2025 Subaru Outback Problems
Compared with other Subaru Outback years
Too new to compare
- Model years are compared once their first three years of complaints are in; the 2025 can be compared from 2028.
- Most reported problem: Lane-centering pulls or reacts late (21 complaints, median 8,999 mi).
Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2023
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 83filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 2,000miles, 10 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall
- EPA fuel economy
- 25 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl AWD · 22 city / 29 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2025 Subaru Outback (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on this model year cluster heavily around the EyeSight driver-assist suite: owners describe phantom braking, lane-centering that pulls or hesitates, and the system dropping out without warning. A second, distinct group concerns the infotainment head unit — blank screens and SiriusXM promotional pop-ups that block other functions while driving. Most reports arrive at very low mileage, often within the first few thousand miles.
- Forward collision avoidance
Phantom braking and collision warnings with nothing ahead
- 20 complaints (24%)
- median 14,500 mi at 2.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2024–2026
Owners describe the pre-collision system triggering brake pressure or warnings when no obstacle is present — at highway speed, in stop-and-go traffic, in parking lots, and while backing out of driveways. Several say the deceleration was abrupt enough to concern drivers behind them. According to complaints, dealers often found no stored faults or said the system was operating as designed. Reported across the mileage range from a few hundred miles upward, with several instances in direct sun or low-light conditions.
What to check: Ask whether any EyeSight camera or software updates were applied, and test drive in varied light — including toward a low sun — on a road with traffic. Note whether the car brakes or chimes without a clear target.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While traveling along I-94E outside of Macomb County on September 10th at around 8:30AM, forward collision warning triggered twice while facing the direct sun. It triggered for around 6 seconds. Shortly after getting off the Shook Rd exit at around 8:45M and turning right, I had a full AEB activation while again facing the sun, almost causing the vehicle behind me to rear end me.”
NHTSA complaint #11764235, filed 2026-09“Several incidents: 1) I was on a 3 lane road and gained some speed to get around a car, when I got into the other lane the car collision warning came on and slowed the car down significantly b/c it detected a car that was at least 300 feet in front of me. That is too far for a car accident. I was told by the dealership that the alogorithum between speed and object detection is what made the car react that way. …”
NHTSA complaint #11675831, filed 2025-07 - Lane departure
Lane-centering pulls or reacts late
- 21 complaints (25%)
- median 8,999 mi at 0.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2024–2026
Complaints describe the lane-keeping system steering the car toward the right or making sudden corrective inputs, and lane departure warning not reacting until the car is well over the line. Some owners say warnings sound while the vehicle is centered. Dealers reportedly told owners the behavior was normal or could not reproduce it. Reported from new through the first several thousand miles, on highways and two-lane roads.
What to check: On a test drive, engage lane centering on a straight highway stretch and watch whether the car tracks the center of the lane or drifts to one side. Ask whether the EyeSight cameras have been recalibrated.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I bought a brand new 2025 subaru outback in April of 2025. At first service (oil change and tire rotation) in Jan 2026, I complained that the vehicle keeps swerving left and right and Subaru of Ann Arbor said they will diagnose the i-Sight vehicle system and correct it. But right after delivery , i realized the steering had to be held at ~5 degrees to the right (off centered) to get the car go straight. I complained and I was made to bring the car in 3 times to Subaru of Ann arbor - only to go without a fix. …”
NHTSA complaint #11748229, filed 2026-07“Lane-keeping/lane-centering: The system repeatedly pulls the vehicle too far to the right. More seriously, while driving on the freeway, it has randomly and suddenly jerked the vehicle to the right with a rapid steering input. This is not simply a matter of the system being imperfect—it creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle can move abruptly toward the edge of the lane or toward an adjacent lane.”
NHTSA complaint #11761969, filed 2026-09 - Other or unknown
SiriusXM pop-up ads blocking the screen
- 9 complaints (11%)
- typically at 1.2 yrs old
- filed 2025–2026
Owners report full-screen SiriusXM promotional messages appearing unprompted while driving, covering the display and blocking access to climate, navigation and vehicle settings until dismissed with a small on-screen button. Complaints describe the interruption as distracting and hard to clear while moving. Reported at low mileage, typically appearing several minutes into a drive.
What to check: Ask the seller or dealer whether the subscription status and head-unit software have been set up to suppress promotional overlays, and confirm during a drive whether any pop-ups appear.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I am writing to report a serious safety issue with the satellite radio service in my vehicle. Recently, advertisements have been automatically taking over my infotainment screen while I'm driving, overriding whatever I am doing and forcing me to interact with the system to dismiss the ad. This behavior is dangerous and distracting. Any unexpected visual takeover of the screen draws my attention away from the road, even if only for a moment. …”
NHTSA complaint #11701541, filed 2025-11“I am submitting a safety complaint regarding my Subaru vehicle’s infotainment system. The system displays unsolicited, full-screen SiriusXM promotional pop-ups while the vehicle is in motion. These ads override the current display without warning. Most recently, a SiriusXM trial offer appeared and took over my entire screen while I was driving over 60 mph on the highway at night. The sudden change in brightness and the complete obstruction of the display were extremely distracting. …”
NHTSA complaint #11703902, filed 2025-12 - Electrical system
Infotainment screen blanks or freezes
- 6 complaints (7%)
- typically at 0.9 yrs old
- filed 2025–2026
Owners describe the head unit going dark or becoming unresponsive while driving, taking climate, navigation and driver-assist settings with it, sometimes returning after an unpredictable delay. Others report repeated CarPlay and Android Auto disconnects and screens that stop responding. Complaints mention dealers reloading software or resetting the unit without a lasting fix. Reported from the first few thousand miles onward, occurring at random while driving.
What to check: Ask whether the head-unit software has been updated, and spend time with the screen during the test drive operating climate and audio controls. Test phone pairing with both a wired and wireless connection.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The wireless CarPlay continuously disconnects and reconnects on its own. It is possible to inspect it upon request. This issue has been persistent since I purchased the car however it’s random in the times it disconnects, and sometimes it doesn’t reconnect at all. The dealership has informed me that this is an issue with Subaru cars with wireless CarPlay. It has been recalled and supposedly the issue was resolved when I had it repaired at the dealership, however it has continued to have the same issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #11681007, filed 2025-08“While driving, the head unit, which gives you access to many of the safety features like auto braking etc, blanks out and goes completely dark. It happens without notice and is random in nature. On this particular vehicle it has happened at least four times. It does come back on but it is not immediate and the amount of time that it is out is variable. …”
NHTSA complaint #11708187, filed 2026-01 - Forward collision avoidance
EyeSight and driver-assist shut off on their own
- 8 complaints (10%)
- median 1,999 mi at 0.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- filed 2025–2026
Owners report the EyeSight suite disabling itself intermittently, sometimes mid-drive, which turns off lane departure, pre-collision braking and related warnings. Some also note blind-spot alerts firing with no vehicle present, or a rear camera image offset from the car's actual path. Complaints say dealers found nothing wrong or advised the system was functioning normally. Described as intermittent since purchase, at low mileage and across all weather and lighting conditions.
What to check: During the test drive, confirm the EyeSight indicator stays active and check that the rear camera lines up with the car's actual path when reversing.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“1.) Eyesight constantly turns off on a whim. No reason or rhyme to it but just turns off. Meaning none of my safety systems (lane departure, crash avoidance, emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, collision warnings, collision braking) are functioning. Then it turns on when it decides it wants to turns back on after awhile but will happen in the middle of a 30+mile drive. When has this happened? Intermittently since I've purchased the car 11/23/2024. It's happened at least a dozen or more times. …”
NHTSA complaint #11719168, filed 2026-02“The EyeSight Assist appears to be working intermittently since the car was purchased. It stops working without any apparent reason, regardless of whether it is a sunny day, cloudy, or rainy. The assist stops working without any proper reason. The lane departure warning also appears to be either not working or malfunctioning at times. Even if I am within the lane, it still makes warning sounds at times and shows yellow lines on the screen.”
NHTSA complaint #11680299, filed 2025-08
Buying note. This year is recent enough that most reports come from early ownership, so a thorough test drive of the driver-assist and infotainment systems matters more than service history. Check that current software updates have been applied and confirm the behavior of EyeSight and the head unit yourself before deciding.
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.
NHTSA recorded 83 consumer complaints for the 2025 Subaru Outback. 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 2,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 161 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Other or unknown18 22%
- Lane departure15 18%
- Electrical system13 16%
- Brakes7 8.4%
- Steering6 7.2%
- Air bags5 6.0%
- Engine5 6.0%
Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (5), Exterior lighting (3), Fuel system (3), Equipment (2), Seat belts (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Engine cooling (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seats (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Forward collision avoidance: “The brakes failed and could be inspected upon request. My safety and the safety of two other passengers was put at risk because my vehicle rear ended an another vehicle at a red light. The problem has not yet been confirmed or reproduced by the dealership or inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representative of others. There were no warning messages, or symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.”
NHTSA complaint #11764693, filed 2026-09Other or unknown: “My front windshield started to crack. Nothing hit it, It looks like a smal; stress crack. When I bought th ecar Subaru assured me they fixed the windshield cracking lawsuit issue. Well, it started cracking. The dealer denied even they had lawsuit for the front windshield. And the ywill not fix this windshield.”
NHTSA complaint #11718064, filed 2026-02Lane departure: “Unforced acceleration occurred in a parking lot. I had my foot off the gas pedal, and had the car easing to a stop, when the car sped up rapidly and scraped the side of a large van. The car eventually came to a stop as i was applying the brake as much as i could. The passenger side of subaru was damaged extensively. I reported this to our insurance agent and lithia.”
NHTSA complaint #11680849, filed 2025-08Electrical system: “Car battery has been failing since June it will not stay charged it started out losing power over weekends now it is every day. It is so bad I purchased a portable battery charger from auto zone to jump my car.”
NHTSA complaint #11758694, filed 2026-08Mileage when problems were reported
100% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 300 and 10,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2025 Subaru Outback. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outback · wagon AWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 18.5% risk |
| Outback Wilderness · wagon AWD | not rated | 5 / 4 | 5 | 5 | — |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2025 model year: forward collision warning standard on some versions, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard on some versions.
Neighbouring years: 2024: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2025 Subaru Outback version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outback AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Outback AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | CVT | 26 | 32 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Outback Wilderness AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | 21 | 26 | 23 | $2,900 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2025 Subaru Outback in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 161 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037943Oct 5, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
- 11037942Sep 28, 2026Electrical system, Transmission and drivetrain. This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application.
- 11037940Sep 18, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
- 11037938Sep 18, 2026Electrical system. "This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
- 11037930Sep 15, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
- 11037929Sep 14, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11037927Sep 14, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11036819Aug 31, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin announces an inspection procedure for the Smart Rear View Mirror Assembly.
- 11036804Aug 21, 2026Transmission and drivetrain, Electrical system. This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
- 11036814Aug 20, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
Other model years of the Subaru Outback
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 21 | — | 0 | — | 24 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 83 | 2,000 | 0 | 5 | 25 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 104 | 3,395 | 0 | 5 | 25 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 89 | 7,500 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 0 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 465 | 13,947 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 77 · More | Stable |
| 2021 | 298 | 3,600 | 4 | 5 | 29 | 59 · Typical | Falling |
| 2020 | 901 | 5,750 | 6 | 5 | 29 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2019 | 1,036 | 10,194 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 87 · More | Falling |
| 2018 | 816 | 16,794 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 72 · More | Falling |
| 2017 | 919 | 30,000 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 68 · More | Falling |
| 2016 | 643 | 35,000 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 54 · Typical | Falling |
| 2015 | 510 | 20,000 | 5 | 5 | 28 | 70 · More | Falling |
| 2014 | 208 | 35,000 | 10 | 5 | 24 | 13 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2013 | 297 | 44,100 | 12 | 5 | 24 | 21 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 294 | 90,000 | 16 | 4 | 22 | 3 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2011 | 653 | 85,000 | 16 | 4 | 22 | 46 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 360 | 68,000 | 18 | — | 22 | 37 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 106 | 70,350 | 13 | — | 20 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2008 | 226 | 79,150 | 8 | — | 20 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2007 | 130 | 81,147 | 8 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 277 | 95,316 | 7 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 273 | 82,000 | 9 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 90 | 67,693 | 10 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 93 | 73,762 | 14 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 143 | 70,500 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 171 | 72,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 207 | 68,318 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 111 | 89,500 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 127 | 91,486 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 79 | 103,995 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 46 | 125,453 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Subaru Outback model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Subaru Outback?
Complaints on this model year cluster heavily around the EyeSight driver-assist suite: owners describe phantom braking, lane-centering that pulls or hesitates, and the system dropping out without warning. The issues reported most often: Phantom braking and collision warnings with nothing ahead; Lane-centering pulls or reacts late; SiriusXM pop-up ads blocking the screen.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2025 Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA recorded 83 consumer complaints for the 2025 Subaru Outback as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2025 Subaru Outback is reported most often?
Forward collision avoidance is named most often, in 21 complaints (25% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 18.
Has the 2025 Subaru Outback been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2025 Subaru Outback do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2025 Subaru Outback 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Subaru Outback get?
The EPA rates the 2025 Subaru Outback (Outback AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2025 Subaru Outback reported?
Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 2,000 miles and the middle half falls between 300 and 10,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.