2006 Subaru Outback: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 404 complaints
404
Total Complaints
95,316mi
Median Mileage
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Top Issue
12
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

63,713 25th Percentile
95,316 Median Mileage
132,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
94
ENGINE
43
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
40
AIR BAGS
37
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
29
SUSPENSION
21
SERVICE BRAKES
16
SUSPENSION:REAR
13
POWER TRAIN
13
STEERING
12

Severity Assessment

12
Crashes
4
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DT: 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATES THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT FOCUSED PROPERLY. HE STATES IT IS LIKE DRIVING IN A TUNNEL. SUBARU STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK"
"2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. HI, PROBLEM (1) HEAD REST IS SO BIG THAT BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT STRAP AND THE HEAD REST THERE IS NO VIEW TO SEE VEHICLES ABOUT TO PASS IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. CAN RESULT IN SIDE SWIPING WHEN CHANGING LANES. ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES IN THE WORLD WON'T HELP IF THE END RESULT OF T..."
"2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. HI, PROBLEM (1) HEAD REST IS SO BIG THAT BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT STRAP AND THE HEAD REST THERE IS NO VIEW TO SEE VEHICLES ABOUT TO PASS IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. CAN RESULT IN SIDE SWIPING WHEN CHANGING LANES. ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES IN THE WORLD WON'T HELP IF THE END RESULT OF T..."

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