2010 Subaru Outback Reliability
The 2010 Subaru Outback has 360 owner complaints and 18 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine. Compared with nearby Outback model years (2008–2012), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Outback's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
360
NHTSA owner complaints
18
Recall campaigns
12
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Subaru Outback complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2009 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 94 | 26% |
| Engine | 44 | 12% |
| Air bags | 44 | 12% |
| Steering | 41 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 38 | 11% |
| Exterior lighting | 35 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 33 | 9% |
| Suspension | 26 | 7% |
2010 Subaru Outback recalls
18 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10V196000 | May 7, 2010 | Engine & cooling — cooling system / hoses/lines/piping/fittings | 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. |
| 10V283000 | Jun 24, 2010 | Steering — column | Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 Outback and legacy passenger vehicles manufactured from February 16, 2009 through April 12, 2010. The wiring in the steering column electrical roll connector located behind the vehicle's steering wheel may develop… |
| 10V326000 | Jul 20, 2010 | Powertrain / transmission — manual transmission | Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Outback and legacy passenger vehicles manufactured from April 28 through June 23, 2010. Due to a programming error, a lubrication hole within the 6-speed manual transmission was omitted. |
| 12V602000 | Dec 26, 2012 | Exterior lighting | Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650… |
| 13V061000 | Feb 25, 2013 | Electrical system | Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission… |
| 16V358000 | May 25, 2016 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in… |
| 16V694000 | Sep 27, 2016 | Visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within… |
| 17V014000 | Jan 10, 2017 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of… |
| 18V013000 | Jan 9, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,… |
| 18V012000 | Jan 9, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana,… |
| 18V626000 | Sep 13, 2018 | Parking brake | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not… |
| 19V007000 | Jan 9, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi,… |
| 19V009000 | Jan 9, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine,… |
| 19V008000 | Jan 9, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of… |
| 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… |
| 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… |
| 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… |
How the 2010 compares with nearby Outback years
Verdicts compare these Outback model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 230 | 8 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2009 | 112 | 13 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2010 (this page) | 360 | 18 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2011 | 653 | 16 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2012 | 295 | 16 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
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 2010 Subaru Outback
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- 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.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 18 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 2010 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.
2010 Subaru Outback reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Subaru Outback reliable?
The 2010 Subaru Outback has 360 owner complaints and 18 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine. Compared with nearby Outback model years (2008–2012), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Outback's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2010 Subaru Outback problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Subaru Outback are powertrain / transmission (94), engine (44), air bags (44), steering (41). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Subaru Outback have recalls?
NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the 2010 Subaru Outback, including 10V196000 (engine & cooling — cooling system / hoses/lines/piping/fittings) and 10V283000 (steering — column). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Subaru Outback compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 112 complaints and 13 recalls (solid); the 2011 has 653 complaints and 16 recalls (avoid). The 2010 has 360 complaints and 18 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2010 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 2010 Outback, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.