2025 Subaru Outback: common problems and reliability

The 2025 Subaru Outback has 128 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are forward collision avoidance and lane departure. Owners most often flag infotainment system failures (6th gen: 2020-2025): buggy, laggy, unresponsive touchscreen, frequent crashes, screen delamination, connectivity problems with carplay/android auto. requires dealership updates or unit replacement. frequency: very frequent.

Safety record for the 2025 model year

128
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
8
Crash reports
2
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2025 Subaru Outback vehicles (US, public record).

Is 2025 a good year for the Outback?

Across the 12 Outback model years we track, complaint volume runs from 95 (2003) to 1,028 (2019). With 128 complaints, the 2025 Outback sits belowthe model's median of 290.

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

forward collision avoidance
34
lane departure
26
electrical system
16
steering
10
service brakes
10

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.

  • Infotainment system failures (6th gen: 2020-2025): Buggy, laggy, unresponsive touchscreen, frequent crashes, screen delamination, connectivity problems with CarPlay/Android Auto. Requires dealership updates or unit replacement. Frequency: very frequent.
  • CVT transmission concerns: Long-term reliability doubts, specific reports of torque converter and clutch pack failures requiring replacement under warranty, fluid migration issues in turbo models (TR690 transmission). "Lifetime fluid" claim is disputed. Frequency: very frequent.

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 $18,424–$29,686 across 2013 to 2026 model years.

Other Outback model years

Compare every Outback year side by side to see how 2025 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Outback against its rivals