2025 Subaru Outback problems
Owners have filed 119 complaints about the 2025 Subaru Outback with NHTSA. Forward collision avoidance accounts for 16% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of lane departure at 15.1%. A further 15.1% were filed without a specific system named.
Complaints119
Crashes9
Fires5
Injuries1
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Forward collision avoidance 16.0% · 19
Unknown or other 15.1% · 18
Lane departure 15.1% · 18
Electrical system 9.2% · 11
Steering 5.0% · 6
Engine 4.2% · 5
Visibility/wiper 4.2% · 5
Back over prevention 4.2% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 9 describe a crash, 5 describe a fire and 1 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 28 model years of the Subaru Outback in this data, 2025 draws comparatively few complaints; 2019 is the outlier year.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 1,999 miles.
In owners' own words
Traveling southbound onXXX in Virginia between the hours of 7-9am. Weather was clear with bright sunshine. While traveling at highway speed with the cruise control activated the emergency braking system activated on 3 separate occasions. Traffic was heavy but moving at a steady speed. I suspect the angle of the sun and the sunlight intensity caused the inadvertent activation. Forward collision avoidance
Twice in one week I was backing slowly out of my driveway. No cars were in sight and the Subaru slammed on the breaks. The first time tweaked my back as I was looking over my shoulder when it broke so aggresively. I am fine. Forward collision avoidance
Unforced acceleration occurred in a parking lot. I had my foot off the gas pedal, and had the car easing to a stop, when the car sped up rapidly and scraped the side of a large van. The car eventually came to a stop as i was applying the brake as much as i could. The passenger side of subaru was damaged extensively. I reported this to our insurance agent and lithia. Lane departure
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…