What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2006 Subaru Outback

Typical pattern

2.5% of complaints about the 2006 Subaru Outback came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2006 vehicle — around the middle of the 250 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 9.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is speed control (99 complaints), typically at 9.8 yr or about 96,105 miles.

Complaints
404
Median age at failure
9.2 yr
Median mileage
95,333 n=338
Crash / fire / tow
4.2% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Speed control
99 reports · 96,105 mi
9.8 yr
2%
Engine
43 reports · 104,000 mi
9.3 yr
2.3%
Electrical system
42 reports · 100,000 mi
9.4 yr
2.4%
Air bags
39 reports · 118,000 mi
10.4 yr
7.7%
Suspension
37 reports · 60,000 mi
4.3 yr
5.4%
Fuel / propulsion
29 reports · 107,866 mi
10.1 yr
0%
Power train
18 reports · 96,404 mi
8.3 yr
5.6%
Service brakes
16 reports · 127,196 mi
13.5 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V003000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall us

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

20V002000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

20V001000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same de

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V297000 2019-04-11
Electrical system:ignition:switch

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

15V323000 2015-05-28
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, c

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

14V311000 2014-06-10
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.

Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

13V110000 2013-03-27
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.

Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Speed control 81,000 mi 6.1 yr in service
INCIDENT HAPPENED AT A RED LIGHT IN TRAFFIC AT RUSH HOUR. AFTER PULLING UP TO A RED LIGHT TO A FULL STOP, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN AT EXACTLY 2500RPM. THE CAR ACCELERATED FROM A DEAD STOP AND CONTINUED TO DO SO WITH NO INPUT FROM ME. THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING AT ALL. I HAD TO APPLY BRAKES AND MOVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID TRAFFIC. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS SOLID AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES. *TR
Speed control 30,000 mi 3.8 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A SENSOR ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Speed control 151,965 mi 6.4 yr in service
ENGINE LOST POWER AND HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD. RETRIEVED ERROR CODE P2138 (ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR) FROM (DLC) DATA LINK CONNECTOR IN CAR. *TR
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.6 yr in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,600. *AK

Other Outback model years

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