Car Defect Radar

Subaru Crosstrek vs Subaru Outback: problems, recalls & years to avoid

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Subaru Crosstrek and the Subaru Outback, with the 13 model years both have (2013–2025) set side by side. Each model is measured against its own typical year, not against the other model.

Years to avoid and years with the fewest complaints

Subaru Crosstrek

Years to avoid
2019
Fewest complaints
201320142015

The typical Subaru Crosstrek year has 69 complaints on file, across 13 model years (2013–2025).

Subaru Outback

Years to avoid
2017201820192020
Fewest complaints
201220142023

The typical Subaru Outback year has 360 complaints on file, across 17 model years (2010–2026).

A year is one to avoid when it drew at least 2 times the complaints of its model's typical year (the median across the model's years on this site) and at least 200 complaints, or when its complaints include 5 or more reports of a death. The years with the fewest complaints have no such flag and are from 2023 or earlier: newer years have not been on the road long enough to compare. Each model is measured only against its own years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, as of October 26, 2026.

The 13 model years both have, side by side

Complaints by model year

Subaru Crosstrek

4.1× its typical year in 2019, its worst year

284 complaints against a typical year of 69.

Years to avoid: 2019. Fewest complaints: 2013, 2014, 2015.

Subaru Outback

2.9× its typical year in 2019, its worst year

1,033 complaints against a typical year of 360.

Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. Fewest complaints: 2012, 2014, 2023.

typical yearavoid zonesolid bar = a year to avoid

Subaru Crosstrek1 year to avoid · typical year 69avoid zone: 200+01002003002010none2011none2012none2013Subaru Crosstrek 2013: 26 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints26fewest2014Subaru Crosstrek 2014: 16 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints16fewest2015Subaru Crosstrek 2015: 17 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints17fewest2016Subaru Crosstrek 2016: 131 complaints, 1.9× its typical year2017Subaru Crosstrek 2017: 94 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2018Subaru Crosstrek 2018: 194 complaints, 2.8× its typical year2019Subaru Crosstrek 2019: 284 complaints, 4.1× its typical year, a year to avoid284avoid2020Subaru Crosstrek 2020: 69 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2021Subaru Crosstrek 2021: 115 complaints, 1.7× its typical year2022Subaru Crosstrek 2022: 31 complaints, 0.4× its typical year2023Subaru Crosstrek 2023: 34 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2024Subaru Crosstrek 2024: 115 complaints, 1.7× its typical year2025Subaru Crosstrek 2025: 43 complaints, 0.6× its typical year2026noneSubaru Crosstrekavoid zone: 200+typical 692025Subaru Crosstrek 2025: 43 complaints, 0.6× its typical year432024Subaru Crosstrek 2024: 115 complaints, 1.7× its typical year1152023Subaru Crosstrek 2023: 34 complaints, 0.5× its typical year342022Subaru Crosstrek 2022: 31 complaints, 0.4× its typical year312021Subaru Crosstrek 2021: 115 complaints, 1.7× its typical year1152020Subaru Crosstrek 2020: 69 complaints, 1.0× its typical year692019Subaru Crosstrek 2019: 284 complaints, 4.1× its typical year, a year to avoid284avoid2018Subaru Crosstrek 2018: 194 complaints, 2.8× its typical year1942017Subaru Crosstrek 2017: 94 complaints, 1.4× its typical year942016Subaru Crosstrek 2016: 131 complaints, 1.9× its typical year1312015Subaru Crosstrek 2015: 17 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints17fewest2014Subaru Crosstrek 2014: 16 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints16fewest2013Subaru Crosstrek 2013: 26 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints26fewest
Subaru Outback4 years to avoid · typical year 360avoid zone: 720+02505007501,0001,2502010Subaru Outback 2010: 360 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2011Subaru Outback 2011: 651 complaints, 1.8× its typical year2012Subaru Outback 2012: 292 complaints, 0.8× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints292fewest2013Subaru Outback 2013: 296 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2014Subaru Outback 2014: 208 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints208fewest2015Subaru Outback 2015: 509 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2016Subaru Outback 2016: 642 complaints, 1.8× its typical year2017Subaru Outback 2017: 917 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid917avoid2018Subaru Outback 2018: 811 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid811avoid2019Subaru Outback 2019: 1,033 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid1,033avoid2020Subaru Outback 2020: 896 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid896avoid2021Subaru Outback 2021: 296 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2022Subaru Outback 2022: 463 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2023Subaru Outback 2023: 89 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints89fewest2024Subaru Outback 2024: 97 complaints, 0.3× its typical year2025Subaru Outback 2025: 80 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2026Subaru Outback 2026: 16 complaints, 0.0× its typical yearSubaru Outbackavoid zone: 720+typical 3602026Subaru Outback 2026: 16 complaints, 0.0× its typical year162025Subaru Outback 2025: 80 complaints, 0.2× its typical year802024Subaru Outback 2024: 97 complaints, 0.3× its typical year972023Subaru Outback 2023: 89 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints89fewest2022Subaru Outback 2022: 463 complaints, 1.3× its typical year4632021Subaru Outback 2021: 296 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2962020Subaru Outback 2020: 896 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid896avoid2019Subaru Outback 2019: 1,033 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid1,033avoid2018Subaru Outback 2018: 811 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid811avoid2017Subaru Outback 2017: 917 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid917avoid2016Subaru Outback 2016: 642 complaints, 1.8× its typical year6422015Subaru Outback 2015: 509 complaints, 1.4× its typical year5092014Subaru Outback 2014: 208 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints208fewest2013Subaru Outback 2013: 296 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2962012Subaru Outback 2012: 292 complaints, 0.8× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints292fewest2011Subaru Outback 2011: 651 complaints, 1.8× its typical year6512010Subaru Outback 2010: 360 complaints, 1.0× its typical year360
Bars are NHTSA owner complaints per model year. The dashed line is the model's typical year (the median of its years on this site). A year that reaches the hatched avoid zone, twice the typical year and at least 200 complaints, is a year to avoid. The two panels have different scales. Each model is measured only against its own years: the counts are not adjusted for sales, so the chart does not say one model has more problems than the other. Hover a bar for its numbers; every value is also in the table below.
Model yearSubaru CrosstrekSubaru Outback
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
2025430.6×0Few red flags800.2×0Few red flags
20241151.7×2Some concerns to check970.3×0Few red flags
2023340.5×0Few red flags890.2×2Few red flags
2022310.4×0Few red flags4631.3×4Some concerns to check
20211151.7×1Some concerns to check2960.8×4Few red flags
2020691.0×0Few red flags8962.5×6Approach with caution
20192844.1×7Approach with caution1,0332.9×3Approach with caution
20181942.8×5Some concerns to check8112.3×3Approach with caution
2017941.4×1Few red flags9172.5×4Approach with caution
20161311.9×1Some concerns to check6421.8×4Some concerns to check
2015170.2×1Few red flags5091.4×5Some concerns to check
2014160.2×1Few red flags2080.6×10Few red flags
2013260.4×1Few red flags2960.8×12Some concerns to check

Complaints link to each model year's report. "Times its typical year" sets a year against the same model's typical year. The two models' counts can't be compared directly: they are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Most reported problem, by model year

Model yearSubaru CrosstrekSubaru Outback
2025Wipers and visibilityForward collision avoidance system
2024Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2023Wipers and visibilityForward collision avoidance system
2022Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2021Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2020Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2019Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2018Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2017Wipers and visibilityElectrical system
2016Electrical systemElectrical system
2015Transmission and drivetrainWipers and visibility
2014Transmission and drivetrainAirbags
2013EngineEngine

Top problems of each model

The areas of the car NHTSA owner complaints name most, all model years together. A complaint can name more than one area.

Subaru Crosstrek

Subaru Outback

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns. A campaign that covers several model years is counted once.

What the data can't show