2008 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
226 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
79,150 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 160 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 102 of 226 complaints (45.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 46 | 20.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 8.8% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 4.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 102 |
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Service Brakes | 30 |
| Engine | 14 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 8 |
Air Bags: 102; Electrical System: 34; Service Brakes: 30; Engine: 14; Exterior Lighting: 11; Power Train: 11; Unknown Or Other: 8; Visibility/Wiper: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 40 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 33 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 15
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 66 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 42 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2007: 2; 2008: 8; 2009: 8; 2010: 7; 2011: 8; 2012: 10; 2013: 14; 2014: 18; 2015: 34; 2016: 42; 2017: 18; 2018: 14; 2019: 11; 2020: 9; 2021: 9; 2022: 4; 2024: 4; 2025: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10213195 · 2007-12-30 (December 30, 2007)
WHEN DRIVING OUR NEW 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK IN DARKNESS THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT THE BEAM FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO ADEQUATELY SEE. THIS CONDITION IS VERY NOTICEABLE IN HILLY TERRAIN WHERE AS THE VEHICLE IS MOVING IN A FORWARD DOWN MOTION WITH A UPWARD HILL APPROACHING. THERE IS A DEFINITE HORIZONTAL PLANE OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS. AT TIMES THIS SITUATION HAS CAUSED US TO BRAKE QUICKLY DUE TO THE POSSIBLY OF COMING IN CONTACT WITH SOMETHING IN THE ROAD THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AVOID WITH ADEQUATE LIGHTING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222714 · 2008-03-30 (March 30, 2008)
SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. EVEN PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENGINE REVS UP OR SAME PROBLEM WHILE SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT. IT'S AS THOUGH THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO STOP. AT TIMES IF YOU SHIFT DOWN AND LET OFF ON THE GAS THE CAR GOES FOR A SHORT STRETCH WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398135 · 2011-04-28 (April 28, 2011)
MY CAR ENGINE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A SIGNAL, WHILE WAITING ON THE RED LIGHT AND WHILE STOPING AND IDLING AT THE PARKING LOT. WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENS ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH LIGHTS UP AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES LOCKED. THIS ENGINE STALLING ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY. SOME TIMES EVERY DAY IN A WEEK, 2 DAYS IN A WEEK OR 3 DAYS IN A WEEK. SOME TIMES THE ENGINE STALLS MORE THAN 10 TIMES IN A DAY. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, I TOOK MY CAR TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE SERVI…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467668 · 2012-07-25 (July 25, 2012)
ONE WIRE LEADING TO THE REAR CARGO HATCH (RIGHT SIDE) BROKE AND 3 OTHERS HAD CRACKED INSULATION DUE TO A LACK OF RESILIENCE AFTER FLEXING. THESE WIRES ARE FLEXED EVERY TIME THE HATCH IS OPENED AND CLOSED. ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS ON THE HATCH TRAVEL THOUGH THIS WIRING HARNESS (WIPERS, LOCK, ETC.). HAD THE FAILURE OF THE LOCK NOT BEEN NOTICED, FURTHER WEAR COULD HAVE CAUSED A SHORT AND A FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 AND A HALF YEARS OLD. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS GOING BACK TO AT LEAST THE 2005 MODEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 116,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268806 · 2009-05-15 (May 15, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE RESTRAINT. SHE STRUCK HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED INJURIES TO HER CHEST AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE WILL HAVE SURGERY ON MAY 15, 2009 ON HER BACK. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT STILL HAS NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,900.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272886 · 2009-06-04 (June 4, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AND THE CONTACT STRUCK THE STEERING COLUMN AND WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND ARM INJURIES. SHE FEELS THAT THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AND SECURE AN OCCUPANT IN PLACE WHEN A CRASH OCCURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245572 · 2008-10-15 (October 15, 2008)
2008 OUTBACK SUBARU - DROVE THE CAR FOR OVER 1 YEAR WITH THE TRANSMISSION JERKING INTO GEARS. I HAD THE DEALER/MECHANICS CHECK IT 4 TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS OF THE PURCHASE. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE 3,000 MILE OIL CHANGE SERVICED BY THE DEALER - 6X AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. ON 10/9/08 TOOK TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR A OIL CHANGE AND THE TRANSMISSION. THEY FIND THE PROBLEM - I THINK THEY CALLED IT - A REFLASH - A COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT. THE CAR NOW DRIVES GREAT. WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR THIS ADJUSTMEN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10245572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10378290 · 2011-01-22 (January 22, 2011)
COMPLAINT FOR A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR STABILITY CONTROL ISSUE AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED (CONSTANT AND LOW THROTTLE POSITION) ON A FLAT, GOOD ROAD, WITH THE STEERING WHEEL POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE TENDS TO OSCILLATE FROM SIDE TO SIDE OR "GHOST WALK" WHEN THE ROAD HAS ICE ON IT. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EVER LOSE TRACTION PER SE; IT JUST STEERS ITSELF ALL OVER THE ROAD. TIRES ARE AT THE PROPER PRESSURE, TIRES ARE …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447686 · 2012-02-12 (February 12, 2012)
VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING BIT ROUGH WHILE IDLING AT INTERSECTION; UPON ACCELERATION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER INSTRUMENT LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND CAR STALLED. RESTARTED NORMALLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 63,046 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992192 · 2017-05-30 (May 30, 2017)
BRAKE LINE FAILURE, LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON US HWY 221. BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT FROM THE GAS TANK SPLASH SHIED. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. ACCORDING TO RECALL BULLETIN A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SPLASH SHIELD ALLOWS SALT TO ACCUMULATE IN THIS AREA. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS WHY I HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE.RECALL PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. SUBARU APPLIES BAND AID BY SPRAYING WITH ANTI-CORROSION NOXRUST. THIS DOES NOT ALLEVIATE/SOLVE THE CORROSION ALREADY OCCURRING LEADING TO FAILURE LATER ON, AS IN MY CASE. THIS SH…
Owner-reported narrative. 192,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11185797 · 2019-03-11 (March 11, 2019)
WHEN DRIVING HOME, BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR THEN LIGHT CAME ON. TRIED BRAKE FLUID AND GUSHED OUT. INCHED TO NEARBY MIDAS WHO RAISED CAR AND FOUND MAJOR LEAK BY GAS TANK. RECALL ON THAT AREA WAS TREATED WITH WAX IN 2014. CALLED SUBARU WHO DID NOT GUARANTEE HELPING BY WANTED US TO BRING CAR TO A SUBARU SERVICE CENTER.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11185797 at NHTSA ↗