2023 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Forward collision avoidance is the leading concern among 89 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 24th highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2023 reports, 8 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 3 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, automatic transmission, park/neutral start interlock switchNov 9, 2023
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.
An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V755000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftSep 21, 2023
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.
Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V647000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
15 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Nov 20, 2025
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 not work. My Subaru told me that I was at fault for failing to take my car in for repair and stated they would cancel both safety and security plans, I repsonded by hanging up. I called Subaru American who did not respond. My 2023 Subaru Outback has 9000 miles. I am [XXX] old and disabled with a serious hip issue and a victim from another party of a HIPPA cyberattack when the government was closed. I assume your the Department of Transsportation does not care either. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 28, 2024
This complain is specific to the wireless charging pad featured in the Touring 2023 model I leased. The wireless charging pad overheats very quickly, thus overheating the phone it's charging. Even if the device is just plugged into a charging cord, located right next to the charging pad, it will overheat the phone, sometimes to the degree that the phone and the screen console will go blank. This has been incredibly dangerous when using the screen for navigation on the highway and the whole thing goes black/malfunctions, and this has happened quite a few times. The other frustrating issue is that the battery of my phone has overheated many times so it doesn't hold much of a charge anymore. The other issue is that the Eyesight function, which is necessary for cruise control, goes out often and completely malfunctions in head-on strong sunlight, which is often in Southern California.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 22, 2024
Car pulses randomly when braking, usually begins once speed drops below 20mph. Dealership completed a “reset and relearn” per Subaru’s instructions, which made the problem occur more often than before. Problem was brought to the dealerships attention shortly after purchase, but unable to assist until they were able to duplicate the problem, which happened in July 2024 after the reset and relearn was completed at 24k service. Vehicle was brought to dealership at least six times between January 2023 and July 2024.
Other or unspecified, Feb 14, 2024
It was 5:30 PM and I was driving 80mph (the speed limit) down interstate 84 near Mountain Home Idaho. There was no one near me and I heard a very loud bang and my sunroof had exploded. It exploded out as from the inside and not down as though something had hit it. I did not see anything that could have caused this is just exploded on its own.
Other or unspecified, Jan 10, 2024
The windshield immediately cracked from a small pebble. I’ve had bigger rocks hit glass in other vehicles and only left a chip. This impacted the upper passenger side corner of the windshield close to the edge, the windshield spider webbed immediately, I’ve never seen anything like it.
Other or unspecified, Nov 23, 2023, crash
WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY I HIT A DEER AND MY FRONT END WAS PUSHED IN TO WHERE I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS AND THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I PAID EXTRA WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR FOR SUBARU STARLINK EMERGENCY SERVICES. THEY HAD GUARENTEED THAT IN ANY ACCIDENT ANYWHERE IF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED STARLINK WOULD CONTACT ALL EMERGENCY SERVICES SO THAT AMBULANCES AND POLICE WOULD COME TO THE SCENED OF THE ACCIDENT. THE STARLINK SERVICES DID NOT WORK AND I WAS FORCED TO GET OUT AND WALK UNTIL I WAS PICKED UP BY A PASSERBY TO TAKE ME TO A SPOT WHERE I WOULD HAVE CELL SERVICE. IF I HAD SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.
Other or unspecified, Nov 19, 2023
I literally just purchased this vehicle two days ago and I already have a crack in my windshield. There was no accident, and I did not notice any rock/debris hitting the windshield while driving.
Other or unspecified, Sep 27, 2023
Sunroof/Moonroof spontaneously shattered OUTWARD. Car was being driven, inside slider was closed. Driver heard a bang, followed by hearing glass on the roof. Car driven another mile and parked where local police responded, examined the damage and took photos.
Other or unspecified, Jun 20, 2023
We were driving on a highway at 60 mph with a hard case roof carrier when our sun roof exploded and shattering all the glass.
Other or unspecified, May 11, 2023
The front window cracked from what sounded like a small object. The vehicle is only a few months old. A co-worker also had a new 2023 Outback and her window cracked w/in the beginning few months. I recall an extra warranty purchase option when initially buying the vehicle. Makes me suspension of this being a known issue and trying to take advantage of customers.
Other or unspecified, Mar 31, 2023
Moonroof shattered with a loud boom while driving on highway. Window and shade was in closed position and window had not been operated/open. Owned at 4 mi odometer and occurred at approximately 300 mi odometer. The loud boom was frightening. No glass came into the driver/passenger are because the shade was closed. I assumed the window had been hit by rock. However, a couple of hours earlier on the drive, I heard a clicking/torquing sound that I could not determine location. The clicking sound only occurred a few times and then was not heard again. No way to determine if this occurred from a rock or was a tempered glass failure.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Mar 29, 2023
I've had the vehicle less than 6 months and have already had 3 Safelite repairs for cracks and chips from road debris hitting the windshield. Windshields are fragile and prone to cracking. Attached the latest example, dead-center of photo.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 22, 2023
This incident occurred on January 20, 2023. I was driving alone on I-73 in Greensboro, NC. It was around 5:45 AM and was about 40 degrees outside. I had no vehicles in front of me and a very large separation to the vehicles in the oncoming traffic direction. The car was still new as it only had 4k miles on it. I was driving at 65mph merging onto I-73. Suddenly, I heard what sounded like an explosion followed by what sounded like flapping and "pebbles hitting roof" sound. I knew something had broken so I pulled off the road. My moonroof had shattered. I took pictures while I was trying to determine my next step. There was a hole in the center and part of the right side of the glass. I did not have any way to contain the damage when it was put on the flat bed trailer to take it to the dealership. I dropped by the dealership later that day. The hole had grown significantly while being towed to the dealer (wind damage expanded the hole). The dealership said it was the second Outback they had seen that week for an exploding moonroof. They stated it would not be covered under warranty, but they did replace it as a one-time goodwill gesture. Searching online, this seems to be way more common of an experience than it should be with Subaru Outbacks. If I had had the interior closeout panel open, I would have been covered in glass. I feel this was not damage induced by any impact as there were no cars near me within at least 100 yards in any direction.
Other or unspecified, Jan 20, 2023
Wireless charger overheats phone. Checking online this issue goes back several years with no fix. I am worried about a fire with the lithium batteries and stopped using the charger. Waiting for a reply from Subaru to replace or remove the charger.
Other or unspecified, Nov 28, 2022
Apparent know issue. Subaru Outback windshields prone to chips and eventual cracking of entire windshield. Car does not have 2000 miles yet and already needs windshield replacement from rock chip.