UsedScore

2015 Subaru Outback: Solid

Owners filed 281 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Outback in its first five years on the road, about 189 for every 100,000 sold: 1.1× the rate of a typical Outback year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (40% of complaints, median 7,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.1×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Outback year
Rank
8th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
281
first five years; 189 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
5
campaigns
5th generation, 2015–2019 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2016 Subaru Outback Limited

Photo: 2016 Subaru Outback Limited · Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Visibility40% · 113 complaints · median 7,000 miles
  2. Electrical13% · 37 complaints · median 15,000 miles
  3. Powertrain8% · 22 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  4. Engine7% · 20 complaints · median 30,000 miles
  5. Speed control5% · 14 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  6. Air bags2% · 7 complaints
  7. Brakes5% · 14 complaints · median 20,000 miles
  8. Body and structure7% · 19 complaints · median 4,000 miles
  9. Fuel and propulsion4% · 10 complaints · median 33,000 miles
  10. Seats and belts1% · 4 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Many owners describe repeated battery drain and starting problems, along with intermittent electrical glitches in ignition, infotainment, and safety-warning systems. Dealers frequently replace batteries or parts, but owners often say the issue keeps coming back.

Warning signs:
Owners report warning lights (battery, airbag, ignition, EyeSight), inability to start or crank, sluggish accessories, frozen or flickering displays, and windows or hatches that stop working.
What shops did:
Dealers most often replaced the battery, sometimes multiple times, or replaced relays, wiring harnesses, or software modules, though many owners say the problem returned.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 55,000 miles, among 62 complaints that give it

“we have replaced battery four times and have had to jump start the vehicle ~ 25 times since purchase”

“the entire electrical system failed and the ignition did not work”

Powertrain

Owners describe a CVT transmission that hesitates, surges, or lurches unexpectedly, sometimes failing entirely and needing replacement. Several say dealers called the behavior normal, while others had transmissions repaired or replaced, some citing an extended warranty.

Warning signs:
Many report the engine idle spiking or dropping, delayed response when accelerating from a stop, clunking noises, or check engine and transmission warning lights before problems worsened.
What shops did:
Dealers often said the behavior was normal or could not replicate it, though some replaced or repaired the transmission, sometimes under an extended warranty.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 35,000 miles, among 25 complaints that give it

“Extreme engine hesitation (CVT) from idle stop making a turn”

“Intermittently the car does not respond when the accelerator is depressed.”

Visibility

Owners describe windshields cracking spontaneously or from minor debris, with cracks often starting at the wiper heater area and growing quickly into the driver's line of sight. Many report long waits for backordered replacement glass and disputes with dealers over warranty coverage.

Warning signs:
Owners describe hearing a pop or small tap, noticing a tiny chip or pinpoint mark, then watching a crack quickly lengthen within minutes to days.
What shops did:
Owners report dealers inspecting the glass with a "pen test" to argue it was rock damage, often denying warranty coverage, while replacement windshields were frequently backordered for weeks or months.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 35,000 miles, among 125 complaints that give it

“The crack appeared spontaneous as it appeared while the car was parked and was at least eight inches long”

“I had heard a loud pop sound, but thought it was coming from under the chasis”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (5)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 16V292000May 201648,819 vehicles

    Steering: column

    NHTSA advisory: do not drive until repaired

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.

    Risk: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 16V251000April 2016766 vehicles

    Electronic stability control (ESC)

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

    Risk: Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 15V502000August 20152,893 vehicles

    Power train: driveline: driveshaft · Power train: automatic transmission

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.

    Risk: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 15V366000June 201571,710 vehicles

    Forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking · Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.

    Risk: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 14V577000September 201456 vehicles

    Trailer hitches

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Outback vehicles manufactured January 22, 2014, to August 18, 2014, and equipped with a Subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs.

    Risk: The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break. If this were to happen while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not be able to operate the vehicle as desired or the trailer may detach from the vehicle. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Subaru sent NHTSA 544 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2015 Outback. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 15-308-23R · August 2026This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to…
  • 16-156-25R · August 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body.
  • 15-304-22R · August 2026This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.
  • Article Locator · August 2026Techtips newsletter locator index.
  • 15-333-25R · August 2026This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.
  • 02-195-26 · June 2026This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) for certain vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (R · May 2026This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
  • 03-97-26 · April 2026This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.

All 2015 Outback bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2015 Subaru Outback reliable?
Owners filed 281 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Outback in its first five years on the road, about 189 for every 100,000 sold: 1.1× the rate of a typical Outback year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Outback years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2015 Outback problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (40%), the electrical system (13%) and the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (8%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2015 Subaru Outback been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2015 Subaru Outback, the most recent in May 2016 (steering). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. The 2015 Subaru Outback on NHTSA.gov · How we rate