2006 Subaru Outback Reliability
The 2006 Subaru Outback has 281 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and engine. Compared with nearby Outback model years (2004–2008), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Outback's typical year, while the 2004 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
281
NHTSA owner complaints
7
Recall campaigns
7
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2006 Subaru Outback complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 model year, filed between 2005 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Speed control / throttle | 98 | 35% |
| Engine | 44 | 16% |
| Air bags | 42 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 42 | 15% |
| Suspension | 37 | 13% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 29 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 19 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 18 | 6% |
2006 Subaru Outback recalls
7 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2006 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V110000 | Mar 27, 2013 | Service brakes — foundation components / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,… |
| 14V311000 | Jun 10, 2014 | Service brakes — foundation components / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana,… |
| 15V323000 | May 28, 2015 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles… |
| 19V297000 | Apr 11, 2019 | Electrical system — ignition / switch | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition… |
| 20V003000 | Jan 2, 2020 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of… |
| 20V002000 | Jan 2, 2020 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of… |
| 20V001000 | Jan 2, 2020 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of… |
How the 2006 compares with nearby Outback years
Verdicts compare these Outback model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 90 | 11 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2005 | 273 | 9 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2006 (this page) | 281 | 7 | Speed control / throttle | Caution |
| 2007 | 130 | 8 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2008 | 230 | 8 | Air bags | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2006 Subaru Outback
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 7 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2006 Subaru Outback can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2006 Subaru Outback reliability FAQ
Is the 2006 Subaru Outback reliable?
The 2006 Subaru Outback has 281 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and engine. Compared with nearby Outback model years (2004–2008), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Outback's typical year, while the 2004 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2006 Subaru Outback problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Subaru Outback are speed control / throttle (98), engine (44), air bags (42), electrical system (42). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2006 Subaru Outback have recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2006 Subaru Outback, including 13V110000 (service brakes — foundation components / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings) and 14V311000 (service brakes — foundation components / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2006 Subaru Outback compare with the 2005 and 2007 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2005 has 273 complaints and 9 recalls (caution); the 2007 has 130 complaints and 8 recalls (solid). The 2006 has 281 complaints and 7 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2006 Subaru Outback?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Subaru Outback research
Other Subaru Outback model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2006 Outback, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.