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2025 Subaru Outback

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 9 of 80 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Lane Departure. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

80 reports
2,000 miles · Aug 7, 2026
Visibility

The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving during heavy rainfall, the front windshield displayed a distorted view while the windshield wipers were activated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not identified. The front windshie…

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The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving during heavy rainfall, the front windshield displayed a distorted view while the windshield wipers were activated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not identified. The front windshield was cleaned. Upon further investigation, the contact associated the failure with the manufacturing of the windshield glass. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

NHTSA ODI #11755406

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2026
Seats

The passenger seat airbag light does NOT always come on when my wife, 93 lbs, sits in the passenger seat. It will come on with someone heavier. This also happened in the loaner car I was given, 2026 Forester, by the dealer while they investigated my car. The airbag light did not come on when my wife was in the seat. Dealer says …

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The passenger seat airbag light does NOT always come on when my wife, 93 lbs, sits in the passenger seat. It will come on with someone heavier. This also happened in the loaner car I was given, 2026 Forester, by the dealer while they investigated my car. The airbag light did not come on when my wife was in the seat. Dealer says thereshold switch is operating according to factory specification. I say the specification needs adjustment. This was NOT a problem with my 2021 WRX.

NHTSA ODI #11754998

10,000 miles · Jul 30, 2026
Electrical SystemEngine

The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while attempting to start it. There were no warning lights illuminated. A tow truck company successfully jump-started the vehicle, and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact …

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The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while attempting to start it. There were no warning lights illuminated. A tow truck company successfully jump-started the vehicle, and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact returned to retrieve the vehicle, and the key fob failed to operate, and the vehicle failed to start. The dealer provided a loaner vehicle. There was no indication that the battery had failed; however, the dealer replaced the battery. The dealer had not yet determined the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #11753796

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2026
Unknown Or Other

On May 16, 2026, I was driving approximately 65 mph northbound on the Glenn Highway near Anchorage, Alaska, in my 2025 Subaru Outback Wilderness. Traffic was light, and there were no vehicles within approximately 150 yards of my vehicle. Without warning, my wife and I heard a loud bang followed immediately by the sound of rattli…

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On May 16, 2026, I was driving approximately 65 mph northbound on the Glenn Highway near Anchorage, Alaska, in my 2025 Subaru Outback Wilderness. Traffic was light, and there were no vehicles within approximately 150 yards of my vehicle. Without warning, my wife and I heard a loud bang followed immediately by the sound of rattling glass. The factory-installed moonroof suddenly shattered while the vehicle was traveling at highway speed. I did not observe any object strike the vehicle, and there were no nearby vehicles or adverse weather conditions that would explain the failure. Fortunately, the interior moonroof shade was closed. Had it been open, shattered glass could have fallen directly onto the driver and passenger, potentially causing eye injuries, distraction, or loss of vehicle control while traveling at highway speed. After safely pulling over, I documented the damage with photographs and contacted Continental Subaru of Anchorage two days later to schedule a warranty inspection. When I brought the vehicle to the dealership on May 28, the warranty claim was dismissed before any inspection findings were explained to me. I was ultimately told that Subaru does not cover shattered moonroof glass under warranty and that only cracked glass may be covered. I was directed to file an insurance claim instead. I asked the dealership to identify evidence of an external impact that would explain the failure, but no impact point or other physical evidence was shown to me. I was required to pay for replacement of the moonroof despite the vehicle having only approximately 30,000 miles. I am submitting this report because a spontaneous failure of a factory-installed moonroof while driving at highway speed presents a significant safety hazard. I am also aware of numerous publicly reported incidents involving similar sudden moonroof failures in Subaru Outback vehicles, which I believe warrant further investigation.

NHTSA ODI #11752963

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2026
Seat Belts

The back passenger seatbelt does not retract. It stays loose after use and there are safety concerns. I don't feel safe having any passengers in my car.

NHTSA ODI #11751938

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2026
Seat Belts

The seat belts in the backseat get un-aligned when you sit in the seat buckled up. when this happens the seat belt will not retract. This happens every time I sit in the backseat and I have to remember to refeed the belt into the guide.

NHTSA ODI #11749039

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2026
Lane DepartureSteeringWheels

I bought a brand new 2025 subaru outback in April of 2025. At first service (oil change and tire rotation) in Jan 2026, I complained that the vehicle keeps swerving left and right and Subaru of Ann Arbor said they will diagnose the i-Sight vehicle system and correct it. But right after delivery , i realized the steering had to b…

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I bought a brand new 2025 subaru outback in April of 2025. At first service (oil change and tire rotation) in Jan 2026, I complained that the vehicle keeps swerving left and right and Subaru of Ann Arbor said they will diagnose the i-Sight vehicle system and correct it. But right after delivery , i realized the steering had to be held at ~5 degrees to the right (off centered) to get the car go straight. I complained and I was made to bring the car in 3 times to Subaru of Ann arbor - only to go without a fix. The car fishtailed, the traction control system malfunctioned in normal roads and highways due to the steering angle error. I was asked my Subaru of Ann Arbor to not come there anymore and take it to a different dealership. I complained to Subaru of America (Customer advocacy) and they asked me to pick a different dealer - Lafontaine Subaru. Even there the technicians argued that the car is good and just did an alignment without fixing the steering angle error issue. The steering angle sensor is tied to the vehicle safety software controls, traction control system and safety systems such as lane keep. I have to keep the steering tilted to keep the vehicle in lanes and I am struggling to keep it safely within lanes since January 2026. Subaru of America has not intervened even after the 6th repair in 3 months as the problem is not fixed. the lives of my family including a [XXX] infant for whom I got the car is being threatened on a daily basis. I keep telling the urgency and grave danger and the last response from the second subaru dealer was this is the maximum we can do. I am feeling threatened as I paid a fortune for a new car and wanted to secure my infant and my family. Our safety has been disregarded despite multiple complaints and repairs in the first year of ownership. Mileage now is 6100 miles total. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11748229

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2026
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

On 6/22/2026 we were driving on the highway that had no objects in the road and one oncoming car about 200 to 300 yards away when our brakes locked up and a crash indicator popped up on the drivers screen. My wife and I were thrown violently forward into our seat belts it felt like we had been in a crash. I feel that if someone …

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On 6/22/2026 we were driving on the highway that had no objects in the road and one oncoming car about 200 to 300 yards away when our brakes locked up and a crash indicator popped up on the drivers screen. My wife and I were thrown violently forward into our seat belts it felt like we had been in a crash. I feel that if someone had been following us we would have been hit from behind. We immediately took the car to the dealer to be checked out. The next day they said they found nothing wrong with the car and gave it back. The car did have an update load earlier in the day.

NHTSA ODI #11746765

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2026
Forward Collision Avoidance

Twice in one week I was backing slowly out of my driveway. No cars were in sight and the Subaru slammed on the breaks. The first time tweaked my back as I was looking over my shoulder when it broke so aggresively. I am fine.

NHTSA ODI #11743406

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2026
Unknown Or Other

A message from SiriusXM pops up on the screen from which every system of the vehicle is controlled. That screen is then inoperable until that advertisement is closed by hitting a button in an unsafe location on the screen relative to the driver. This has been harshening to me every time I’ve started the car over the last 2 days.

NHTSA ODI #11741939

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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