2023 Subaru Outback problems, complaints & recalls

Updated Oct 10, 2026 from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Outback, most often about driver assistance & safety tech. There are 2 recalls for this model year.

Complaints: 89
Recalls: 2
Crashes: 8
Fires: 1
Injuries: 3
Median mileage: 7,500 mi

Key facts

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech is the most-reported problem area, named in 23 of 89 complaints (26%).
Visibility & Wipers (19) and electrical system (17) follow.
Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 7,500 mi.
Owners reported 8 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries.
The 2023 Subaru Outback has 2 recalls on file.
It ranks 12th of 22 Subaru Outback model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
That is 81% fewer complaints than the 2022 model year (465).

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)	Complaints
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	17
Electrical system	17
Visibility/wiper	16
Unknown or other	15
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	10
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	8
Service brakes	7
Exterior lighting	6

When problems happen (mileage)

Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2023 Subaru Outback complaints that list mileage.

2023 Subaru Outback recalls (2)

Recall 23V755000Nov 9, 202395,830 vehicles
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
Recall 23V647000Sep 21, 20234,311 vehicles
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
Risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.

Recent 2023 Subaru Outback complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Filed Sep 2, 2026CODriver Assistance & Safety Tech
While driving on the highway I had my cruise control on with my driving assist turned on. My car tried to veer to the left, hard, almost into the guardrail. It had happened before but not as severe as this time. Going highway speed, I was lucky enough no one was next to me. Someone could have got seriously injured!
NHTSA complaint #11761486 · source
Filed Aug 20, 2026MOBrakesTransmission & Drivetrain
Driving at speeds around 40 and when braking to turn, the brakes jerk and feel like they are not engaging properly. It has happened to a different driver, twice both times on a 90 degree day, a few minutes after the vehicle had been started and the air conditioner was running on high. After this happened we Googled the issue to see what the problem could be. The Google search shows a Subaru Service Bulletin #16-150-24R, 09/13/24, revised 12/03/24, showing our year and model…
NHTSA complaint #11758281 · source
Filed Aug 3, 2026WIDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
Phantom Braking of Pre-Collision Braking 2023 Subaru Outback Turbo Wednesday, July 29, 2026. 9:30 am, sunny day Driving south on local city street. Brakes slammed on, car stopped, flashing yellow lights on left Combination Meter stating that Pre-Collision Braking was activated. There was no vehicle/obstacle/animal in the road. No parked cars, no cars backing out of a driveway. Road was completely clear. No strange shadows, no cracks in street. Pre-collision braking system…
NHTSA complaint #11754558 · source
Filed Jul 30, 2026ORWheels & Tires
The original equipment Yokohama Avid GT tires experienced rapid, catastrophic structural degradation (extreme inner-edge wear and chunking of the exterior edge over ~7,000 mi.). I have photos of the tires, and Carr Subaru (Beaverton, OR) has one of the tires available for inspection. I am the original owner of this vehicle. It has been regularly serviced at the appropriate intervals by the dealership where it was purchased in November 2022. At ~15,000 mi., the tires were…
NHTSA complaint #11753730 · source
Filed Jul 8, 2026FLDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System
The Advanced Driver Assistance System (EyeSight/Automatic Emergency Braking), the Service Brakes, and the Central Electrical System malfunctioned. The vehicle is currently held at an authorized dealership and is available for inspection.On Monday, June 22, 2026, at approximately 4:47 PM, while traveling at highway speeds on I-295 South under clear weather conditions, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic, unprompted automatic emergency braking event. While my right turn signal…
NHTSA complaint #11749144 · source
Filed Apr 15, 202620,300 miFLCrashAcceleration & Cruise Control
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. While turning into a parking spot, the accelerator pedal was slightly depressed, and the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, crashing into a parked vehicle on the driver's side. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to move forward after the crash into the next parking spot. No warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
NHTSA complaint #11731476 · source
Filed Dec 3, 2025UTElectrical System
Recently, in my 2023 Subaru Outback, I have been having pop-up ads for SirusXM take over my infotainment screen. The ad appears in the center, does not allow the user to interact with the screen - including air conditioning control and traction control selection - and will not go away until I acknowledge the ad. It has appeared when I start the vehicle and while I am driving. I contacted Subaru of America; they first told me to contact SiriusXM. I asked why I was being told…
NHTSA complaint #11702638 · source
Filed Nov 20, 2025TXOther / Unknown
I have had no working SOS safety button in case of a crash despite having a 3 year plan. This started after a Starlink update failed to load to this date. I took it to the dealer and my software was found to be up to date and I was told not a Subaru problem for months. I wrote to Subura America and told not to take the car in as no fix but any day but never came. I am to renew the Safety and Security on 12-12-2025 but I do not want to pay for an SOS safety alert that does…
NHTSA complaint #11700696 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology