701402014: 62015: 1352016: 462017: 332018: 332019: 382020: 532021: 612022: 392023: 192024: 142025: 182026: 14 (partial year)14151351617181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20146
2015135
201646
201733
201833
201938
202053
202161
202239
202319
202414
202518
2026 (year to date)14
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.3x those in 2020 to 2022 (51 against 153).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V25100027/04/2016ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control syst
14V57700019/09/2014TRAILER HITCHESSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Outback vehicles manufactured January 22, 2014, to August 18, 2014, and equipped with a Subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened
15V50200010/08/2015POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
16V29200011/05/2016STEERING:COLUMNSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may
15V36600012/06/2015FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKINGSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstr

Other Subaru Outback model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.