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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.

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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

Seats complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2006
SeatsStructureSuspensionCrashInjury

I WAS QUITE HURT (TO THE DEGREE OF HAVING TO GO ON SSD) IN A REAR END COLLISION IN A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. IN TRYING TO RECOVER THE ORIGINAL HEAD REST OF THIS CAR I LEARNED IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND CAN ONLY BE REPLACED WITH A MUCH SAFER MODEL. IN DOING A RECENT CRASH ANALYSIS WITH THIS NEW HEAD REST I REALIZED THE SIG…

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I WAS QUITE HURT (TO THE DEGREE OF HAVING TO GO ON SSD) IN A REAR END COLLISION IN A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. IN TRYING TO RECOVER THE ORIGINAL HEAD REST OF THIS CAR I LEARNED IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND CAN ONLY BE REPLACED WITH A MUCH SAFER MODEL. IN DOING A RECENT CRASH ANALYSIS WITH THIS NEW HEAD REST I REALIZED THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AND HOW MUCH SAFER THE NEW HEAD REST IS. I LEARNED ON YOUR CAR SAFETY WEB SITE OF THE NATIONAL CAUTION ON THE WHOLE SEAT OF THIS MODEL SEATS AND HEAD REST. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ORTHOPEDIC (LEFT ARM, ALL/WHOLE BACK, RIGHT LEG, BOTH KNEES, POSTURE) AND BRAIN INJURY PROBLEMS FROM MY CAR ACCIDENT. I RECENTLY LEARNED (3/06), THAT SUBARU STARTED UNOFFICIALLY REPLACING THE SEAT AND HEAD REST OF THIS MODEL LEGACY 1998 THRU 1999 WHENEVER POSSIBLE. MEANING WHENEVER THESE MODELS REQUESTED NEW PARTS, THERE IS AN UNOFFICIAL RECALL IN THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE ORIGINAL PART ONLY THE SAFER NEW PARTS. I KEEP THINKING ABOUT HOW EASY A RECALL FOR APPROXIMATELY A 2 AND A HALF YEARS MODEL CAR IS (I HAVE EXPERIENCED A GM RECALL OF A PART THAT WENT VERY SMOOTHLY). THERE IS A GREAT COST TO SOCIETY AND MYSELF OF THERE NOT BEING AN OFFICIAL RECALL. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL WITH A LETTER OR I WILL SEND ANOTHER LETTER BY SIGNED RECEIPT EMAIL. SINCERELY, MARCIE ELLIS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156391

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Power TrainSeatsVisibilityCrashInjury

HEATED MIRRORS, HEATED SEATS, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ALL QUIT WORKING AND ALTHOUGH SERVICE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG ORIGINALLY, THEY DID FINALLY ADMIT TO A SHORT WITHIN EACH UNIT. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELECTRIAL SHORTING OUT TO CAUSE ALL THE MISC. THINGS TO GO OUT. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS NO CON…

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HEATED MIRRORS, HEATED SEATS, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ALL QUIT WORKING AND ALTHOUGH SERVICE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG ORIGINALLY, THEY DID FINALLY ADMIT TO A SHORT WITHIN EACH UNIT. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELECTRIAL SHORTING OUT TO CAUSE ALL THE MISC. THINGS TO GO OUT. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS NO CONCERN DUE TO REPEATED ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #743253

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.

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