2023 Subaru Outback: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 85 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
85
Complaints
2
Recalls
8
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
3
Injuries
72.9
Severity index
Severity index 72.9 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 80 2023 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2023 Subaru Outback ranks 32 of 80 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 60% of its model-year peers. See the full 2023 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 21 | 24.7% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 17 | 20.0% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 16 | 18.8% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 15 | 17.6% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 6 | 7.1% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 6 | 7.1% |
| POWER TRAIN | 4 | 4.7% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 | 3.5% |
The single most-reported system is FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE, cited in 21 of 85 complaints (24.7%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 47 |
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 2 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 15.6x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V647000 | 21/09/2023 | POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 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. |
| 23V755000 | 09/11/2023 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH | 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.