Subaru Outback 2015–2019
5th generation (BS)
NHTSA data through 13 August 20264,805 complaints, 2,610 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
- Reports with mileage
- 2,610
- Median of reported failures
- 20,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Electrical system (30.4%)
- Recalls
- 14
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, 37% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 20 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000.
Figure 1 · Subaru Outback 2015–2019 · 2,610 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 522 complaints.
- First 12,000 miles — 37% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 5 complaints (0.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,243
- 25%
- 6,987
- Median
- 20,000
- 75%
- 39,134
- 90%
- 61,100
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 522 | 20.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 298 | 11.4% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 255 | 9.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 203 | 7.8% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 190 | 7.3% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 176 | 6.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 185 | 7.1% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 134 | 5.1% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 128 | 4.9% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 86 | 3.3% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 102 | 3.9% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 48 | 1.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 49 | 1.9% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 60 | 2.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 27 | 1.0% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 32 | 1.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 23 | 0.9% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 19 | 0.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 16 | 0.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 6 | 0.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 10 | 0.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 7 | 0.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 6 | 0.2% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 5 | 0.2% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 4,805 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback, and 2,610 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
37% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 20 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (30.4% of complaints, typically around 25,000 miles), visibility/wiper (20.3% of complaints, typically around 18,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (16.0% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles).
14 recall campaigns cover this generation. 1 of them carry a severe NHTSA advisory.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2015–2019 Subaru Outback last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback were filed by 20,000 miles and 90% by 61,000 miles — figures drawn from 2,610 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
5 reports (0.2%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Outback reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2015–2019 Outback: the 3-minute check
Generated from 2,610 mileage-tagged complaints, 14 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation. Run the VIN before you drive it home — the fix is free at any dealer.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 14 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for steering repair records. This area fails at a median of 4,500 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Ask for throttle and speed control repair records. This area fails at a median of 10,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Check transmission on 2015–2018 cars. CVT shudder and failure complaints continue; Subaru subsequently extended CVT coverage for MY2016-2018 vehicles as well.
- Check electrical on 2015–2019 cars. Parasitic battery drain causing repeated no-start, and widely reported windshield cracking from minimal impact.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 37% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the electrical system and visibility/wiper are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Visibility/wiper in particular shows a median failure mileage of 18,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Subaru Outback 2015–2019
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Steering130 reports4,500500–14,000Steering: 130 reports, median 4,500 miles, middle half 500 to 14,000 miles.
- Visibility/wiper977 reports18,0006,500–33,000Visibility/wiper: 977 reports, median 18,000 miles, middle half 6,500 to 33,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise771 reports20,0006,000–36,000Problems owners could not categorise: 771 reports, median 20,000 miles, middle half 6,000 to 36,000 miles.
- Electrical system1,460 reports25,00012,000–44,000Electrical system: 1,460 reports, median 25,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 44,000 miles.
- Engine218 reports26,0004,000–50,000Engine: 218 reports, median 26,000 miles, middle half 4,000 to 50,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline158 reports30,0006,000–45,000Transmission and driveline: 158 reports, median 30,000 miles, middle half 6,000 to 45,000 miles.
- Visibility equipment157 reports31,00015,000–50,000Visibility equipment: 157 reports, median 31,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 50,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1,460 | 30.4% | 25,000 | 12,000–44,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 977 | 20.3% | 18,000 | 6,500–33,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 771 | 16.0% | 20,000 | 6,000–36,000 |
| Engine | 218 | 4.5% | 26,000 | 4,000–50,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 158 | 3.3% | 30,000 | 6,000–45,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 157 | 3.3% | 31,000 | 15,000–50,000 |
| Steering | 130 | 2.7% | 4,500 | 500–14,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 122 | 2.5% | 10,000 | 2,500–35,000 |
| Body structure | 120 | 2.5% | 14,000 | 3,000–35,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 116 | 2.4% | 22,000 | 13,000–31,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Subaru Outback 2015–2019 · 2,610 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 89% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 100%: the remaining 0.2% of reports (5) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
89% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Electrical system — median 25,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper — median 18,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 20,000 mi
- Engine — median 26,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 30,000 mi
- Visibility equipment — median 31,000 mi
- Steering — median 4,500 mi
At 90,000 miles
97% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Electrical system — median 25,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper — median 18,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 20,000 mi
- Engine — median 26,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 30,000 mi
- Visibility equipment — median 31,000 mi
- Steering — median 4,500 mi
At 120,000 miles
99% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Electrical system — median 25,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper — median 18,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 20,000 mi
- Engine — median 26,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 30,000 mi
- Visibility equipment — median 31,000 mi
- Steering — median 4,500 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 20,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 30.4% of complaints (1,460 reports, 628 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 25,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 44,000 miles.
A single system taking 30.4% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Visibility/wiper accounts for 20.3% of complaints (977 reports, 684 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 18,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,500 and 33,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 16.0% of complaints (771 reports, 368 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 20,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,000 and 36,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 4.5% of complaints (218 reports, 99 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 26,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,000 and 50,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 3.3% of complaints (158 reports, 102 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 30,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,000 and 45,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 3.3% of complaints (157 reports, 151 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 31,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 50,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2019 model year drew the most — 1,288 complaints — while 2015 drew the fewest at 648. The median year sits at 991.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
1 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.
The campaigns cluster around the fuel system (2), the airbag system (2), the transmission and driveline (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 4,805 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 231 (4.8%)
- Fires
- 27
- Injury reports
- 100
- Fatality reports
- 0
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Transmission 2015–2018
CVT shudder and failure complaints continue; Subaru subsequently extended CVT coverage for MY2016-2018 vehicles as well.
Electrical 2015–2019
Parasitic battery drain causing repeated no-start, and widely reported windshield cracking from minimal impact.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 648 | 430 |
| 2016 | 772 | 412 |
| 2017 | 1,106 | 620 |
| 2018 | 991 | 584 |
| 2019 | 1,288 | 564 |
Recalls (14) — is your car included?
Sep 2021 · 2018–2019 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
What can happen. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Jun 2020 · 2019 · Fuel System, GasolineIf the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
What can happen. If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-20.
Feb 2020 · 2016–2017 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Outback vehicles. A replacement air bag control module may have been installed that is not compatible with the passenger air bag module, possibly affecting air bag deployment.
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUX-09.
Jul 2019 · 2019 · StructureIn the event of a crash, the reduced strength of the vehicle body may increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Legacy and Outback vehicles. Spot welds located on the duct below the cowl panel may have been improperly applied, impacting the vehicle's body strength.
What can happen. In the event of a crash, the reduced strength of the vehicle body may increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and repair or repurchase the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUH-93.
Feb 2019 · 2018 · Electrical SystemThe inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
What can happen. The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.
Feb 2019 · 2018 · VisibilityFailure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the rearview image will not display while backing up the vehicle. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
What can happen. Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
The free fix. Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTZ-85.
Nov 2016 · 2017 · Air BagsIf the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.
What can happen. If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.
Aug 2016 · 2017 · Service Brakes, HydraulicIf any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Outback vehicles manufactured June 20, 2016, to June 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may have improperly tightened attaching bolts for the front left and right brake calipers, wheel hubs, and the right stabilizer clamp.
What can happen. If any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the related components would also become loose and may detach possibly making the vehicle unstable and reducing the braking capability. These conditions would increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bolts for proper torque, and replace any loose bolts, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTE-66.
May 2016 · 2015 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
What can happen. Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTC-64.
May 2016 · 2015–2017 · Steering do not driveThe loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
What can happen. The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Dec 2015 · 2016 · Power TrainIf the drive shaft detaches from the rear differential, it may strike the fuel tank and result in a fuel…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016 Legacy vehicles manufactured October 24, 2015, to November 16, 2015, and Outback vehicles manufactured October 24, 2015, to November 17, 2015. Due to the improper tightening of the securing nuts, the drive shaft may separate from the rear differential.
What can happen. If the drive shaft detaches from the rear differential, it may strike the fuel tank and result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the fastening nuts, and tighten or replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 10, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is WQV-57.
Aug 2015 · 2015–2016 · Power TrainIf the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
What can happen. If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.
Jul 2015 · 2015 · Forward Collision AvoidanceIf the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
What can happen. If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
Oct 2014 · 2015 · Trailer HitchesThe mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Outback vehicles manufactured January 22, 2014, to August 18, 2014, and equipped with a Subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs.
What can happen. The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break. If this were to happen while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not be able to operate the vehicle as desired or the trailer may detach from the vehicle. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2014. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQN-50.
What owners reported
I was going 55 MPH on a straight flat surface when all of a sudden the RPM's shot up to around 4000 but the car was not accelerating. It was like it went into neutral. I pulled over to the side of the road and the car proceeded to die. Fortunately, it started right up and i drove home. I had a almost a full tank of…
2015 · 2 miles · Transmission and driveline
After just picking up my new 2015 Subaru Outback and driving in bright sunlight, i realized there is a hazardous condition related to the car's infotainment center. The area surrounding the display screen is an extremely glossy black mirror-like reflective surface. While driving, the sun reflects off of this surface…
2015 · 5 miles · Problems owners could not categorise
There is a gloss finished plastic touch pad kind of cover that covers the entire navigation system. This is approximately 6"x8". It is not only the navigation system, but the radio, fuel information, etc. It is slanted as part of the front dashboard, and when the sun hits it, it bounces directly into the drivers eyes.…
2015 · 7 miles · Body structure
Built from 2,610 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page