2015 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 509 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 19 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Steering, columnDo not drive until repairedMay 11, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Campaign 16V292000 on NHTSA.gov
Electronic stability control (ESC)Apr 27, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTC-64.
Campaign 16V251000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftAug 10, 2015
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.
Campaign 15V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Forward collision avoidance, crash imminent brakingJun 12, 2015
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
Campaign 15V366000 on NHTSA.gov
Trailer hitchesSep 19, 2014
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Outback vehicles manufactured January 22, 2014, to August 18, 2014, and equipped with a Subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs.
The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break. If this were to happen while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not be able to operate the vehicle as desired or the trailer may detach from the vehicle. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2014. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQN-50.
Campaign 14V577000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
37 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Aug 27, 2017
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JAN 2015. ONE DEALER TOLD US THERE WAS NO LEAK AND FINALLY DECIDED IT WAS THE RIGHT DIFFERENTIAL AND REPAIRED THAT. THE TRANSMISSION STILL LEAKED. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHERE BOUGHT, THEY FOUND LEAK AND SAID IT WAS REPAIRED BUT IT IS STILL DRIPPING. PLAN ON TAKING IT BACK TO THEM NEXT WEEK. WE KEEP CLEAN CARDBOARD UNDER THE AREA WHERE THE LEAK IS TO PROTECT THE GARAGE FLOOR AND DOCUMENT THE LEAK. LAST REPAIR JULY 25 OF 2017.
Power train, Apr 3, 2017
INTERMITTENTLY THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED MORE AND MORE, THE CAR FINALLY LURCHES FORWARD (OR BACKWARD IF BACKING UP) AND THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE SLAMMED ON.
Power train, Nov 27, 2016
EXTREME ENGINE HESITATION (CVT) FROM IDLE STOP MAKING A TURN, IE CENTER TURNING LANE. DRIVER CANNOT RELY ON NORMAL OPPOSING TRAFFIC BREAKS TO COMPLETE A TURN. YOU MUST INCREASE THAT DISTANCE BY AT LEAST 5 TIMES, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW IF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WILL KICK BACK IN! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! DEALER: "THAT'S THE WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO WORK!??? THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES!
Power train, Sep 17, 2016
LEFT HAND WHEEL BEARINGS (HUB UNIT) FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 17,000 MILES. RIGHT HAND WHEEL BEARING (HUB UNIT) FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 32,000 MILES.
Power train, May 4, 2016
AFTER MOVING VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED ALLOWING CAR TO ROLL BACKWARD IF ON AN INCLINE. THERE IS THEN A SURGE FORWARD WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE. ALSO, ON A COLD START WHEN TEMP. IS BELOW 0 TRANS WILL STAY 1-2 GEARS LOWER THAN IT SHOULD FOR > 5 MILES ALLOWING FOR EXCESSIVE ENGINE RPMS. AFTER TAKING CAR TO DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH THESE CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION.
Power train, Engine, Jan 29, 2016
I HAVE A SURGING ISSUE WITH MY 3.6R AFTER COLD STARTS. UPON START-UP, THE IDLE WILL BE ~1800 AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT WILL DROP TO 800-1000RPM. THEN, AS I SLOWLY PULL INTO THE GARAGE, OR PULL INTO A STOPPED LINE OF TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE WILL SURGE BACK TO THE HIGHER RPM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PUSH THROUGH THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THIS RETURN TO HIGH IDLE OCCUR AFTER I HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PUSH THROUGH THE APPLIED BRAKES AND REQUIRING ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD IT OCCUR WHEN SLOWLY ROLLING FORWARD. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION THAT COULD RESULT IN DAMAGED PROPERTY AND/OR INJURY. I SEE THAT THERE IS AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL NHTSA COMPLAINT FOR THIS ISSUE, WHICH SUBARU DEEMED "NORMAL" OPERATION. I DID CONTACT MY DEALER REQUESTING A FIRMWARE UPDATE, IF ONE WAS AVAILABLE, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT ONE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 3/23/2015 AND THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SINCE NEW, BUT IT MORE COMMON IN COLDER WEATHER. I HAVE 18K MILES ON THE VEHICLE.
Power train, Oct 19, 2015
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM THE NHTSA (CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 15V502 - TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK). I CONTACTED THE SUBARU DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL. WHO IS RIGHT?
Power train, Jul 17, 2015
I HAD STOPPED TO DISEMBARK MYSELF AND PASSENGERS. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS NOT IN PARK. AS THE PASSENGER ON THE LEFT WAS GETTING OUT, THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I WAS ABLE TO PUT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP IT AND PUT IT IN PARK. I HAVE A PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. ON PAGE 3-6 OF THE OWNER'S MANUEL IT SAYS " THE PUSH BUTTON SWITCH CANNOT BE SWITCHED TO "OFF" WHEN THE SELECT LEVER IS IN A POSITION OTHER THAN P". IN CONTACTING THE DEALER SHIP THEY CHECKED OTHER OUTBACKS WITH PUSH BUTTON STARTERS AND THEY ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jul 13, 2015
I WAS GETTING GAS AT A STATION. WHEN I WAS FINISHED PUMPING GAS I ENTERED THE CAR, STARTED IT, PUT IT IN REVERSE, BRAKED, PUT IT IN DRIVE, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS, PUT ON THE BRAKE, IT CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS, GAVE IT SOME GAS SINCE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE, CAR JUMPED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME, MY FOOT WAS STILL ON BRAKE AND IN DRIVE WHILE I TRIED TO KEEP IT FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS. TRIED TO MANIPULATE BRAKE AND GAS TO STOP ROLLING BACKWARDS. EVENTUALLY I SWERVED AROUND PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME WITHOUT HITTING IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED NEW CAR. I WENT TO 2 SUBARU DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAID THAT IS NORMAL.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 7, 2015
WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, THE IDLE SPEED IS 1600 RPM WHEN STARTED. WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IT REDUCES TO A NOMINAL 900-1000 RPM. WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE IT SUDDENLY DROPS TO 600 RPM. WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP AFTER MOVING VEHICLE THE RPM SUDDENLY JUMPS TO 900-1000 RPM JUST BEFORE VEHICLE HALTS. THIS CAUSES SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO AN ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE ISSUE. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE NEW. UPDATED 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN
Power train, Mar 28, 2015
.OF US AS TRAFFIC WAS CAUSING IT TO SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN. WITH NO WARNING, OUR CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED AHEAD AS IF I HAD STEPPED HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL, THROWING US BACK IN OUR SEATS. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, IT HIT BRAKES AND THREW US FORWARD. IT DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP BUT RESUMED PREVIOUS SPEED. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN EVERY COUPLE OF MINUTES. I TOOK THE FIRST EXIT THAT APPEARED, ABOUT TWO MILES AHEAD. I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED THAT WE MIGHT COLLIDE WITH THE VAN IN FRONT OR SWERVE INTO THE TRAFFIC IN THE LANE NEXT TO US, OR THAT IT MIGHT SUDDENLY STALL IN OUR LANE. I DID NOT TRY TO STOP THE CAR ALTHOUGH I HAD MY FOOT RESTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT BADLY FRIGHTENED MY WIFE AND I. THE CAR HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION. WE STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT AND THEN HAD CAR TOWED TO CLOSEST OF TWO SUBARU DEALERS IN THE AREA. I HAD BOTH OF THEM RUN EXTENSIVE CHECKS ON ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, COMPUTER, ETC. NEITHER COULD IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE PROBLEM. MY WIFE HAS SWORN SHE WILL NEVER DRIVE OR RIDE IN THE CAR AGAIN. I CAN'T BLAME HER. WE HAVE TO GO OVER A WINDING, HILLY ROAD OF ABOUT TEN MILES TO GO HOME. THERE IS HEAVY CAR AND TRUCK TRAFFIC OFF AND ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. TO GET HOME, WE RENTED A CAR AS I NOW FEAR DRIVING THIS ROAD IN THIS CAR AT ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT. THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR HAS OFFERED TO STORE THE CAR FOR US UNTIL WE DECIDE WHAT TO DO. I'VE TRIED CALLING SUBARU AND WILL TRY AGAIN. LONG WAIT PERIODS SO FAR. THIS IS OUR SECOND SUBARU. FIRST WAS A 2012 OUTBACK WHICH WE TRADED FOR THE CURRENT ONE WHICH WE HAVE LEASED. THE IRONY OF THIS IS THAT WE BOUGHT THE CURRENT ONE FOR ITS MANY SAFETY FEATURES! I'VE OWNED MANY CARS IN MY LIFE BUT HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS! *TR
Power train, Dec 31, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 856. UPDATED 02/18/15*LJ UPDATED 9/12/2017*CN