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: visibility/wiper
130 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Mar 26, 2026
Cracked windshield out of nowhere, starts from the bottom passenger side.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 7, 2023
Around 8 am on 1/4/2022, driving the car on I85 in Durham County, NC, at a normal highway speed, the sunroof glass shattered suddenly and without warning. The sunroof was fully closed at the time, but the inside cover was open. Shards of glass were sprayed within the cabin. This was a dangerous distraction to the driver, and could have been much more serious if he had gotten glass in his eyes from looking up to see what had happened. There was no apparent impact to the sunroof glass from a rock or other object outside the car, and the sunroof was not being opened or closed at the time. We contacted Subaru of America and our local dealer. The car is no longer under warranty, and Subaru refused to cover the cost of repair (though I see online we are not the only ones to have this problem). The local dealer could not perform the repair for another week, so we bought a new sunroof glass and installed it ourselves. There was no apparent damage to the surrounding metal frame or roof. The car and shattered sunroof were not examined by anyone else. I have the damaged sunroof, but was planning to discard it. I am attaching an email we received from Subaru of America, along with photos of the sunroof.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 12, 2022
My sunroof exploded. Sounded like a gunshot. On the highway, 12/12 1pm. 50+- degrees partly sunny day.
Visibility/wiper, May 30, 2022
Windshield spontaneously cracked. No impact or accident.
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2022
Subaru Outback windshield cracks again within 2 months after warranty replacement pursuant to windshield settlement agreement. The claimed enhanced windshield from Subaru is exposed to the issue reported from the windshield settlement agreement, and Subaru refused to provide warranty replacement to fix this issue. Carter Subaru replaced my windshield on 02/15/2022. The new windshield placed by Carter Subaru crack on 4/24/2022 while I stop at a restaurant and there is no obvious external influence in my windshield.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Dec 28, 2021
Outback 2015 Windshield cracked with no obvious reason even at about 30 mph.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 22, 2021
The windshield spontaneously cracked at the deicer area. The windshield is available for inspection. The crack has grown and is interfering with visibility. The crack in the deicer part of the windshield is easy to see. I have called and left messages about the cracked windshield for the Subaru service manager at the dealership where we bought the car. The service manager has not returned my calls. I drove the car to the Subaru dealer and showed the crack to the substitute service manager (Brian from Kia). Brian took my name and number and said he would contact the Subaru rep for me. To date, I have not heard from the Subaru rep about the spontaneously cracked windshield. There was no warning that the windshield would crack. I was driving the car on Saturday June 5th when I heard a pop. There was no other traffic on the paved road I was driving on. Noticed a crack low on the windshield starting at the deicer area.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 16, 2021
My windshield cracked for no reason on June 12, 2021. Large crack took over the left side of the window. Crack kept spreading for no apparent reason.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 1, 2021
CAR DEVELOPED A 20" CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD ALL BY ITSELF. THE CRACK STARTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE BY THE WIPER BLADE AND RUNS UP AND OVER TOWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE. I DROVE THE CAR ONE DAY AND THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE. A WEEK LATER I DROVE IT AGAIN AND THE CRACK WAS THERE WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR TO START IT UP. FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE IT IS DUE TO SOMETHING WITH THE DEICER MAKING THE WINDSHIELD VERY LIKELY TO CRACK IN THAT AREA. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK BY ITSELF AND I'VE OWNED OR TAKEN CARE OF A DOZEN CARS FOR MY FAMILY OVER 40 YEARS. SUBARU SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL, AS THERE ARE A TON OF REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2021
I PARKED MY CAR IN A PARKING GARAGE ONE MORNING, AND WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR LATER THAT DAY, A CRACK DEVELOPED FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CRACK BEGINS CLOSE TO THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD, CURVES UP AND AROUND TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. THE CRACK ESSENTIALLY DEVELOPED ON ITS OWN.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 10, 2021
A CRACK APPEARED STARTING AT THE BOTTOM OF MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD AND I WATCHED IT MOVE ACROSS TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT WAS FAST MOVING. I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 22, 2020
DROVE CAR TO MONTANA, PARKED IN HOTEL. THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED INTO THE UPPER 20'S. WHEN WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING, BEFORE TOUCHING THE CAR, WE SAW THAT THERE WAS A 6 INCH CRACK STARTING AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD ON DRIVERS SIDE. CRACK GREW AS TEMP WARMED DURING THE DAY WITH ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES. THE NEXT MORNING THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH PROGRESSIVELY GREW THROUGH THE DRIVE BACK TO CA. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS IN COLD TEMPERATURE AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. THIS IS A SIGN OF A FAULTY WINDSHIELD. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SUBARU OWNERS WITH SAME COMPLAINT, AND THAT REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS HAVE ALSO CRACKED.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 15, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED STARTING FROM WINDSHIELD WIPER HEATER LOCATION ON PASSENGER SIDE UP AND OVER TO MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD APPROXIMATELY 2 .5 FEET IN LENGTH. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE SO CALLED IMPROVED WINDSHIELD FROM SUBARU. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY , NO STONE CHIP/IMPACT DAMAGE NOTED. AT THE TIME WHEN I TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD HEAT I HEARD A CRACK. THE WEATHER OUTSIDE WAS COLD ABOUT 40 F.THE TEMP INSIDE THE CAR WAS WARM. THIS IS DANGEROUS SINCE THE WINDSHIELD IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR AND HELPS TO CONTAIN THE AIR BAGS DURING AN IMPACT. THESE WINDSHIELDS APPEAR TO BE TOO FRAGILE OR THIN FOR SAFETY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 1, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK, I NOTICED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY HAD A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE AND RAN DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 12", NO EVIDENCE OF BEING HIT BY STONE, ETC.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 12, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED, STARTING AT HEATING ELEMENT AND GREW TO ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. MFR ADMITTED FAULT (I HAVE DOCUMENTATION) BUT WOULD NOT COVER FULL COST OF REPAIR. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN CRACK APPEARED AND HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR SOME TIME DUE TO COVID-19 STAY AT HOME GUIDELINES. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Mar 16, 2020
SUDDEN OVERNIGHT CRACK ALONG THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD, ABOUT 2" DOWN FROM THE TOP, FULL WIDTH OF DRIVER'S SIDE. CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE ON A QUIET RESIDENTIAL STREET, NO IMPACT OR UNUSUAL WEATHER EVENTS.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 26, 2020
WIND SHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON. NO ROCK IMPACT, NO DAMAGE, JUST CRACKED. HORIZONTAL CRACK ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE WIND SHIELD
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
THIS MORNING I DROVE MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I CAME HOME AND THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 1.5 HOURS AND WHEN I WENT BACK OUT I NOTICED ABOUT AN 8 INCH CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD WITH NO SIGN OF ANY OTHER DAMAGE. IT IS A NICE, CLEAR DAY, AND THE CAR WAS NOT PARKED UNDER A TREE.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
MY FRONT WINDSHIELD KEEPS CRACKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE, FROM THE EDGE TOWARDS THE CENTER. I HAVE REPLACED IT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH IT CRACKING FROM THE EDGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALSO DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I THINK THE BODY OF THE CAR BENDS AND PUTS TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE GLASS WHERE IT KEEPS CRACKING. I'VE INQUIRED WITH MULTIPLE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIPS AFTER GETTING A NOTICE FROM SUBARU AND NONE OF THEM WILL FIX OR HONOR THE LETTER. DUE TO COSTS, I'VE STOPPED REPLACING IT AND AM SETTLING WITH CRACKS IMPAIRING MY VIEW.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED MULTIPLE TIMES
Visibility/wiper, Feb 22, 2020
SECOND WINDSHIELD TO SPONTANEOUSLY CRACK SINCE BUYING THE CAR NEW.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 11, 2020
LARGE CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE EXTENDING OVER 15 INCHES ACROSS. SUBARU DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY SAY IT WAS CAUSED BY A MICROSCOPIC SIZE CHIP. REPORTING BECAUSE I SEE ONLINE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR. JUST CAME DOWN ONE MORNING AND THE HUGE CRACK WAS THERE. CAR WAS STATIONARY IN LOT. NO SIGNS OF VANDALISM. NO EVIDENT CHIPS BEFORE CRACK APPEARED.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 22, 2020
UNDER NORMAL STRESS - A CRACK APPEARED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD STARTING AT THE BASE AND BEGAN TO SPREAD UPWARD AND OUTWARD FROM THERE.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 16, 2019
A CRACK APPEARED AT THE BASE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. GREW TO ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF. IT SEEMS THERES BEEN A LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST SUBARU IN REGARDS TO WINDSHIELD, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. VERY SAD TO HEAR THAT ABOUT SUBARU. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH MY SUBARU UNTIL NOW
Visibility/wiper, Sep 5, 2019
WINDSHIELD GLASS RANDOMLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT OF ANY KIND.