IllustrationWHILE SITTING AT A INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK
1996 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Subaru Outback are lower than the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback 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: 15 of 46 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
8 reportsIN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH BOTH CARS AT 30 MPH, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BURST THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND ENDED UP ON THE HOOD. PASSENGER NEVER TOUCHED THE AIR BAG, BUT WAS RESTRAINED BY THE SEAT/SHOULDER BELT. NO OTHER KNOWN REASON FOR WINDSHIELD DAMAGE BEFORE OR DURING THE CRASH. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING 45 AND MPH UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDEN STOP, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCLERATE ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER…
Read full complaint
WHEN TRAVELING 45 AND MPH UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDEN STOP, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCLERATE ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE DID A 360 DEGREE SPIN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND ROLLED OVER, NEITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE ROOF AND THE FRONT END CAVED IN. ALSO THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD. *AK
VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THEN OUTBACK REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG COVER DISENGAGED & SHATTERED WINDSHIELD. RESTRAINT COVER CAME OFF COMPLETELY. PASSENGER WAS INJURED BY AIR BAG. *AK
DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN LESS THAN 5 MPH FRONT END COLLISION. THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND DISLODGED THE REAR VIEW FRONT MIRROR OF ITS MOUNTING BRACKET.
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL 0VER IMPACT AT VERY LOW SPEED 2 OR 3 MPH W/NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 10MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT THE BACK TIRE OF A DUMP TRUCK AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK
Official recalls
201V216000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Jun 25, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
98V091000 · Suspension:front:springs:leaf Spring Assembly:hanger,bracket
May 4, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.
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.