Complaint volume
84 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2023 Subaru Outback Complaints
84 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2023 Subaru Outback, grouped by component category.
84 Total complaints
8 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
2 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are visibility/wiper, unknown or other, forward collision avoidance. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 8 crash reports, 1 fire report, 2 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 12 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 30,900 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to visibility/wiper, unknown or other, forward collision avoidance?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2023 Subaru Outback?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2023 Subaru Outback
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2023 Subaru Outback complaints?
8 Crash
1 Fire
2 Injury
0 Fatality
6 Towed
2 Medical attention
What are the most common 2023 Subaru Outback complaint categories?
VISIBILITY/WIPER 15
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 3
AIR BAGS 2
POWER TRAIN 2
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2
84 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Starlink not working and requires DCM. This controls tracking and safety features of this car. This is the 2nd failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Car's battery was 100% dead and had to be towed to dealership. We were told that the nradio was drawing electric and has to be replaced. They also said the battery has to replaced. We have been waiting for parts for 3 weeks and counting. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle made a sudden stop without warning. The contact stated that several minutes later the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 800. | Crash: No Fire: No | 800 |
| Dec 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | This car is equipped with adaptive headlights. When the headlights are turned on, each projects a rectangular shadow. These shadows move when you drive and look like animals coming across the road. Apparently, Subaru says this is normal operation. The dealer noted that it is an issue but Subaru has no remedy. This is a safety issue as your eyes automatically follow the shadows as it seems like there is something running across the front of the vehicle. An investigation is requested as this is a major safety issue as it distracts your eyes from the road ahead. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | POWER TRAIN | Going down a steep incline shortly after staring car after it had been sitting about 3 hours after about 2500 feet the car had no power maximum speed was about 25MPH and could not accelerate. There was a wide edge that I was able to pull off on with about a 300 drop off on right side of car. After pulling off on edge. stopped turned engine off, sat about 20 seconds, restarted engine, checked to see that engine increased in RPM's when accelerator was engaged, RPM's increased Drove next 4 days through Appalachian Mountains with no further problem. as engaged, then proceeded down incline about a mile and a half with no problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Some of the starling services associated with my 2023 Subaru Outback are not functioning as they should. The vehicle was purchased on 10/28/2022 and on 10/29/2022 I took it back to the dealer. I was told by the service department that the issue would have to be dealt with by the sales department since it was a Starling issue. The sale team then looked into the issue and I was told that the software update hasn't been sent to the car yet and to give it until Monday 10/31/2022 to upload. On Monday I took the car back to the dealer as the services were still to working. They called Starlink and told the representative there what was going on. They then put me on the phone with Starlink and the representative told me I might would consider taking the car to another dealer. The dealer then stated to give it a couple weeks to see it the update comes through. I have emailed Subaru Customer Service now twice with no response from the, The case numbers are Case#?221031-2000801and Case number 221103-1400147. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle from the dealer on October 3, 2022, he noticed that the automatic collision alert to the Emergency Services, the diagnostic alert, the remote services, the SOS emergency alert, the stolen vehicle recovery alert, the Roadside Assistance alert, and the multimedia features were inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known manufacturer defect associated with an unknown control module. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 300. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |