Subaru Outback Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Not unusually. 690 of the 7,987 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Subaru Outback (8.6%) name the engine, below the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2011, 2013 and 2010.
Engine complaints
690
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
8.6%
of 7,987 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Subaru Outback engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 20 | 8.7% | 2 | — | 22 |
| 2009 | 19 | 17.1% | 2 | — | 38 |
| 2010WORST | 67 | 18.7% | 2 | 10V196000 | 42 |
| 2011WORST | 93 | 14.3% | 5 | — | 54 |
| 2012 | 52 | 17.9% | 3 | — | 49 |
| 2013WORST | 68 | 23.1% | 2 | — | 124 |
| 2014 | 36 | 17.3% | 2 | — | 78 |
| 2015 | 50 | 9.9% | 5 | — | 78 |
| 2016 | 53 | 8.3% | 5 | — | 65 |
| 2017 | 43 | 4.7% | 2 | — | 27 |
| 2018 | 35 | 4.4% | 2 | — | 25 |
| 2019 | 40 | 3.9% | 5 | — | 27 |
| 2020 | 52 | 5.7% | 6 | — | 111 |
| 2021 | 23 | 7.7% | 2 | — | 102 |
| 2022 | 24 | 5.1% | 4 | — | 88 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1.1% | 1 | — | 72 |
| 2024 | 8 | 7.9% | 2 | — | 47 |
| 2025 | 6 | 7.1% | 2 | — | 21 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Subaru Outback engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 690 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Subaru Outback years to avoid for the engine
2011 Subaru Outback
93 engine complaints (14.3% of the year's 649). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving.
2013 Subaru Outback
68 engine complaints (23.1% of the year's 295). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks.
2010 Subaru Outback
67 engine complaints (18.7% of the year's 359). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving. Covered by engine recall 10V196000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Subaru Outback years to avoid.
Subaru Outback engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Subaru Outback model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 10V196000 · 2010-05-07 · 2010 models
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 OUTBACK AND LEGACY PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 31 THROUGH DECEMBER 1, 2009. A CRACK OR SPLIT CAN OCCUR IN THE CVT COOLER HOSE RESULTING IN A FLUID LEAK.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2011 Subaru Outback have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 93 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Subaru Outback, 14.3% of all 649 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (47 complaints). 5 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2013 Subaru Outback have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 68 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru Outback, 23.1% of all 295 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (17 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2010 Subaru Outback have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 67 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2010 Subaru Outback, 18.7% of all 359 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (45 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 10V196000. 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Subaru Outback years have the most engine complaints?
2011 (93), 2013 (68) and 2010 (67), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Subaru Outback engine problems?
In the 690 engine complaints, owners most often describe stalling or shutting off while driving (27.5%), oil consumption or oil leaks (12.2%) and misfire or check-engine light (10.7%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Subaru Outback model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration