Subaru Outback Years to Avoid — the newer ones crack windshields.
The Outback's busiest years are recent ones. 2,078 complaints on the 2015–2022 describe a cracked windshield, and 1,385 on the 2015–2020 mention the battery. The 2019 drew the most complaints of any Outback. Older cars have their own faults: head gaskets, a 2006 throttle problem and the 2010–2012 CVT.
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Quick Answer
- What Subaru Outback years should you avoid?
- The 2017–2020 drew the most complaints: 2019 (1,036), 2017 (921), 2020 (906). Most are about two things: windshields that crack (441 on the 2019 alone) and batteries that go dead (356 mentions on the 2017). On older cars, the 2006 drew 103 complaints about lost throttle and the 2010–2012 267 about the CVT.
- What is the best year for a used Outback?
- From 2005 to 2021, leaving out years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints, 2009 (112), 2007 (131), 2014 (208) drew the fewest. Owners below also report a 2016 at 96,000 miles with only routine maintenance.
- Is the 2013 Outback an oil burner?
- It has that reputation, and an owners' forum post below says to avoid it for oil consumption. NHTSA's records are thinner: 25 of the 2013's 297 complaints describe oil burning. Check the oil level and ask for records either way.
Five checks for a used Outback, newest faults first
On a recent Outback the problems are glass and electrics; on an older one, the engine and transmission. Check for both.
- 12015–2022: inspect the windshieldLook for chips and cracks, especially along the edges; owners describe cracks with no impact.
- 22015–2020: test the batteryAsk when it was replaced; a slow start or a dead battery after sitting is what owners report.
- 32010–2014: drive the CVTFeel for shudder or hesitation pulling away.
- 41996–2004: head gasketLook for coolant loss or overheating, and ask whether the gaskets were done.
- 5Check the VIN recordsTitle brands, salvage history and odometer readings by VIN.
Be Careful With: the 2015–2022 Outback and Its Windshield
The Outback's most-complained-about years are its newest. The 2019 drew 1,036 NHTSA complaints, the most of any Outback, and 441 of them describe a cracked windshield. Across the 2015–2022, 2,078 complaints do.
Owners describe cracks that appear with no impact, and some describe the replacement glass cracking too. The only windshield recall on NHTSA's list, 22V712000, covers how the 2022's windshield is bonded to the body, not cracking.
The same years have a second cluster: batteries. 1,385 complaints on the 2015–2020 mention the battery, most describing it going dead, and the electrical system is the component named most from 2016 to 2019. No battery recall is on NHTSA's list.
The 2017–2020 by the numbers
- 921 · 816 complaints on the 2017 and 2018.
- 1,036 · 906 on the 2019 and 2020.
- 1,414 of them describe a cracked windshield.
- 185 on the 2018–2019 are about the touchscreen.
Every Subaru Outback Model Year Compared
NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns for every Outback from 1995 to 2026, read on 12 November 2026.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1st | 2 | 1 · 0 | 1 | Service Brakes |
| 1996 | 1st | 48 | 12 · 1 | 2 | Engine And Engine Cooling |
| 1997 | 1st | 80 | 7 · 2 | 4 | Engine And Engine Cooling |
| 1998 | 1st | 141 | 9 · 2 | 2 | Engine And Engine Cooling |
| 1999 | 1st | 112 | 13 · 1 | 1 | Power Train |
| 2000 | 2nd | 215 | 18 · 7 | 2 | Power Train |
| 2001 | 2nd | 170 | 16 · 4 | 4 | Service Brakes |
| 2002 | 2nd | 153 | 10 · 0 | 5 | Service Brakes |
| 2003 | 2nd | 95 | 7 · 1 | 15 | Air Bags |
| 2004 | 2nd | 90 | 9 · 4 | 11 | Air Bags |
| 2005 | 3rd | 273 | 13 · 3 | 9 | Suspension |
| 2006 | 3rd | 281 | 7 · 3 | 7 | Vehicle Speed Control |
| 2007 | 3rd | 131 | 9 · 2 | 8 | Air Bags |
| 2008 | 3rd | 230 | 12 · 3 | 8 | Air Bags |
| 2009 | 3rd | 112 | 1 · 5 | 13 | Air Bags |
| 2010 | 4th | 360 | 12 · 3 | 18 | Power Train |
| 2011 | 4th | 653 | 24 · 6 | 16 | Power Train |
| 2012 | 4th | 295 | 15 · 6 | 16 | Power Train |
| 2013 | 4th | 297 | 18 · 6 | 12 | Engine |
| 2014 | 4th | 208 | 14 · 2 | 10 | Air Bags |
| 2015 | 5th | 509 | 19 · 5 | 5 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2016 | 5th | 643 | 22 · 3 | 4 | Electrical System |
| 2017 | 5th | 921 | 33 · 3 | 4 | Electrical System |
| 2018 | 5th | 816 | 27 · 4 | 3 | Electrical System |
| 2019 | 5th | 1,036 | 24 · 2 | 3 | Electrical System |
| 2020 | 6th | 906 | 19 · 7 | 6 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2021 | 6th | 300 | 9 · 2 | 4 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2022 | 6th | 467 | 10 · 4 | 4 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2023 | 6th | 89 | 8 · 1 | 2 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
| 2024 | 6th | 2 | 0 · 0 | 0 | Equipment |
| 2025 | 6th | 84 | 5 · 2 | 0 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
| 2026 | 7th | 21 | 1 · 0 | 0 | Electrical System |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not divided by sales. No 1995–2004 Outback has more than 215 complaints.
Older Outbacks: Head Gaskets, Throttle and the CVT
The faults behind the Outback's earlier complaint clusters.
1996–2004: head gaskets
121 complaints mention the head gasket, most on the 1998 and 2000.
2006: lost throttle
103 of 281 complaints describe lost power or a failed pedal sensor; no recall covers it.
2005–2009: brake lines
Recall 14V311000: brake lines can rust through in salt states.
2010–2012: the CVT
267 complaints mention the CVT or transmission; the power train is named most on all three.
2011: headlights
119 of 653 complaints mention the headlights or their bulbs.
2018: fuel gauge
Recall 18V773000: the low-fuel light and miles-to-empty can be wrong.
What Outback Owners Say on YouTube and the Forums
Outback owners report everything from 400,000-mile cars to rusted exhausts and CVT shudder.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- Subaru Outback Forums: a member says to avoid the 2013 for excessive oil consumption and that the 2018 had multiple problems.
- YouTube, the most-liked comment: it sums up the years as 2010 head gaskets, 2011–2012 CVT, 2013 oil consumption and 2015 windshields.
- YouTube, 2016 Limited 2.5: at 96,000 miles, only routine maintenance; the owner says it still drives like new.
- YouTube, 2017 bought new: it needed a new muffler and tailpipe for rust, then a rusted heat shield.
- YouTube, 2013: at 119,000 miles, no problems; the owner tops up the oil about every 3,000 miles.
- YouTube, 2011 CVT: bought at 190,000 miles, it sometimes shudders and hesitates; the owner is no fan of CVTs.
- YouTube, 2004 H6: an owner reports 410,000 miles.
- YouTube, 2021: after nine Subarus, the owner calls it the worst purchase of their life.
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Fewest vs. Most Outback Complaints
Fewest is limited to 2005–2021, because no older Outback has more than 215 complaints to separate one year from the next, and leaves out years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints (2006 and 2015–2022).
Fewest complaints
- 2009: 112 complaints, 13 recalls
- 2007: 131 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2014: 208 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2008: 230 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2005: 273 complaints, 9 recalls
Most complaints
- 2019: 1,036 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2017: 921 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2020: 906 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2018: 816 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2011: 653 complaints, 16 recalls
Recall counts include multi-model campaigns.
The Outbacks Our Visitors Check
Between 13 June 2026 and 11 November 2026, visitors ran 852 different Subaru Outback VINs from 2005 on through our free preview. Every one starts with 4S4, and every one we sampled decoded through NHTSA's VIN decoder as built in the United States.
422 (50%) were 2015–2022 models, the windshield years: 308 from the 2015–2019 generation and 248 from 2020–2025. The single most-checked year was the 2017, at 80 VINs.
Outback Complaints by Generation
The 2015–2019 generation drew 3,925 complaints and the 2020–2025 1,848, against 1,813 for 2010–2014 and 2,133 for every Outback before that.
What to Check on a Used Outback
By year, the faults to look for.
1996–2004: head gasket
Coolant level, overheating and a sweet smell; ask for repair records.
2005–2006: throttle response
Drive it on the highway; owners describe sudden loss of power.
2010–2014: CVT shudder
Pull away gently from a stop and feel for judder.
2015–2022: windshield
Inspect the glass edges for cracks; ask if it has been replaced.
2015–2020: battery
Ask about dead batteries and check the battery's date.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading Outback Complaint Numbers
NHTSA complaints are owner reports, not verified and not divided by sales. Many of the 2015–2022 windshield complaints describe the same fault on car after car, so those years' totals say more about one part than about the whole car.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners used, so they are a minimum. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints: the 2022 has 467 so far, 309 of them about the windshield.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history checks and the Outback's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 12 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Subaru.
Subaru Outback Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
Windshields, batteries, CVTs and head gaskets.
What is the worst year for the Subaru Outback?+
By NHTSA complaint count, the 2019 (1,036), then the 2017 (921) and the 2020 (906).
Which Outback years crack windshields?+
The 2015–2022, most of all the 2019 (441 complaints) and 2020 (417). No recall covers the cracking itself.
Which Outback years have battery drain?+
Complaints mention the battery most on the 2016 (250), 2017 (356) and 2019 (303). NHTSA's list has no battery recall.
Do Outbacks have CVT problems?+
The 2010–2012 drew 267 complaints mentioning the CVT or transmission; after 2012 the count falls to 55 on the 2013 and 22 on the 2014.
Is a high-mileage Outback worth buying?+
Often, if it has records: owners report a 2004 at 410,000 miles. On a 1996–2004, ask about the head gaskets first.
Will your report show these problems?+
No history report can tell you a windshield will crack. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. Recalls are free to check on NHTSA's site.
Check the Glass, Then the Records
On a recent Outback, look at the windshield before you look at the price. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 12 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Subaru. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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