All cars · Subaru Outback · 2015
2015 Subaru Outback. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 4,000 and 50,200 miles. Median 20,000, from 342 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wipers & visibility | 9,000 | 2,900–25,000 | 113 |
| Electrical | 30,000 | 3,200–54,600 | 62 |
| Engine | 44,000 | 1,200–70,000 | 31 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 30,000 | 2,700–35,000 | 25 |
| Body structure | 17,600 | 2,000–43,300 | 19 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Wipers & visibility | 39% |
| Electrical | 12% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 8% |
| Body structure | 7% |
| Engine | 6% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 510 | 20 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 5
16V292000 May 2016 Steering / Column
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
Risk. The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners ar
16V251000 Apr 2016 Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk. Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTC-64.
15V502000 Aug 2015 Power Train / Driveline / Driveshaft
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Risk. If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.
15V366000 Jun 2015 Forward Collision Avoidance / Crash Imminent Braking
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Risk. If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
14V577000 Sep 2014 Trailer Hitches
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Outback vehicles manufactured January 22, 2014, to August 18, 2014, and equipped with a Subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs.
Risk. The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break. If this were to happen while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not be able to operate the vehicle as desired or the trailer may detach from the vehicle. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2014. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQN-50.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Desiccated air bag inflator rupture | 2021 | – |
Manufacturer communications 550
Subaru filed 550 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Subaru of america, inc
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Outback SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Optional |
YouTube repair topics
100 videos about the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback, 18.8M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Timing chain & engine | 3 | 452K |
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 3 | 276K |
| Transmission & shifter | 3 | 252K |
| Brakes & ABS | 2 | 227K |
| Spark plugs & ignition coils | 2 | 218K |
| Oil leaks & gaskets | 1 | 176K |
| Windows, doors & mirrors | 2 | 166K |
| Infotainment, battery & electrical | 2 | 150K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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