2026 Subaru Outback problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 35 owner complaints about the 2026 Subaru Outback, or 35.0 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (complaint index 0.87, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2026 vehicles we track, it ranks #57 of 73 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Subaru models its rate is about the same; against other Midsize SUVs it is 33% 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 2026-03-29 and 2026-10-13. Median delay from incident to filing: 7 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2025) drew 45.9 complaints per year, more than this one.
The most common problem area is Driver-assist systems (22.9% of complaints), followed by Electrical (20.0%) and Body & structure (20.0%). Driver-assist systems complaints are 4.0 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 1 report (2.9%) describes a crash or fire; owners mention 6 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 7 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the first year (100% of incidents). In the last 12 months 35 complaints were filed, versus none in the 12 months before.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.87
- vs. other Subaru models0.96
- vs. other 2026 models1.4
- vs. other Midsize SUVs0.67
- #57 of 73 · 2026Rankings ›
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Problem areas: Body & structure · Electrical · Unspecified or other · Engine · Driver-assist systems · Transmission / powertrain · Airbags & seat belts · Steering · Brakes · Fuel system
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 1
- Fires reported: 0
- Injuries: 6
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 7 months
What owners report
I opened the hood all the way to add washer fluid. While doing so, the hood came crashing down on my head.
The air-conditioning/HVAC system repeatedly failed to cool and blew hot air. The vehicle was leased new on [XXX]; warm air returned within about two days.
The read passenger tire Dunlop 255/60R18 100H exploded while driving at approx. 30miles/hour. The tire did not have any punctures and did not hit any board walk. No previous warning whatsoever.
The pre-collision breaking system activated while I was driving 35mph on a straight road with no cars or obstacles present. There was enough force generated in the abrupt stop that the seatbelt locked and unsecured items were thrown to the floor.
Brand new 2026 Outback experienced a "Sudden Unintended Acceleration / Brake Ineffectiveness. This occurred 3 times this week after the car had been driven over 90 miles or over 90 minutes. Engine and components were warmed up.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2026 · Midsize SUVs
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kia Sorento | 8 | 8.0 | 0.2 |
| 2026 Nissan Pathfinder | 11 | 11.0 | 0.27 |
| 2026 Dodge Durango | 14 | 14.0 | 0.35 |
| 2026 Honda Pilot | 23 | 23.0 | 0.57 |
| 2026 Chevrolet Traverse | 25 | 25.0 | 0.62 |
| 2026 Subaru Outback | 35 | 35.0 | 0.87 |
| 2026 Ford Explorer | 42 | 42.0 | 1.04 |
| 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 50 | 50.0 | 1.24 |
| 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe | 54 | 54.0 | 1.34 |
| 2026 Honda Passport | 68 | 68.0 | 1.69 |
| 2026 Hyundai Palisade | 129 | 129.0 | 3.2 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.