NHTSA has received 89 owner complaints about the 2023 Subaru Outback, or 23.5 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (complaint index 0.58, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #49 of 92 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Subaru models its rate is 35% lower; against other Midsize SUVs it is 55% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2022-10-05 and 2026-09-02. Median delay from incident to filing: 7 days.
89Complaints
23.5Complaints per year on the road
0.58Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
2Recalls
9.0%Share involving a crash or fire
10Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2022) drew 97.1 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2024) drew 35.5 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2023 model collected 72 complaints, 13% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Body & structure (25.8% of complaints), followed by Electrical (19.1%) and Driver-assist systems (15.7%). Body & structure complaints are 2.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 8 reports (9.0%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 3 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 8 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the first year (64% of incidents). In the last 12 months 10 new complaints were filed, versus 12 in the 12 months before — down 17%.
NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.58
vs. other Subaru models0.65
vs. other 2023 models0.56
vs. other Midsize SUVs0.45
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (72)0.87
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. While turning into a parking spot, the accelerator pedal was slightly depressed, and the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, crashing into a parked vehicle on the driver's side.
Other · 2026-04-15 · ODI 11731476 · Crash
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while walking around the vehicle attempting to put her husband in the passenger seat, the hatchback opened independently, and they both got pushed independently from the vehicle on the ground…
Body & structure · 2025-11-20 · ODI 11700576
While driving on the highway I had my cruise control on with my driving assist turned on. My car tried to veer to the left, hard, almost into the guardrail. It had happened before but not as severe as this time.
Driver-assist systems · 2026-09-02 · ODI 11761486
Driving at speeds around 40 and when braking to turn, the brakes jerk and feel like they are not engaging properly. It has happened to a different driver, twice both times on a 90 degree day, a few minutes after the vehicle had been started and the air…
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-20 · ODI 11758281
Phantom Braking of Pre-Collision Braking 2023 Subaru Outback Turbo Wednesday, July 29, 2026. 9:30 am, sunny day Driving south on local city street.
Driver-assist systems · 2026-08-03 · ODI 11754558
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH Campaign 23V755000 · 2023-11-09
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT Campaign 23V647000 · 2023-09-21
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
Risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
