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

2011 Subaru Outback

Typical pattern

8.6% of complaints about the 2011 Subaru Outback came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2011 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (215 complaints), typically at 8.3 yr or about 114,000 miles.

Complaints
840
Median age at failure
6.7 yr
Median mileage
85,000 n=591
Crash / fire / tow
6.7% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
215 reports · 114,000 mi
8.3 yr
3.7%
Exterior lighting
116 reports · 53,000 mi
4.8 yr
0.9%
Engine
84 reports · 107,000 mi
8.8 yr
7.1%
Air bags
72 reports · 28,600 mi
5.8 yr
6.9%
Service brakes
67 reports · 80,000 mi
8.9 yr
11.9%
Electrical system
66 reports · 61,986 mi
5.3 yr
12.1%
Other
38 reports · 110,000 mi
9.1 yr
10.5%
Steering
31 reports · 4,710 mi
3.8 yr
6.5%
Speed control
25 reports · 52,000 mi
6.8 yr
28%
Suspension
21 reports · 35,000 mi
11.7 yr
0%
Visibility / wipers
18 reports · 99,351 mi
6.3 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

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.

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.

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.

19V008000 2019-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or rep

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V007000 2019-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating de

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V009000 2019-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipm

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

18V626000 2018-09-13
Parking brake

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.

A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.

18V012000 2018-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

17V014000 2017-01-10
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original e

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 25 mi 0 mo in service
2011 SUBARU OUTBACK - PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATING "OFF", NOT TURNING ON WHEN 140LB PERSON IS IN THE SEAT. SUBARU OF AMERICA STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND THERE IS NO FIX. SUBARU DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW DOES NOT AGREE AND STATES SOMETHING IS WRONG. HE HAS ANOTHER OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AND ACCIDENT WITH A 140LB PERSON IN THE SEAT! *TR
Air bags 6 mi 1 mo in service
OCCUPANT SENSING AIRBAG WON'T TURN ON FOR MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS 110 POUNDS. THIS IS A NEW 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE DEALERSHIP ARGUED AND WAS EVASIVE ABOUT MY COMPLAINT; AND SAID THE SEAT WAS CALIBRATED TO ACTIVATE WITH A 120 POUND PERSON. THEY WERE "INSTRUCTING" ME ON THE PROPER SEATING POSITION. I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T WANT THE VEHICLE IF THE AIR BAG WOULDN'T OPERATE FOR MY WIFE. I HAVE AN APPT. THIS WEEK . STAY TUNED. *TR
Air bags 3,000 mi 2 mo in service
SOMETIMES THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS "OFF" DESPITE A FULL-SIZED ADULT SITTING IN THAT SEAT. *TR
Suspension 40 mi 0 mo in service
TEST DROVE 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R BEFORE PURCHASE AND VEHICLE HAD FRONT END SHAKE AT FREEWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH OR SO. AS RESULT DID NOT BUY. *TR

Other Outback model years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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