UsedScore

2024 Subaru Outback: Too new to judge

The 2024 Subaru Outback has been on the road for 35 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 0.6× the rate other Outback years drew in their first 35 months, per vehicle sold.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is driver-assistance features and cameras (21% of complaints).

Complaint index
0.6×
partial: first 35 months
Rank
Not ranked
rated after five years
Complaints
102
in 35 months so far
Recalls
0
campaigns
6th generation, 2020–2025 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2023 Subaru Outback Limited

Photo: 2023 Subaru Outback Limited · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Driver assistance21% · 21 complaints
  2. Electrical16% · 16 complaints
  3. Visibility22% · 22 complaints
  4. Air bags6% · 6 complaints
  5. Engine7% · 7 complaints
  6. Brakes4% · 4 complaints
  7. Powertrain6% · 6 complaints
  8. Speed control3% · 3 complaints
  9. Steering5% · 5 complaints
  10. Wheels and tires3% · 3 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

Driver assistance

Owners of the 2024 Outback describe the driver-assistance and automatic braking system suddenly slowing or stopping the car with no vehicle or obstacle nearby, both on highways and while reversing. Dealers frequently couldn't reproduce the issue, leaving many owners uncertain the problem was resolved.

Warning signs:
Many report sudden hard braking, jerking, or complete stops on highways or while reversing, sometimes with an 'EyeSight Disabled' message and no prior warning beep.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the problem or find error codes; some performed software/ECM updates, windshield recalibration, or told owners the system was working as intended.

“Backing up from my driveway causes uncommanded full braking once the vehicle is into the street, except when continuous brake pressure is applied while backing out.”

Electrical

Owners describe a range of electrical problems in the 2024 Outback, from batteries draining and vehicles failing to restart to warning lights and infotainment screens being taken over by ads. Several say dealers struggled to diagnose or permanently fix the issues, causing inconvenience and, in some cases, being stranded.

Warning signs:
Owners report dash warning lights illuminating, stiff steering, sudden deceleration, dead batteries requiring jump-starts, and infotainment screens locking up with ads or messages.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced batteries in some cases, but several owners report the dealer could not identify a cause or replicate the failure.

“the engine was off while stopped, but the vehicle remained powered on and would not restart”

“All the dash lights would just quickly flash at me and then go dark, I'd get an "Ignition on" message but couldn't do anything at all.”

Visibility

Owners of this Outback commonly report windshield cracks appearing with little or no impact, sometimes while the car is parked, and a few describe sunroof glass suddenly shattering while driving. Many say dealers denied warranty claims, blaming stone chips, leaving owners to pay for repeated windshield replacements.

Warning signs:
Some owners heard a sudden pop or cracking noise, saw cracks starting at the windshield's bottom edge or near the EyeSight camera, or noticed hazy pixelation affecting the view.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently denied warranty coverage claiming an impact chip caused the crack, though a few replaced the windshield or acknowledged a seal issue.

“the sunroof glass exploded with no warning or previous signs of wear”

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

Recalls

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2024 Subaru Outback.

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 236 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2024 Outback. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 15-342-26 · August 2026This bulletin announces an inspection procedure for the Smart Rear View Mirror Assembly.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (C · August 2026This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
  • 15-305-22R · August 2026This bulletin announces a reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4.5 Denso CP1.5 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the…
  • 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…
  • 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.
  • 09-123-24R · July 2026This bulletin announces the design change made to the high-pressure fuel pump developed to prevent DTC P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure – Too Low Bank 1).

All 2024 Outback bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2024 Subaru Outback reliable?
The 2024 Subaru Outback has been on the road for 35 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 0.6× the rate other Outback years drew in their first 35 months, per vehicle sold. 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 2024 Outback problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve driver-assistance features and cameras (21%), the electrical system (16%) and visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (22%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2024 Subaru Outback been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2024 Subaru Outback.

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 2024 Subaru Outback on NHTSA.gov · How we rate