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2023 Subaru Outback Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 84 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This is one of the better years for the Subaru Outback

The 2023 model year shows below-average complaints compared to other years of this model — a good sign for reliability.

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71/100

Good Choice — 2023 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Subaru Outback has an acceptable safety and complaint profile with some areas to monitor. Review the open recalls and known problems below before buying.

2
NHTSA Recalls
2 recalls on record
84
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
8
Crashes + Injuries
1 fire report

Own or buying a 2023 Subaru Outback?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2023 Subaru Outback (2)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #23V647000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #23V755000
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Most Common Problems — 2023 Subaru Outback

Based on 84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
15
Visibility/wiper
15
Unknown Or Other
14
Forward Collision Avoidance
11
Exterior Lighting
6
Power Train
4
Latches/locks/linkages
3
Service Brakes
3
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Subaru Outback — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2023 model year is highlighted.

2017 914 complaints 2018 798 complaints 2019 1,025 complaints 2020 889 complaints 2021 289 complaints 2022 448 complaints 2023 84 complaints 2024 2 complaints 2025 61 complaints 2026 6 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2023, 2024, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2023 Subaru Outback

Is the 2023 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2023 Subaru Outback has 2 recalls and 84 owner complaints. This is generally considered a reliable model year.
How many recalls does the 2023 Subaru Outback have?
The 2023 Subaru Outback has 2 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Subaru Outback?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2023 Subaru Outback are: Electrical System, Visibility/wiper, Unknown Or Other, Forward Collision Avoidance. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2023 Subaru Outback safe to buy?
The 2023 Subaru Outback has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 2 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Outback should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Outback are: 2023, 2024, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.