Subaru complaints & recalls by model
Across 4 Subaru models and 36 model years, NHTSA has logged 7,671 owner complaints and 38 recall campaigns. The brand averages 36.3 complaints per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (index 0.90).
Analysis
Among the tracked Subaru models, the Impreza has the fewest complaints per year and the Outback the most. By model year, the brand's average rate is highest for 2019 (75.4 per year) and lowest for 2023 (13.3).
Subaru owners complain about Body & structure more than owners in general: 39.0% of complaints, 4.3× the share across all tracked vehicles. In the last 12 months owners filed 691 complaints versus 598 in the previous 12 months — up 16%.
Recalls: 38 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (8), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 2 NHTSA investigations touch Subaru models, 0 of them still open.
Models
| Models | Segments | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Investigations | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Outback | Midsize SUVs | 3,816 | 71.8 | 1.78 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | 0 | Body & structure |
| Subaru Forester | Compact SUVs | 2,453 | 45.0 | 1.11 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | 1 | Body & structure |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Subcompact SUVs | 903 | 20.1 | 0.5 | Improving | Rising | 13 | 1 | Body & structure |
| Subaru Impreza | Compact cars | 499 | 8.5 | 0.21 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 13 | 0 | Body & structure |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
By model year · Complaints per year on the road
All-vehicle average: 40.4
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Recalls by year received
Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
Investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as e…