2023 Subaru Outback problems and recalls

Owners have filed 89 complaints on the 2023 Subaru Outback, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Forward Collision Avoidance (22 complaints).

89
Complaints
2
Recalls
8
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
3
Injuries
65.1
Severity index

Severity index 65.1 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 65.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 35 of 82 by severity index among 2023 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 57% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2023 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 22 complaints (24.7%)22 25%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 17 complaints (19.1%)17 19%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 16 complaints (18.0%)16 18%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 15 complaints (16.9%)15 17%Service BrakesService Brakes: 7 complaints (7.9%)7 8%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 6 complaints (6.7%)6 7%Power TrainPower Train: 5 complaints (5.6%)5 6%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 3 complaints (3.4%)3 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE2224.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1719.1%
VISIBILITY/WIPER1618.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1516.9%
SERVICE BRAKES77.9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING66.7%
POWER TRAIN55.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL33.4%

Complaints filed per year

024472022: 52023: 472024: 202025: 112026: 6 (partial year)222347242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20225
202347
202420
202511
2026 (year to date)6
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 15.6x those in 2022 to 2022 (78 against 5).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
23V64700021/09/2023POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTSubaru 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.
23V75500009/11/2023POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCHSubaru 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.

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.