If you are determined to get a family car with lots of space and raised clearance, the Subaru Outback is one of the rare models outside of the SUV class. It's one of the favorite family station wagons on US roads, but only if you go past the problematic Subaru Outback years to avoid.
Not all of the Outback models were created as equal, which is why our team was determined to help. We reviewed the model years based on NHTSA reports, common driver inputs and experiences, and official recalls to help you understand which years to target, and which are simply not worth your time and money.
How we rated the best and worst Subaru Outback years
In the making of this guide, our team aimed to provide you with factual and verified information regarding the reliability of certain Subaru Outback years. We managed to do that by using sources of authority and some details from Subaru Outback reviews listed on KBB, Edmunds, and Consumer Reports.
We also used some information from Subaru Outback forums and safety ratings listed by IIHS, so here’s what we were left with after comparing all the details:
| Subaru Outback Generation | Best Subaru Outback Years | Worst Subaru Outback Years |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd generation (2000-2004) | 2003, 2004 | — |
| 3rd generation (2005-2009) | 2007, 2009 | — |
| 4th generation (2010-2014) | 2014 | 2011 |
| 5th generation (2015-2019) | — | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| 6th generation (2020-present) | 2023, 2024 | 2020 |
Most common Subaru Outback problems
Over the years, Subaru Outback advanced with modern technological features but the car stayed true to the Subaru brand qualities. While it’s not a rally car like a sporty version of the Impreza, it’s still a car you can drive even off-road and enjoy the benefits of raised clearance and robust chassis.
Sadly, not everything was that great with some model years, and some of the most common problems and reliability questions include increased oil consumption, electrical issues, and problems with the engine cooling systems. Of course, these are not present in all model years, so let’s go through the background of these issues.
1. Extensive engine oil consumption
One of the most serious problems you may encounter with a Subaru Outback is increased oil consumption. Engine oil lubricates the moving metal parts within the engine and keeps them safe from friction and heat.
Outback owners have reported increased oil consumption on models equipped with 2.5-liter engines in the fifth generation and the 2.5-liter and 3.0-liter engines in the third generation. A blown head gasket is one of the most common culprits behind this.
2. Electrical system faults
One of the less severe problems that might prove to be equally annoying as leaking oil is an electrical issue. While older generations of Subaru Outback didn’t have feature-packed interiors, modern versions of the model come with a variety of electrical systems.
This mostly reflects the fifth and sixth generation of the Outback, and you’ll mostly encounter issues like radio failure and infotainment system faults. Electrical connections were mostly the reason behind it, so most of these issues are solved with a help of a car electrician.
3. Cooling system failure
Another problem that’s closely related to the head gasket leak is the cooling system failure on some Subaru Outback model years. The most common culprit is a malfunctioned water pump which fails to push the coolant from the car’s radiator to the engine and the other way around.
If this happens, you might notice a significant increase in the engine’s temperature and it could potentially lead to overheating. This problem is mostly reported for the third and fifth-generation models of the Outback.
4. Transmission problems
Besides the engine cooling and oil leak issues, another possibly fatal problem of the Subaru Outback is the transmission fault. It’s common for the 2010 to 2013 model years, with the 2013 model year overlapping in transmission issues and faulty piston rings that caused oil leaks into the cylinders.
Transmission issues mostly involved harsh shifting and transmission slipping problems which even resulted in owners having to do a complete transmission rebuild. It’s one of the most expensive repairs you can make on your car.
Worst Subaru Outback years to avoid
Some of the lighter problems you might experience on your Subaru Outback include electrical connection faults which still lead to necessary repairs. Eventually, you might have to fix the dashboard lights or radio connections, but it’s still not the worst issue price-wise.
If you plan on buying an Outback, it’s crucial to avoid model years that had troubles with oil leaks and transmission faults, so what are the worst Subaru Outback years? The worst Subaru Outback years are 2017 and 2019, but you should avoid all of these:
- 2011
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
We’ll further explain what we mean by these when we say they are the worst-rated Outback model years down below:
A word on the 2006 Outback
While the third generation of Subaru Outback didn’t cause many critics, the 2006 model year in specific had some issues with the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. It didn’t draw enough complaints to make our avoid list, but if you’re looking at a turbo, check carefully for faulty gaskets and oil leaks.
If you’ve got your eye on this generation of the Outback, it’s much safer to go for a 2007 or 2008 model year where you can rely on at least slight adjustments in the engine bay to prevent these issues.
Fourth-generation Outback (2011 model year)
While the fourth generation of the renowned wagon has gone through significant exterior improvements, there were still some problems with leaking piston rings. The 2.5-liter engine in particular had a lot of claims of oil leaking problems which backfired at Subaru a few years later with an official lawsuit.
The company agreed to pay the repairs to drivers and admits that engine issues were present especially for the 2013 model year. Still, the 2011 is the one we’d skip. Owners filed 653 complaints about it with NHTSA, more than twice as many as the 2013, with the power train and exterior lighting topping the list.
Fifth-generation Outback (2015-2019 model years) and the 2020
The fifth generation of the Outback started production in 2014 and most of the engine problems were luckily solved. This generation lasted until 2020 when the current generation kicked in, and drivers haven’t reported many engine or transmission-related problems.
The main reason to avoid these model years is the electrical problem. Modern interior features are reported to stop working in every other Outback and this often required owners to repair the connections or replace the battery. Complaints kept climbing through the generation, with the 2019 drawing 1,036, the most of any Outback, and the first sixth-generation 2020 wasn’t much better at 902. Windshield and visibility complaints were the other big gripe on these years.
What are the best Subaru Outback years to buy?
Sure, going through all these problems might make you think that an Outback isn’t much of a reliable car model. However, that’s not the case here since it’s inevitable for a car to come free of any issues over nearly three decades of production.
The important thing is to avoid engine and transmission issues by avoiding problematic model years. To help you do so, our recommends the following as the best Subaru Outback model years:
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2014
- 2023
- 2024
The first and second-generation Subaru Outback models are known to be one of Subaru’s most reliable cars. While these are tough to find with low mileage these days, we’ll focus on newer models. If you are planning on buying a third-generation Outback, it’s best to go around the 2005 and 2006 models to avoid oil leaks.
The fourth generation brought significant improvements in this sense aside from the problematic 2011 model year, but you should carefully inspect the transmission to make sure it’s in good shape before buying these. The fifth generation drew the most complaints of any Outback, so among newer models the 2023 and 2024 are the safer picks.
2023 Subaru Outback
The 2023 Subaru Outback model year is one of the best of the sixth generation. An additional piece of advice here would be to watch the CVT transmission for its known faults, but luckily the 2023 hasn’t drawn many transmission complaints.
On top of that, it had most of the ailments of the previous models cured. Owners filed just 89 complaints with NHTSA, among the fewest of any Outback, and it has only two recalls.
Is the Subaru Outback worth buying?
When it comes to making a final judgment on this model, it’s clear that the Outback is unprecedented in the station wagon category. It’s roomier than most wagons and it also has a high clearance that gets on the verge of that of an SUV car.
If you avoid the 2011 and the 2015 to 2020 models, which drew the most complaints, along with the years with transmission problems, you’ll likely only have to do regular maintenance and get the mileage that’s higher than average. Regardless of the mentioned problems that some Outback model years have, this car is considered a reliable Subaru model.
Curious about which years to avoid? Our detailed articles on the Ford Edge years to avoid, Jeep Grand Cherokee years to avoid, and Hyundai Santa Fe years to avoid will answer all your questions. With our insights, set out on your vehicle purchasing path with the confidence that comes from having reliable, well-researched advice at your disposal.
What year Subaru Outback should you not buy?
You should not buy the 2011 or the 2015 to 2020 model years of the Subaru Outback, which drew the most complaints, and should be careful with 2010 to 2013 models due to known transmission faults.
Which year Outback is most reliable?
Subaru Outback has several model years that strike as the most reliable, most notably the 2004, 2009 and 2023 model years.
What year Subarus had engine problems?
Subarus had engine problems in the 2006 model year and years 2012 to 2013 with potential piston ring damage and oil leaking into the cylinders.