How reliable is the Subaru Outback?
Owner-reported reliability data — inspection results, typical mileage, and the most common failures.
The Subaru Outback passes first-time inspections at roughly the European average. Typical mileage by age and a year-by-year breakdown of reliability are shown below. All figures are owner-reported real-world data, not a marketing rating.
Above average reliability
Based on 8,608 inspection tests. First-time pass rate: 82.1%.
Subaru Outback reliability by year
How the Subaru Outback performs at first-time inspection, broken down by the year cohort. Empty cells mean we don't have enough owner-reported data for that year yet.
| Year cohort | Pass rate | Typical mileage @ 5 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 82.1% | 89,326 km |
| 2004 | 64.8% | — |
| 2005 | 61.9% | — |
| 2006 | 64.5% | — |
| 2007 | 65.1% | — |
| 2008 | 65.3% | — |
| 2009 | 69.9% | — |
| 2010 | 73.9% | — |
| 2011 | 76.1% | — |
| 2012 | 72.8% | — |
| 2013 | 79.3% | — |
| 2014 | 83.8% | — |
| 2015 | 83.8% | — |
| 2016 | 88.7% | — |
| 2017 | 90% | 79,106 km |
| 2018 | 90.7% | 69,007 km |
| 2019 | 92.1% | 65,202 km |
| 2020 | 91.7% | — |
| 2021 | 94.1% | — |
| 2022 | 99.6% | — |
Model-level pattern, not per-car prediction
These figures describe the Subaru Outback as a model. The reliability of any individual Subaru Outback also depends on service history, accident history, and how it was driven. Run a free VIN check to see the records attached to a specific car you're considering.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on owner-reported inspection records, the Subaru Outback passes first-time inspections at roughly the European average. Its first-time inspection pass rate sits around 82%. Reliability varies by year and engine — see the year-by-year breakdown on this page for the specific cohort you're considering.
What are the common problems on the Subaru Outback?
Common-issue data for this model is still being aggregated. Run a free VIN check to see the issues recorded for the specific vehicle you're looking at.
What mileage is normal for a Subaru Outback?
For a typical Subaru Outback, owner-reported average mileage works out to about — at 3 years, 89,326 km at 5 years, and — at 10 years. The mileage section on this page shows the full distribution — high-use vs low-use cars often differ by a factor of three.
How do I check a specific Subaru Outback before buying?
Enter the 17-character VIN on Carlytics. The free check shows decoded specs and open safety recalls. The full vehicle history report (from EUR 8.90) cross-references owner-reported issues, mileage records, and stolen-vehicle databases for the specific car — model-level reliability tells you the pattern, the VIN check tells you the car.