2023 Subaru Outback problems and complaints
Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Outback. The most-reported areas: Forward Collision Avoidance (22), Electrical System (17), Visibility/Wiper (16).
Key takeaways
- 89 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 8 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 3 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 22 | 25% |
| Electrical System | 17 | 19% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 16 | 18% |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 | 17% |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 8% |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 7% |
| Power Train | 5 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3% |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 3 | 3% |
| Visibility | 3 | 3% |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 2% |
| Tires | 2 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Lane Departure - filed 2026-09-02
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. Going highway speed, I was lucky enough no one was next to me. Someone could have got seriously injured!
Power Train,service Brakes - filed 2026-08-20
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 conditioner was running on high. After this happened we Googled the...
Forward Collision Avoidance - filed 2026-08-03
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. Brakes slammed on, car stopped, flashing yellow lights on left Combination Meter stating that Pre-Collision Braking was activated. There was no vehicle/obstacle/animal i...
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More for the 2023 Subaru Outback
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.