IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOME LIGHT WAS BURNED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
2009 Subaru Outback Sport
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback Sport years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reportsSUBARU OUTBACK SPORTS 2009 MODEL, WITH NO PRIOR HISTORY PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT SUBARU RECALLED AN ELECTRONIC BOARD AND IT WAS REPLACED BY SUBARU DEALER. JUST GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY, COMING FROM THE AIRPORT, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WOOD. OPENED THE WINDOW TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT OUR CAR. SMELL WAS STILL THERE. PULLED OFF TH…
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SUBARU OUTBACK SPORTS 2009 MODEL, WITH NO PRIOR HISTORY PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT SUBARU RECALLED AN ELECTRONIC BOARD AND IT WAS REPLACED BY SUBARU DEALER. JUST GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY, COMING FROM THE AIRPORT, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WOOD. OPENED THE WINDOW TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT OUR CAR. SMELL WAS STILL THERE. PULLED OFF THE ROAD. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, LOTS OF SMOKE FROM HOOD AFTER ONE SECOND THE FIRE STARTED ENGULFING THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND AND I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR OF FEAR OF AN EXPLOSION AND CALLED 911 RIGHT AWAY. WITHIN 7 MINUTES ABOUT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY BURNT. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITHIN 10 MINUTES WHILE CAR WAS STILL BURNING., LOST SOME ELECTRONIC GADGETS, CAMERA, TABLET, 2 GPS, ETC., AND SOME CLOTHING AND ODDS AND ENDS BUT EVERYONE WAS SAFE. . THE WOMEN FROM THE CLAIM DEPARTMENT SAID THAT SHE ALSO HAD CALL ABOUT A FIRE IN A SUBARU COMING FROM THE AIRPORT LIKE US. SHE DID NOT WANT TO SAY ANYMORE SINCE SHE ACCIDENTALLY SAID IT. SUBARU REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRE UNLESS I PUT A CLAIM AGAINST THEM. *TR
THIS IS THE 4TH HEADLAMP WE HAVE REPLACED WITHIN 12 MONTHS. WE HAVE TRIED PIAA'S, SILVER STAR'S...ALL HAVE THE SAME LIFE SPAN OF APPROX. 3-4 MONTHS...THIS HAS BECOME EXPENSIVE, A SAFETY HAZARD, AND A NUISANCE. *TR
ON NOVEMBER 13, 2013 I WAS DRIVING ON ST RT 52 HEADING EAST IN NEW RICHMOND, OHIO AT A SPEED NOT LESS THAT 50 AND NOT GREATER THAN 60 MPH. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 NOON MY DRIVER-SIDE REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WALL--LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO ANY OF THE FRONT TIRE OTHERWISE I MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR
MY 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT. FAILURE OF BEARINGS IN 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. MADE OPERATION OF VEHICLE DANGEROUS, AND REQUIRES ENTIRE REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION, TAKING 3 WEEKS. *TR
A RETAINING RING IN THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING GEAR DAMAGE AND REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY AN ALL OF THE BEARINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY REPAIR BUT WAS A CONCERNING FAILURE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE HEARD OTHER REPORTS OF SUBARU OWNERS HAVING SI…
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A RETAINING RING IN THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING GEAR DAMAGE AND REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY AN ALL OF THE BEARINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY REPAIR BUT WAS A CONCERNING FAILURE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE HEARD OTHER REPORTS OF SUBARU OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.