1997 Subaru Outback: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 94 complaints
94
Total Complaints
103,995mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Top Issue
7
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

76,593 25th Percentile
103,995 Median Mileage
146,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
3
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3

Severity Assessment

7
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE VEHICLE'S WINDOWS STREAK UP WHEN IT RAINS AT NIGHT, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK"
"VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL."
"CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERS ON FOUR OCCASIONS DUE TO ERRATIC IDLING. WHEN AT STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO IDLE AND CREEP FORWARD WITH INCREASED SPEED. OTHER TIMES, WHENEVER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROX. 1/2 AN HOUR TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, AND THE VEHICLE WILL DROP TO..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28