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1999 Subaru Outback

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Subaru Outback do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 207.5.

About this comparison →
111Owner complaints

Model-year median: 207.5

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
46
199679
1997127
1998111
1999207
2000171
2001143
2002
Compare all Outback years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
29Engine And Engine Cooling
23Suspension
13Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Vehicle Speed Control
9
All reported categories
Electrical System
8Air Bags
7Latches/locks/linkages
5Unknown Or Other
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Structure
4Visibility
4Seat Belts
3Tires
3Seats
2Steering
2Child Seat
1Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Other
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

58 reports with mileage · 53 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports1 fire reports14 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
180,000 miles · Jul 15, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE VEHICLE IS USING ITS POWER TO MAKE THE CAR THINK IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND DOES NOT START PROPERLY. IT WILL START IF YOU PULL THE FUSE OUT AND THEN PUT IT BACK IN TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. ALSO, LENDING WAY TO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. EFFECTING MILEAGE ON THE COUNTER. CAR WAS STATIONERY UPON OCCURRENCE. THE CAR ITSEL…

Read full complaint

THE VEHICLE IS USING ITS POWER TO MAKE THE CAR THINK IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND DOES NOT START PROPERLY. IT WILL START IF YOU PULL THE FUSE OUT AND THEN PUT IT BACK IN TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. ALSO, LENDING WAY TO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. EFFECTING MILEAGE ON THE COUNTER. CAR WAS STATIONERY UPON OCCURRENCE. THE CAR ITSELF IS GOOD IT RUNS PRETTY WELL YET, TO PUT IT IN DRIVE IT BURNS TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS TELLING THE CAR IT IS IN NEUTRAL.

NHTSA ODI #10885130

Official recalls

1

01V216000 · 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Outback problems

Subaru Outback transmission problems →Subaru Outback electrical problems →