IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
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 →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
20–25K
1025–50K
1150–75K
1075–100K
20100–150K
5150K+
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
What owners actually said
111 reportsBRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER THAT WHEN STEPPING ONE OF THE PEDALS, CONSUMER IS APPLYING BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND GOING UP A INCLINE, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT, AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SLOW DOWN AND REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DRIVER'S FOOT CAN HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND APPLY BOTH BY MISTAKE. DEALER SAYS ITS PART OF DESIGN AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL, IF YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTS CAUSING THE CAR TO JOLT SHARPLY AND STARTLE THE DRIVER. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT UNTIL THROTTLE IS APPLIED FOR A MOMENT WHICH CAUSES YOU TO SHOOT UP ON THE CAR AHEAD. NOT APPLYING THROTTLE RESULTS IN A LOT OF ENGINE BREAKING AND…
Read full complaint
WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL, IF YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTS CAUSING THE CAR TO JOLT SHARPLY AND STARTLE THE DRIVER. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT UNTIL THROTTLE IS APPLIED FOR A MOMENT WHICH CAUSES YOU TO SHOOT UP ON THE CAR AHEAD. NOT APPLYING THROTTLE RESULTS IN A LOT OF ENGINE BREAKING AND HIGH RPM'S. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE BECAUSE THE ABRUPT AND UNANTICIPATED BRAKING CVOULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR SKID. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX - IT'S DESIGNED THAT WAY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS.
CONSUMER WAS COASTING UP A SLIGHT HILL WHEN VEHICLE TOOK OFF TO RIGHT WITH BRAKES APPLIED, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
COMSUMERS PANT LEG GOT CAUGHT ON A SMALL 2 INCH ROUND MECHANISM THAT STICKS OUT OF THE SIDE OPENING OF THE BACK DOOR CAUSING HER TO FALL TO THE CONCRETE RESULTING IN BRUISES. NLM
WHEEL BEARING WAS LEAKING GREASE WHEN IT WAS LUBRICATED WHICH CAUSED AN UNUSUAL NOISE. DEALER REPLACED THE SEAL FOR THE WHEEL BEARINGS. *AK
VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING.
A NEW DESIGN CHANGE WITH THE CHIP WITHIN TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX IT AT PRESENT MOMENT. *AK
Official recalls
101V216000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.