The Lemon Index2010 Subaru Outback.
The 2010 Subaru Outback is worse than average by owner complaints: 121 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 118, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 18 recalls, and it gets 20 to 24 mpg combined. The best Subaru Outback year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 360 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Subaru Outback year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 5K to 114K miles on the car (277 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 15K–124K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 1K–60K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 74K–148K miles
Recalls 18
- airbags 2020
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2020
" These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall us.
- airbags 2020
" These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior.
Show all 18 recalls
- electrical 2019
The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch.
- airbags 2019
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2019
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipm.
- airbags 2019
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or rep.
- parking brake 2018
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.
- airbags 2018
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
- airbags 2018
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- visibility 2016
Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other.
- airbags 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- electrical 2013
Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs.
- lights 2012
Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle.
- transmission & drivetrain 2010
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 OUTBACK AND LEGACY PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 28 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2010.
- steering 2010
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 OUTBACK AND LEGACY PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2009 THROUGH APRIL 12, 2010.
- engine 2010
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 OUTBACK AND LEGACY PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 31 THROUGH DECEMBER 1, 2009.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Subaru told dealers about
Subaru sent dealers 319 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Steering wheel vibration (shake, shimmy) at highway speeds
- At highway speeds there is a steering wheel shake or vibration
- There is a steering wheel vibration at highway speeds due to an imporper wheel balance
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2700–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Steering wheel shake that has not been repairable. The slight vibration can also be felt in the car.
2010 Subaru Outback owner · NHTSA complaint 10323269
More owner reports
2010 Subaru Outback steering wheel shaking while at freeway speeds, not tires. Subaru has installed a tsb and it did not solve the problem. Subaruoutback.org has many thousands of posts on this issue.
NHTSA complaint 10350558
2010 Subaru Outback 2.5i automatic with 1,900 miles stalls when coming to a full stop. The power right off the line also flutters.
NHTSA complaint 10343600
Quick answers
Is the 2010 Subaru Outback reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 118; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Subaru Outback year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2010 Subaru Outback problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (29%), engine (19%) and transmission & drivetrain (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 Subaru Outback have?
18 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Subaru Outback get?
20 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2010 Subaru Outback problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,000 and 114,200 miles. The middle report was at 68,000 miles, from 277 complaints.
Does the 2010 Subaru Outback have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 18% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2010 Subaru Outback cost in fuel a year?
About $2700 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2010 Subaru Outback have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Subaru Outback year is better than the 2010?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2014 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works