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2023 Subaru Outback

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2023 Subaru Outback are lower than the model-year median of 207.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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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: 12 of 89 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.

  • Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports
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20,300 miles · Apr 15, 2026
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. While turning into a parking spot, the accelerator pedal was slightly depressed, and the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, crashing into a parked vehicle on the driver's side. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to move forward after the crash into the next parking spot. No warni…

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The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. While turning into a parking spot, the accelerator pedal was slightly depressed, and the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, crashing into a parked vehicle on the driver's side. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to move forward after the crash into the next parking spot. No warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,300.

NHTSA ODI #11731476

12,800 miles · Jan 27, 2025
EngineVehicle Speed ControlCrash

The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that his wife was driving the vehicle and as she was entering into a parking spot and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle experienced sudden unintended acceleration. The contact's wife reported that the vehicle had made an abnormal revving sound as if she had applied…

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The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that his wife was driving the vehicle and as she was entering into a parking spot and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle experienced sudden unintended acceleration. The contact's wife reported that the vehicle had made an abnormal revving sound as if she had applied the accelerator. The front end of the vehicle jumped the parking bumper and crashed into the store's glass front. The wife stated that she had not noticed any warning lights or alarm chimes before the abnormal revving noise. The wife was not aware of the speed of the vehicle. The wife stated that the vehicle stopped and she had shifted the vehicle into reverse (R) and was able to reverse out from the storefront. The wife stated that she had not suffered any injuries. The police were called and issued the wife a citation. The vehicle had damage to the front bumper and the hood. The contact stated that there were some broken pieces of plastic missing and there was some deformation of the front edge of the hood. The contact stated that the vehicle was drivable. The contact stated that a similar incident had occurred to him last August as he was pulling into his residence garage. He stated that he heard an abnormal revving sound from the engine and he was able to stop the vehicle before it had crashed into the garage. The vehicle had been taken to a local dealer, however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,800.

NHTSA ODI #11638907

6,000 miles · Jan 23, 2024
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the Eyesight feature of the vehicle was no longer operable. The dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH uphill, the accelerator pedal was released; however, the vehicle unintendedly…

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The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the Eyesight feature of the vehicle was no longer operable. The dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH uphill, the accelerator pedal was released; however, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to 63 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that she continuously pumped the brake pedal until the vehicle responded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no issues were found. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH around a roundabout, the failure recurred, and the front passenger's side tire struck the curb. The vehicle then decelerated and bounced. The contact depressed the brake pedal and stopped the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and test driven. The dealer informed the contact that due the vehicle striking the curb, the steering wheel was off center, the front passenger's side wheel was bent and imbalanced, and there was an abnormal wheel bearing sound. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the ball joint had detached from the knuckles, the brackets were shifted, and the tie rod and control arm showed marks. A Subaru field inspector inspected the vehicle but could not determine the cause of the unintended acceleration. The manufacturer later informed the contact that there were no abnormalities found. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

NHTSA ODI #11567364

Official recalls

2

23V755000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch

Nov 9, 2023

Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.

23V647000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

Sep 21, 2023

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.

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