IllustrationCONSUMER UNABLE TO NAVE AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH INSTALLED. NLM
1997 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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
00–25K
025–50K
650–75K
575–100K
7100–150K
6150K+
24 reports with mileage · 55 unknown
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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
79 reportsSTRESS CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD.
WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH AND RADIO WILL STOP WORKING, AND THEN IN AN HOUR THEY WILL WORK AGAIN. FUSES WERE CHECKED AND NO PROBLEM. DEALER CONTACTED AND WILL HAVE TO EVALUATE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS NOT WORKING. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK.ET.
WHILE AT A STOP THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD TWO OR THREE FEET BEFORE DRIVER CAN STOP THE VEHICLE. OWNER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS MAY OF 1997. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE LOCATION OF THE CUP HOLDER RIGHT ABOVE OF RADIO, CAUSED LIQUIDS TO SEEP INTO THE STEREO SYSTEM. THE RADIO BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND SMOKE STARTED TO POUR OUT OF THE DASH. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. *AK
THE DEALER STATED THAT SOME OF THOSE VEHICLES HAVE DRIVESHAFTS THAT ARE NOT PROPERLY BALANCED WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AT 65 MPH AND UP, THERE IS ALSO A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS PROBLEM. *ET
POSSIBLE WELD FRACTURE IN THE HANGER BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK RECALLED, RECALL WORK NOT DONE DUE TO LACK OF PART.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.
I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1993 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON AND IT WAS A REWARDING EXPERIENCE, WITH LITTLE TROUBLE. PERHAPS, MY RUBY RED SUBARU SHOULD BE PAINTED LEMON YELLOW? PLEASE, STAY TUNED. M.A.ROTH
COFFEE CUP HOLDER PLACEMENT IS ABOVE THE RADIO, AND BY IT BEING DIRECTLY OVER THE RADIO, SPILLLS OR FLUIDS COMING DIRECTLY INTO THE RADIO, CAUSES THE RADIO TO BURN OUT. THE HOLDER SHOULD NOT BE OVER THE RADIO. IT CAUSES A PROBLEM WITH NO RADIO, HAVING TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES, NOT FALLING ASLEEP. *AK
Official recalls
401V216000 · 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.
98V035000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 20, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THROTTLE SHAFT BALL BEARING ON THE SENSOR SIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS NOT INSTALLED IN CERTAIN THROTTLE BODIES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH A MISSING THROTTLE SHAFT BEARING CAN EVENTUALLLY LEAD TO AN INCOMPLETE RETURN OF THE THROTTLE VALVE RESULTING IN A HIGH IDLING CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY IF THE BEARING IS MISSING.
98V042000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Feb 20, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. DUE TO POOR WELDS, IGNITION KEYS CAN STICK, SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES CAN BREAK AND SHIFT LEVERS CAN MOVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
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.