1996 Subaru OUTBACK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
135,906 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 27 complaints (14.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 29.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Wheels: 3; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
2000: 3; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2014: 3
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014056 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
COMPLETE SEPARATION OF TREAD FROM BODY AND SIDEWALL OF RIGHT FRONT MICHELIN HARMONY TIRE. TIRES IN SERVICE FOR THREE MONTHS ON A SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016569 · 2003-04-27 (April 27, 2003)
BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHILE TRAVELING WITH TWO CHILDREN. BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO WAIT ON SIDE OF BUSY ROAD WITH ONE YEAR OLD AND TWO YEAR OLD. THE CAR,A 1996 OUTBACK ONLY HAD 115,000 MILES ON IT. REAL LOW FOR THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069547 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHICH LEAKED ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE CAUSING MANY OTHER PARTS FAILURES. FOR EXAMPLE, O2 SENSORS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRING VEHICLE - $4,800
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100137 · 2004-11-18 (November 18, 2004)
I DRIVE A 1996 OUTBACK WITH 116,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE READ ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE TRANSMISSIONS BINDING IN TURNS, WHICH IS WHAT I'M EXPEREINCING NOW. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IF IT GETS TOO BAD, IT MAY BREAK AN AXLE OR SOMETHING. IF IT IS A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM/MISTAKE, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE A RECALL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102225 · 2004-12-06 (December 6, 2004)
CAR STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. POKED ACCELERATOR PEDAL A FEW TIMES WITH NO RESULT, AND PEDAL DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK DOWN. HELD SPEED OF VEHICLE DOWN WITH BOTH FEET HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE RETURNED TO NEAR NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION ON ITS OWN AFTER ABOUT 30 SEC TO 1 MIN, ALTHOUGH VEHICLE COULD MAINTAIN 30-40 MPH WHEN NOT TOUCHING EITHER ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE. RETURNED TO FULLY NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113879 · 2005-03-10 (March 10, 2005)
A PERMANENT HAZING OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. THIS HAS CAUSED SAFE NIGHT DRIVING ILLUMINATION TO DROP DRAMATICALLY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115555 · 2005-03-22 (March 22, 2005)
WHILE SITTING AT A INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129375 · 2005-07-19 (July 19, 2005)
DT: 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK CALLER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FUEL INJECTION .SYSTEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPEED, THE SPEED ODOMETER WAS 60 MPH WHEN GOING 40 MPH. SOMETIMES IT WILL PICK UP SPEED AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HE WOULD NOT WORK ON THIS CAR. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE, AND HE WOULD NOT LISTEN . THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE ROAD SIDE NOW AND IT WILL NOT RUN. THE CAR VIBRATED WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR TODAY. AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 903,086 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129375 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V216000 · Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
Reported: 2001-06-25 (June 25, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V091000 · Suspension:Front:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly:Hanger,Bracket
Reported: 1998-05-04 (May 4, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.
Consequence: SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗