2015 Subaru Outback reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2015 Subaru Outback — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 638
- 183 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- 130 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 36 reported crashes · 30 injuries · 7 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#768
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+456
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2013-2017
+348
median 290 complaints in 624 records
Top component share
20%
Visibility/Wiper: 130 complaints
What owners report fails — 2015 Subaru Outback
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 130
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 118
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 106
- ENGINE 46
- POWER TRAIN 37
5 recalls on record for the 2015 Subaru Outback
- NHTSA 16V292000 · 2016 · STEERING:COLUMN The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 16V251000 · 2016 · ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control
- NHTSA 15V502000 · 2015 · POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
- NHTSA 15V366000 · 2015 · FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMIN If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle i
- NHTSA 14V577000 · 2014 · TRAILER HITCHES The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2015 Subaru Outback
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2015 Subaru Outback units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Subaru Outback reliable?
NHTSA has 638 consumer complaints on record for the 2015 Subaru Outback and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is visibility/wiper (130 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2015 Subaru Outback units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report problems with: visibility/wiper (130), electrical system (118), unknown or other (106), engine (46). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2015 Subaru Outback?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.