2008 Subaru Outback: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 277 complaints
277
Total Complaints
80,000mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS
Top Issue
12
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

50,875 25th Percentile
80,000 Median Mileage
107,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS
102
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
33
SERVICE BRAKES
29
ENGINE
13
POWER TRAIN
11
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
11
VISIBILITY/WIPER
8
SUSPENSION
7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5

Severity Assessment

12
Crashes
2
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE REAR TRIM THAT RETAINS THE CENTER LIGHT WILL BREAK OFF IF THERE IS ICE BUILT UP ON THE INSIDE OF THE HINGE AREA. ALL ICE AND SNOW CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE IS NO SEAL BETWEEN THE REAR HATCH AND THE BODY TO PREVENT ICE FROM BUILDING UP. THERE IS NO WARNING WITH THE CA..."
"THE REAR TRIM THAT RETAINS THE CENTER LIGHT WILL BREAK OFF IF THERE IS ICE BUILT UP ON THE INSIDE OF THE HINGE AREA. ALL ICE AND SNOW CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE IS NO SEAL BETWEEN THE REAR HATCH AND THE BODY TO PREVENT ICE FROM BUILDING UP. THERE IS NO WARNING WITH THE CA..."
"WHEN DRIVING OUR NEW 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK IN DARKNESS THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT THE BEAM FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO ADEQUATELY SEE. THIS CONDITION IS VERY NOTICEABLE IN HILLY TERRAIN WHERE AS THE VEHICLE IS MOVING IN A FORWARD DOWN MOTION WITH A UPWARD HILL APPROACHING. THERE IS A D..."

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