2015 Subaru Outback Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 33about this part
- Share
- 6%of 510 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 17,600miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 33 complaints about the body and structure of the 2015 Subaru Outback, 6% of the 510 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 17,600 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car was parked in my driveway and developed a crack in the front windshield. No impact mark or anything. Cracked in the lower passenger side windshield like all 2015 and newer Subaru outbacks apparently do. There are numerous complaints online with people detailing the exact same issue yet no recall yet.”
NHTSA complaint #11337063, filed 2020-07, 44,000 miles“The rear doors for our 2015 Outback are stuck in the child safety lock position. This is the second time this has happened. We paid over $300+ to have the mechanic accidentally break the switch and then repair it. The switch on the other door is also stuck with the child safety lock engaged.”
NHTSA complaint #11352372, filed 2020-08, 100,000 miles“We were driving our 2015 Subaru Outback at about 55mph on us20, the temperature was in the mid 30's, in east oregon when our sunroof spontaneously exploded. There were no other vehicles around and there was no impact from foreign objects. There was a loud, distracting, bang followed by a cloud of shattered glass coming from the back of the car. The sunroof cover was closed and the tempered glass fragments collected in the well and rattled around for the remaining 3 1/2 hours of our journey.”
NHTSA complaint #11164079, filed 2018-12, 65,000 miles“The Subaru Outback 2015 was parked in a lot after a 12 minute drive and burst into flames. It was purchased in february 2015 and was not yet due for servicing when the event happened. The Subaru Outback manufactured from july 3rd-27th 2015 has been recalled due to possibility of fire due to a transmission fluid leak . I believe the same thing occurred with my car and I am concerned that if the model is not recalled someone will get badly injured or killed due to fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10780961, filed 2015-10, 4,000 miles“Rear electric liftgate sporadically fails to open. This condition persists whether I press the button on the liftgate, the dashboard liftgate button, or the key fob button. I can hear the liftgate unlatch, however it fails to open more than a couple inches. Lithia Subaru (oregon city) has not been able to repair. We purchased our vehicle new from the dealer. It has exhibited this problem from the first day we owned it. Subaru should recall and fix all vehicles with this problem. I feel strongly this is an design defect of the electrical system. …”
NHTSA complaint #11020454, filed 2017-08, 19,059 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11022304Aug 11, 2025This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
- 10188151Feb 1, 2021Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) Quality Assurance has identified an increase in the number of cracked windshields on some 2015 and 2016MY Legacy and Outback models. SOA has now…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 2% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 7 | 2% |
| 2021 | 7 | 2% |
| 2020 | 21 | 2% |
| 2019 | 27 | 3% |
| 2018 | 15 | 2% |
| 2017 | 26 | 3% |
| 2016 | 19 | 3% |
| 2015 | 33 | 6% |
| 2014 | 11 | 5% |
| 2013 | 11 | 4% |
| 2012 | 5 | 2% |
| 2011 | 11 | 2% |
| 2010 | 14 | 4% |
| 2009 | 5 | 5% |
| 2008 | 6 | 3% |
| 2007 | 5 | 4% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2005 | 7 | 3% |
| 2003 | 5 | 5% |
| 2002 | 10 | 7% |
| 2001 | 15 | 9% |
| 2000 | 13 | 6% |
| 1999 | 4 | 4% |
| 1998 | 2 | 2% |
| 1997 | 3 | 4% |
| 1996 | 3 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2015 Subaru Outback
143 complaintsElectrical system
127 complaintsOther or unknown
109 complaintsEngine
47 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
37 complaintsBrakes
28 complaintsVehicle speed control
26 complaintsFuel system
18 complaintsAir bags
14 complaintsSteering
13 complaintsWheels
8 complaintsEquipment
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2015 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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