Subaru Outback: best & worst years

2024 Subaru Outback Recommended

Sixth-gen at its most sorted, minimal complaints, resolved early-run glitches, standard AWD and top-tier safety make this a strong used pick, with insurance the main cost consideration.

• Battery parasitic drain that leaves the car dead after a few days, plus intermittent EyeSight driver-assist and electrical faults.
• Windshield prone to spontaneous and impact cracking, with owners reporting cracks appearing overnight or from minor chips; subject of a class-action settlement.
• Starlink 11.6-inch infotainment screen freezing, rebooting and lagging.

2023 Subaru Outback Caution

Sixth-gen; complaint volume drops sharply as the early electrical and glass issues settle. A solid, well-rounded year with top safety scores and standard AWD.

• Battery parasitic drain that leaves the car dead after a few days, plus intermittent EyeSight driver-assist and electrical faults.
• Windshield prone to spontaneous and impact cracking, with owners reporting cracks appearing overnight or from minor chips; subject of a class-action settlement.
• Starlink 11.6-inch infotainment screen freezing, rebooting and lagging.

2022 Subaru Outback Caution

Sixth-gen; spontaneous windshield cracking spikes again (covered by a class-action settlement through this year) and remains the defining complaint. Otherwise a refined, very safe AWD wagon.

• Battery parasitic drain that leaves the car dead after a few days, plus intermittent EyeSight driver-assist and electrical faults.
• Windshield prone to spontaneous and impact cracking, with owners reporting cracks appearing overnight or from minor chips; subject of a class-action settlement.
• Starlink 11.6-inch infotainment screen freezing, rebooting and lagging.

2021 Subaru Outback Caution

Sixth-gen; electrical and spontaneous-windshield-cracking complaints continue but at lower volume than 2020. Strong safety credentials and standard AWD; have the windshield and battery history checked.

• Battery parasitic drain that leaves the car dead after a few days, plus intermittent EyeSight driver-assist and electrical faults.
• Windshield prone to spontaneous and impact cracking, with owners reporting cracks appearing overnight or from minor chips; subject of a class-action settlement.
• Starlink 11.6-inch infotainment screen freezing, rebooting and lagging.

2020 Subaru Outback Caution

Sixth-gen launch; a suite of electrical issues (battery drain, EyeSight and Starlink faults), a low-pressure fuel-pump recall, and the start of the spontaneous-windshield-cracking complaints make the first model year one to scrutinize.

• Battery parasitic drain that leaves the car dead after a few days, plus intermittent EyeSight driver-assist and electrical faults.
• Windshield prone to spontaneous and impact cracking, with owners reporting cracks appearing overnight or from minor chips; subject of a class-action settlement.
• Starlink 11.6-inch infotainment screen freezing, rebooting and lagging.

2019 Subaru Outback Not rated

See the full report for recalls, cost to own, and depreciation.

2018 Subaru Outback Caution

Fifth-gen, a stronger year as electrical complaints ease; windshield cracking remains the notable item. Settled CVT, excellent safety scores and sensible ownership costs.

2017 Subaru Outback Caution

Fifth-gen; heavy battery-drain and electrical complaint volume plus windshield cracking are the main concerns, while the mechanicals are sound. Good safety and moderate running costs.

2016 Subaru Outback Caution

Fifth-gen; persistent battery-drain and parasitic electrical complaints and Starlink infotainment bugs are the headline, alongside windshield cracking. A comfortable, safe AWD wagon otherwise.

2015 Subaru Outback Caution

Fifth-gen launch; teething electrical and Starlink glitches and the start of the easily-cracking-windshield complaints, with the CVT now more settled. A cautious pick with strong safety scores.

2014 Subaru Outback Caution

Fourth-gen; FB25 oil consumption persists (covered by the same settlement) but reports taper, with Takata airbag exposure. Reasonable AWD value if the oil consumption was addressed.

• FB25 2.5-liter excessive oil consumption, high oil burn between changes that prompted a class-action settlement and an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty extension.
• Takata-era frontal passenger-airbag inflator exposure.

2013 Subaru Outback Avoid

Fourth-gen's worst year: the new FB25 engine's excessive oil consumption drove a class-action settlement and warranty extension. Verify the oil-consumption history and burn rate before buying.

• FB25 2.5-liter excessive oil consumption, high oil burn between changes that prompted a class-action settlement and an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty extension.
• Takata-era frontal passenger-airbag inflator exposure.

2012 Subaru Outback Caution

Fourth-gen; CVT powertrain complaints continue but ease, alongside airbag and brake items. A middling year, durable AWD and moderate costs, but verify the transmission history.

• Early Lineartronic CVT driveline shudder, bucking on light acceleration and occasional low-speed stalling.
• Lingering EJ25 head-gasket seepage on the carryover 2.5-liter engine before the FB swap.
• Takata-era frontal passenger-airbag inflator exposure.

2011 Subaru Outback Caution

Fourth-gen; CVT driveline shudder and stalling plus repeat low-beam headlight failures dominate complaints, with Takata-era airbag exposure. Capable AWD but an unsettled year mechanically.

• Early Lineartronic CVT driveline shudder, bucking on light acceleration and occasional low-speed stalling.
• Lingering EJ25 head-gasket seepage on the carryover 2.5-liter engine before the FB swap.
• Takata-era frontal passenger-airbag inflator exposure.

2010 Subaru Outback Avoid

Fourth-gen launch with the new Lineartronic CVT, early transmission bucking and stalling, repeated low-beam headlight burnout, lingering head-gasket leaks and a heavy recall load make this a year to approach with real caution. Insurance runs high.

• Early Lineartronic CVT driveline shudder, bucking on light acceleration and occasional low-speed stalling.
• Lingering EJ25 head-gasket seepage on the carryover 2.5-liter engine before the FB swap.
• Takata-era frontal passenger-airbag inflator exposure.

2009 Subaru Outback Caution

Third-gen's strongest year, with the lowest complaint volume of the generation; budget for the EJ25 head-gasket leak on higher-mileage cars. Capable AWD that routinely goes the distance.

• Frontal-airbag warning-light and inflator complaints, including Takata-era passenger-inflator exposure on later cars.
• EJ25 SOHC boxer head-gasket external oil and coolant seepage, commonly surfacing past 90,000 miles.
• Front suspension and wheel-bearing wear with looseness and noise, more common on salt-belt cars.

2008 Subaru Outback Caution

Third-gen; frontal-airbag and inflator complaints spike this year while the EJ25 head-gasket leak remains the defining engine concern. Otherwise a rugged, long-lived AWD wagon.

• Frontal-airbag warning-light and inflator complaints, including Takata-era passenger-inflator exposure on later cars.
• EJ25 SOHC boxer head-gasket external oil and coolant seepage, commonly surfacing past 90,000 miles.
• Front suspension and wheel-bearing wear with looseness and noise, more common on salt-belt cars.

2007 Subaru Outback Caution

Third-gen; complaint volume is low and the main long-term concern is the EJ25 head-gasket leak that tends to appear past 90k miles. Dependable AWD with a long service life.

• Frontal-airbag warning-light and inflator complaints, including Takata-era passenger-inflator exposure on later cars.
• EJ25 SOHC boxer head-gasket external oil and coolant seepage, commonly surfacing past 90,000 miles.
• Front suspension and wheel-bearing wear with looseness and noise, more common on salt-belt cars.

2006 Subaru Outback Caution

Third-gen; a cluster of electronic-throttle 'drops to idle' limp-mode complaints stands out alongside the familiar EJ25 head-gasket leak. A rugged AWD wagon otherwise, with moderate ownership costs.

• Electronic-throttle 'drops to idle' limp-mode events where the accelerator briefly stops responding and a restart is needed to reset it.
• Frontal-airbag warning-light and inflator complaints, including Takata-era passenger-inflator exposure on later cars.
• EJ25 SOHC boxer head-gasket external oil and coolant seepage, commonly surfacing past 90,000 miles.

2005 Subaru Outback Caution

Third-gen Outback; the EJ25 boxer's head-gasket seepage near 100k miles and early electronic-throttle limp-mode reports are the watch items, offset by durable symmetrical AWD and long service life. Moderate running costs.

• Electronic-throttle 'drops to idle' limp-mode events where the accelerator briefly stops responding and a restart is needed to reset it.
• Frontal-airbag warning-light and inflator complaints, including Takata-era passenger-inflator exposure on later cars.
• EJ25 SOHC boxer head-gasket external oil and coolant seepage, commonly surfacing past 90,000 miles.