"How reliable is the 2011 Subaru Outback?"

"Based on 851 NHTSA complaints, the 2011 Subaru Outback has a median complaint mileage of 80500 miles. The most common issue is POWER TRAIN."

"What are common problems with the 2011 Subaru Outback?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Subaru Outback is POWER TRAIN, accounting for a significant portion of the 851 total complaints filed."

2011 Subaru Outback: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 851 complaints

851

Total Complaints

80,500mi

Median Mileage

POWER TRAIN

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

34,432 25th Percentile

80,500 Median Mileage

117,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN

208

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

115

ENGINE

SERVICE BRAKES

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AIR BAGS

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

STEERING

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE; HOWEVER, HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. HE CALLED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE TIRES NEEDED ..."

"VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE IN SECOND GEAR. LOST ALL POWER, PLUS POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN SHORTLY AFTER TURNING VEHICLE ON AND AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN. I QUICKLY CLUTCHED AND TURNED THE VEHICL..."

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