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SeatsPart report

1999 Subaru Outback Seats Problems

Complaints
2about this part
Share
2%of 111 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the seats of the 1999 Subaru Outback, 2% of the 111 complaints for this model year. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Heated mirrors, heated seats, and speedometer/odometer all quit working and although service technicians told me there was nothing wrong originally, they did finally admit to a short within each unit. There must be something electrial shorting out to cause all the misc. Things to go out. The dealership tells me there is no concern due to repeated electrical shortages in the vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #743253, filed 2001-03

“I was quite hurt (to the degree of having to go on ssd) in a rear end collision in a 1998 Subaru legacy wagon. In trying to recover the original head rest of this car I learned it is no longer available and can only be replaced with a much safer model. In doing a recent crash analysis with this new head rest I realized the significant differences and how much safer the new head rest is. I learned on your car safety web site of the national caution on the whole seat of this model seats and head rest. …”

NHTSA complaint #10156391, filed 2006-04

Seats: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026210%
202511%
202422%
202311%
202210%
202110%
202040%
201950%
201881%
201720%
201610%
201541%
201421%
201393%
201241%
201141%
201062%
200810%
200722%
200631%
200411%
200111%
199922%

Other parts of the 1999 Subaru Outback

Transmission and drivetrain
29 complaints
Engine cooling
23 complaints
Suspension
13 complaints
Brakes
9 complaints
Vehicle speed control
9 complaints
Electrical system
8 complaints
Air bags
7 complaints
Other or unknown
6 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
5 complaints
Fuel system
4 complaints
Body and structure
4 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1999 Subaru Outback

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology