Winner
Ford Explorer
About 14% fewer owner complaints per car sold than the Subaru Outback, and fewer in 13 of 24 model years both were sold.
Head to head
Lemon Index
100 = average, lower is better
100 = average, lower is better
178
207
Years with fewer complaints
2000–2024
2000–2024
13 of 24
11 of 24
Recalls
2000–2024
2000–2024
256
176
MPG
latest year
latest year
20–24
23–28
Crash test
best, latest year
best, latest year
★★★★★
★★★★★
Best year to buy
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. Green check = the better of the two on that line.
Year by year
Shorter bar = fewer complaints per car sold. Tap a year for its full report.
Every Ford Explorer year · Every Subaru Outback year · How the index works

