2009 Subaru Outback Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Outback most often describe two things: an airbag warning light that comes and goes, and wear-related electrical faults in the rear gate wiring and brake lines on higher-mileage cars. Handling on icy or snowy roads is a recurring theme in complaints filed when the cars were nearly new, while engine oil use and stalling tend to appear at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on intermittently

   • 14 complaints (13%)
   • median 77,751 mi at 6.3 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the red airbag light coming on while driving, sometimes staying off for weeks and then returning, and often going out after a restart. Some complaints mention a dealer scan showing a seat belt or sensor-related code and repairs involving the overhead console or seat belt components. Several say the light appears more often in cold weather, and owners worry the airbags may not deploy while it is lit. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 140,000 miles, with several owners noting it appears on cold days or in winter months.

   Recall 20V001000Recall 20V003000Recall 20V002000Recall 18V012000Recall 18V014000Recall 18V013000Recall 17V026000Recall 17V014000Recall 16V358000

   What to check: Turn the key and confirm the airbag light goes out after the bulb check, then drive and watch for it returning; ask whether any airbag-related recall work was completed and whether the console or seat belt sensor was ever replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The airbag light on the dash would intermittently turn on. If I turned the car off and then right back on the light would go out. Eventually the light would come back on, so I took the car to the dealer who had a technician check the computer codes. It listed (code 26-right front seat belt error). The technician reset the computer and the computer error code was cleared. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10593644, filed 2014-05, 56,209 miles

   “The red light on the dashboard (where the speedometer is) for driver's air bag comes on when the temperature goes below about 44 degrees. It stays on 95% of the 8 winter months. I bought this used (2014) from a dealer, and told the service manager about it. He said unless it comes on 100% of the time, then dont worry about it. I came back 1 time and complained again, hoping a sensor check might be covered since I had bought the extended warranty on it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10945224, filed 2017-01, 40,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Rear hatch wiring breaks (lights, wiper, lock)

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • median 100,250 mi at 6.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe rear wiper, hatch lock, brake lights and license plate lights failing together or working erratically. Owners who pulled back the rubber boot between the body and the lift gate report several wires broken or with insulation worn through. Some had a dealer repair the harness, then saw the same break return later. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 120,000 miles on wagons used normally, with some failures tied to rain or car washes.

   What to check: Open and close the gate and test the rear wiper, hatch lock, brake lights and plate lights; peel back the rubber boot on the passenger side and look for cracked insulation or broken strands.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Started my car at night to find out my headlights would not turn on, but the safely lights were still on. Upon further inspection, the brake lights and reverse lights would not work either. The lights above my rear license plate had been out for a couple of weeks also so I am not sure if that is related as well. Looked on-line to find out many other Subaru Outback owners had a similar problem and suggested looking at the harness that housed many electrical wires on the upper corners of the hatchback. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10520538, filed 2013-06, 48,000 miles

   “The brake lights, hatch lock, wiper and other electrical components on the rear part of my Subaru 2009 Outback stopped working or working erratically. I checked the rubber boot containing the rear wiring harness for damage and discovered 13 out of 14 wires were either completely broken, or the insulation was worn, exposing bare conductor. In addition to the rear electrical issues, I replaced the bulbs for the headlights at least four times in a two year period. The am channel on my radio no longer receives signals. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10786005, filed 2015-10, 99,500 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Stalling or rough running while driving

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 9.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2023

   Owners report the engine cutting out or bucking at low speeds, at stops, and occasionally at highway speed, sometimes with the dash lights flickering and the car hard to restart. Complaints describe rough idling that feels like the car wants to stall. Several say dealers or independent shops could not reproduce the problem or find a stored code. Reported from about 46,000 to 154,000 miles, often described as random and without a warning light at the time.

   What to check: Ask for service records on ignition, fuel and sensor repairs, and take a long test drive that includes idling in traffic and a cold start to watch for stumbling or a flickering dash.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car intermittently bucks/chugs while driving and then stalls. All the lights flash on. It is difficult to restart. It has happened on the highway and local streets. It also idles very rough when at stops or in park and shudders like it wants to stall - sometimes it does. This has been going on for 2 months now. The first time, I was stopped at a red light and it stalled creating a hazardous situation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11414502, filed 2021-04, 117,000 miles

   “Car intermittently stalls and is hard to restart. Happens randomly with no check engine light or code in the ecu. Has happened on the highway at interstate speed and while stopped. Will not restart immediately. Rough idle at restart then back to normal. Mechanic was unable to recreate the problem and thus unable to repair. Creates potentially dangerous situation when stalling on the highway, intersection, etc.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329080, filed 2020-06, 154,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Unstable rear end on ice and snow

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 26,000 mi at 3.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2008–2014

   Owners describe the rear of the car swaying or stepping out on icy, snowy or compacted-snow roads at ordinary speeds, sometimes called "ghost walking" in forums. Complaints note the behavior with several passengers or a light load, and some say dealers suggested a rear alignment. A few also mention a highway-speed shimmy. Mostly reported at low mileage, often under 35,000 miles, and specifically in winter road conditions.

   What to check: Have the rear alignment and tires checked, confirm matching tires with adequate tread, and drive the car on a wet or loose surface if possible before deciding.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently purchased a 2009 Subaru Outback 2.5 special edition. While driving on I-35 near cloquet, mn, the car exhibited dangerously unstable handling that has been described by other Subaru Outback owners. The road conditions were icy and even with greatly reduced speed the car would slide/drift sideways on straightaways. This was very unnerving as I could do nothing save reducing my speed to a crawl to avoid this drifting effect. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10253102, filed 2008-12, 3,700 miles

   “Our 2009 Subaru Outback is radically dangerous when driving on compacted snow or ice. The car becomes almost uncontrollable with rear oversteer on moderately slippery roads; even at very slow speeds without applying any acceleration. Our vehicle has always displayed these quirks but it is now outright dangerous. The car is a manual transmission and has been extremely well maintained. I certainly hope NHTSA is aware of this issue as there is clearly a design flaw. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10562501, filed 2014-02, 84,675 miles

Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition and service history matter more than the badge: confirm airbag and brake line recall work was done for the specific vehicle, and budget for electrical repairs in the rear gate harness and for brake line inspection. A pre-purchase inspection that includes the underside brake lines and the lift gate wiring is worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.