2010 Subaru OUTBACK

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Subaru OUTBACK has 466 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: 2010 subaru outback, 3750 miles. took to the dealer when rattling noise seem to come from instrument cluster. dealer had it for a week. dealer service isolated the noise as coming from subaru new transmission. they called the company rep in southern calif. who instructed the dealer to put the car ba. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 9 crash reports 6 injuries

466

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

94 complaints

20%

• 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK, 3750 MILES. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHEN RATTLING NOISE SEEM TO COME FROM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DEALER HAD IT FOR A WEEK. DEALER SERVICE ISOLATED THE NOISE AS COMING FROM SUBARU NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED THE COMPANY REP IN SOUTHERN CALIF. WHO INSTRUCTED THE DEALER TO PUT THE CAR BA
• MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN LOYAL SUBARU OWNERS FOR OVER TEN YEARS, BUT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED TWO TROUBLING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE SAME YEAR. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY TAKEN CARE OF BY SUBARU OF AMERICA AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF GOING TO DIFFERENT DEALERS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE HAD A BAD TRANSMISSIO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND LOSE ALL POWER. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED.THE VECHILE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“2010 SUBARU OUTBACK, 3750 MILES. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHEN RATTLING NOISE SEEM TO COME FROM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DEALER HAD IT FOR A WEEK. DEALER SERVICE ISOLATED THE NOISE AS COMING FROM SUBARU NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED THE COMPANY REP IN SOUTHERN CALIF. WHO INSTRUCTED THE DEALER TO PUT THE CAR BA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

67 complaints

14%

• CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY PACE, THEN SLOWING DOWN, ENGAGING THE CLUTCH AND LETTING THE CAR IDLE AT A LIGHT. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. ONCE WAS WHILE DOWNSHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR TO COMPLETE A LEFT TURN. HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO COMPLETE THE TURN, BUT DID NOT HAVE STEERING OR BRAKING ASSIST
• 5 MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW I STARTED USING THE AIR CONDITIONER. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK AS I WAS SLOWING MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT FROM THE STREET I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT FROM 3RD GEAR TO SECOND AND THE CAR DIED AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. I DIDN'T USE
• I BOUGHT MY SUBARU OUTBACK 2010 IN EARLY APR. WHILE I AM FAIRLY SATISFIED WITH THE VEHICLE, I ENCOUNTERED 4 TIMES TOTALLY THAT THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. NORMALLY IT HAPPENS WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND SOMETIMES SWITCHING LANES. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I HAVE TO RESTART ENGINE QU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY PACE, THEN SLOWING DOWN, ENGAGING THE CLUTCH AND LETTING THE CAR IDLE AT A LIGHT. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. ONCE WAS WHILE DOWNSHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR TO COMPLETE A LEFT TURN. HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO COMPLETE THE TURN, BUT DID NOT HAVE STEERING OR BRAKING ASSIST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

45 complaints

10%

• I HAVE A NEW 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK THAT SEEMS TO BE A FINE AUTOMOBILE EXCEPT FOR ONE SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT. WE NOTICED SOON AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE THE OUTBACK THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG STAYS OFF WHEN MY 140-POUND WIFE OR 135-POUND DAUGHTER RIDE IN THE PA
• NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS BUT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT STAY ACTIVATED CONSISTENTLY IN MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK WHEN A FEMALE ADULXT PASSENGER WEIGHING APPROX 125 LBS SITS IN IT. I WAS TOLD BY SUBARU MECHANIC THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS SENSOR BUT THERE ARE NO RESET SPECS OR RECALL FO
• MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY OR HAS A FAULTY DESIGN. THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS SUPPOSED TO TURN ON THE AIR BAG WHEN ANYONE OVER 100 POUNDS SITS IN THE SEAT. MY WIFE WEIGHS 130 POUNDS. THE AIR BAG DOES NOT BECOME ACTIVE MORE THAN 50% OF THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I HAVE A NEW 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK THAT SEEMS TO BE A FINE AUTOMOBILE EXCEPT FOR ONE SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT. WE NOTICED SOON AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE THE OUTBACK THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG STAYS OFF WHEN MY 140-POUND WIFE OR 135-POUND DAUGHTER RIDE IN THE PA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

42 complaints

• MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS A SHAKING/VIBRATION ISSUE, THIS ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. IT SEEMS EARLY BUILD MODELS OF THE OUTBACK HAS THIS ISSUE. CHECK OUT THIS FORUM, AND YOU CAN SEE.. HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=20843 SUBARU HAS PERFORMED THE FOLLOW
• SERIOUS VIBRATION PROBLEMS IN 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. UPON DELIVERY, WOULD SAY IT WAS DANGEROUS AT ANYTHING OVER 45MPH. AFTER MULTIPLE FIXES, IS NOW DOWN TO A MUCH MORE MODERATE VIBRATION, MOST NOTABLE AT 65-70MPH IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATES OVER APPROX A 1/8" RANGE, WITH A PER
• THE 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK EXHIBITS EXTREMELY POOR HANDLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, AND THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S AT ITS LIMIT. THE CAR ALSO TRACKS VERY POORLY WANTING TO WANDER TOWARDS THE SHOULDER, AND IS SEVERELY JOSTLED AROUND IN CROSSW

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS A SHAKING/VIBRATION ISSUE, THIS ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. IT SEEMS EARLY BUILD MODELS OF THE OUTBACK HAS THIS ISSUE. CHECK OUT THIS FORUM, AND YOU CAN SEE.. HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=20843 SUBARU HAS PERFORMED THE FOLLOW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

38 complaints

• ABS, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE, VEHICLE STABILITY AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND STAYED ON, AS WELL AS TAPPING NOISE. DEALER SAYS IT IS DEFECTIVE ABS SENSOR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP SINCE AUGUST 25, 2009. *TR
• I HEARD A GRINDING SOUND AND CHECKED THE REAR BRAKES. PAD AND ROTORS WERE WEARING METAL ON METAL. CHECKED FRONT BRAKES AND THEY WERE FINE. CALLED DEALER AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG WAS TOLD I MUST HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE WITH PARKING BRAKE ON. I ASKED IF THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SYST
• 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR, AT LOW MILEAGE. *SMD THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION, DUE TO AN EXCESSIVE NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BRAKE COMPONENTS HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“ABS, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE, VEHICLE STABILITY AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND STAYED ON, AS WELL AS TAPPING NOISE. DEALER SAYS IT IS DEFECTIVE ABS SENSOR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP SINCE AUGUST 25, 2009. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 466 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK, 3750 MILES. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHEN RATTLING NOISE SEEM TO COME FROM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DEALER HAD IT FOR A WEEK. DEALER SERVICE ISOLATED THE NOISE AS COMING FROM SUBARU NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED THE COMPANY REP IN SOUTHERN CALIF. WHO INSTRUCTED THE DEALER TO PUT THE CAR BA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY PACE, THEN SLOWING DOWN, ENGAGING THE CLUTCH AND LETTING THE CAR IDLE AT A LIGHT. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. ONCE WAS WHILE DOWNSHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR TO COMPLETE A LEFT TURN. HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO COMPLETE THE TURN, BUT DID NOT HAVE STEERING OR BRAKING ASSIST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I HAVE A NEW 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK THAT SEEMS TO BE A FINE AUTOMOBILE EXCEPT FOR ONE SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT. WE NOTICED SOON AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE THE OUTBACK THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG STAYS OFF WHEN MY 140-POUND WIFE OR 135-POUND DAUGHTER RIDE IN THE PA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS A SHAKING/VIBRATION ISSUE, THIS ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. IT SEEMS EARLY BUILD MODELS OF THE OUTBACK HAS THIS ISSUE. CHECK OUT THIS FORUM, AND YOU CAN SEE.. HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=20843 SUBARU HAS PERFORMED THE FOLLOW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)