2026 Subaru Outback: Too new to judge
The 2026 Subaru Outback has been on the road for 11 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 0.5× the rate other Outback years drew in their first 11 months, per vehicle sold.
The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the electrical system (31% of complaints).
- Complaint index
- 0.5×
- partial: first 11 months
- Rank
- Not ranked
- rated after five years
- Complaints
- 16
- in 11 months so far
- Recalls
- 0
- campaigns
Photo: 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness · MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Problem areas
Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles- Electrical31% · 5 complaints
- Seats and belts19% · 3 complaints
- Speed control13% · 2 complaints
- Powertrain6% · 1 complaints
- Driver assistance25% · 4 complaints
- Body and structure6% · 1 complaints
- Wheels and tires6% · 1 complaints
- Other38% · 6 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.
Recalls
Check a VIN on NHTSA ›NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2026 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 58 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2026 Outback. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:
- SubaruNet Announcement (C · August 2026This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
- 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…
- 15-331-25R · August 2026This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.
- 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.
- 15-340-26 · July 2026This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files for the Central Electronic Control Module (C-ECM).
- 17-22-26 · July 2026This Bulletin provides parts ordering and service guidance when replacing passenger seat assemblies and other passenger seat components.
Questions owners ask
- Is the 2026 Subaru Outback reliable?
- The 2026 Subaru Outback has been on the road for 11 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 0.5× the rate other Outback years drew in their first 11 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 2026 Outback problems?
- Owners' complaints most often involve the electrical system (31%), the seats and seat belts (19%) and speed control (13%). A complaint can name more than one area.
- Has the 2026 Subaru Outback been recalled?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2026 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 2026 Subaru Outback on NHTSA.gov · How we rate