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1999 Subaru Outback: common problems and reliability
112 owner complaints on record.
Most complaints are about power train. 1 recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Outback?The 1999 Subaru Outback has 112 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine and engine cooling.
Safety record for the 1999 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1999 Subaru Outback vehicles (US, public record).
Is 1999 a good year for the Outback?
Across the 30 Outback model years we track, complaint volume runs from 80 (1997) to 1,034 (2019). With 112 complaints, the 1999 Outback sits below the model's median of 230.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 1999 Outback
suspension:front:springs:coil springs
Campaign 01V216000VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
What owners say across generations
Mixed sentiment with a strong generational divide. Long-term reliability is a core positive, with many owners reporting vehicles reaching 200,000+ miles with proper maintenance, particularly for non-turbo models.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Outback. See the full Outback owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Outback listings typically run $17,495–$25,992.
Other Outback model years
Compare every Outback year side by side to see how 1999 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Outback against its rivals
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