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U.S. public vehicle records

2025 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

77 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

1,999 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2025 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 77 complaints (23.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1519.5%
Steering behavior911.7%
Electrical and battery issues56.5%
Transmission and shifting22.6%
Engine operation11.3%

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.

Unknown Or Other
18
Electrical System
11
Lane Departure: Assist
10
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
9
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
9
Lane Departure: Warning
6
Steering
6
Air Bags
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Unknown Or Other18
Electrical System11
Lane Departure: Assist10
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking9
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings9
Lane Departure: Warning6
Steering6
Air Bags5

Unknown Or Other: 18; Electrical System: 11; Lane Departure: Assist: 10; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 9; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 9; Lane Departure: Warning: 6; Steering: 6; Air Bags: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
9
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 68 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.

2024
2
2025
39
2026
36
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20242
202539
202636

2024: 2; 2025: 39; 2026: 36

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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 11625239 · 2024-11-14 (November 14, 2024)

Three primary issues of major concern on this vehicle: 1. Phantom emergency - braking at random, both low and high speeds. The most dangerous of the three. 2. Lane keep assist - unaware or unable to compensate for real driving conditions, construction areas, pedestrians walking a dog, heavy machinery on a semi-truck as examples. 3. Infotainment blinding - A large, HIGH GLOSS screen at a 45-degree angle, placing it in the direct reflective angle of three windows: Sunroof, passenger front, passenger rear. Absolutely blinding even with sunglasses …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11625239 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11640157 · 2025-02-02 (February 2, 2025)

There are a couple of issues. 1. The car keeps applying the brakes at lower and higher speeds even though there is literally nothing in front. This is both annoying and risky, especially at higher speeds happening at the interstates. When I asked at the dealership, they said the car is not equipped to do something like this. But that does not mean this is not happening. At lower speeds, it feels like massive pressure forced on the stomach. 2. The lane departure warning system is subpar at best. It cannot comprehend the real-world lane markers- …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11640157 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11692655 · 2025-10-11 (October 11, 2025)

Since October 2023, my 2019 Toyota Prius has developed severe and unpredictable driving behavior after a regular brake service, which may have triggered or coincided with a software or ECU update. The car, which had been driving smoothly since I bought it in 2021, suddenly began showing false braking, steering interference, and lane instability , as if the car were trying to “correct” problems that didn’t exist. These interventions often happen on highways or during turns, creating serious safety risks for both driver and passengers. I’ve spen…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11692655 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11696638 · 2025-10-30 (October 30, 2025)

CRITICAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE - HIGHWAY SAFETY HAZARD 10/23/2025: While driving 2025 Outback (11K miles) at highway speed on I-485 Charlotte, complete electrical system failure occurred without warning. ALL dashboard lights illuminated, COMPLETE LOSS of power steering (steering extremely heavy/difficult to control), all safety systems failed (ABS, brake sensors, traction control). SAFETY DANGER: Sudden power steering loss at 65mph made vehicle nearly uncontrollable. Required extreme force to steer to shoulder. Could have caused fatal crash duri…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11696638 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11687671 · 2025-09-16 (September 16, 2025)

1. Pre-collision warning system malfunctioned. On my vehicle it has activated 4 different times when there was no obstacle in the roadway -- one of which happened in front of a semi truck and the semi truck almost rear ended me. On the loaner vehicle while mine was being looked it, the pre-collision warning didn't activate at all when there was a significant obstruction in the roadway and I wrecked the vehicle. 2. My safety has been put at risk by having a pre-collision warning system activate randomly and then brake hard due to this. It w…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11687671 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11724698 · 2026-03-16 (March 16, 2026)

This concerns my 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT- with a turbo charges engine and standardd CVT transmission. When I get to street speed and brake to slow down, as the car slows and the tach decreases to 1000 rpm +/- a bit, the car shows an obvious power surge that can be felt through the accelerator and brake pedal and can be clearly seen on the tach as a jump to about 1100 rpm + . I had the first oil change done at 2500 miles or so at the dealership and asked them to see what it was. The electronic system diagnostic monitor they plugged the…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11724698 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11757337 · 2026-08-17 (August 17, 2026)

Needed to move quickly out of way of oncoming traffic, but delay/hesitation in CVT made it almost impossible to avoid traffic.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11757337 at NHTSA ↗