2023 Subaru Outback reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2023 Subaru Outback — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 119
- 119 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 16 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 16 reported crashes · 5 injuries · 3 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#3,724
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
-63
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2021-2025
-79
median 199 complaints in 350 records
Top component share
21%
Forward Collision Avoidance: 25 complaints
What owners report fails — 2023 Subaru Outback
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 16
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 15
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL 10
2 recalls on record for the 2023 Subaru Outback
- NHTSA 23V755000 · 2024 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/ An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from disp
- NHTSA 23V647000 · 2023 · POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2023 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 2023 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 2023 Subaru Outback reliable?
NHTSA has 119 consumer complaints on record for the 2023 Subaru Outback and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (16 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2023 Subaru Outback units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (16), visibility/wiper (16), unknown or other (15), forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking (15). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2023 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.