2025 Subaru OUTBACK

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2025 Subaru OUTBACK has 102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is driver assist/cameras problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: three primary issues of major concern on this vehicle: 1. phantom emergency - braking at random, both low and high speeds. the most dangerous of the three. 2. lane keep assist - unaware or unable to compensate for real driving conditions, construction areas, pedestrians walking a dog, heavy machiner. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 7 crash reports

102

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

39 complaints

38%

• Three primary issues of major concern on this vehicle: 1. Phantom emergency - braking at random, both low and high speeds. The most dangerous of the three. 2. Lane keep assist - unaware or unable to compensate for real driving conditions, construction areas, pedestrians walking a dog, heavy machiner
• Three primary issues of major concern on this vehicle: 1. Phantom emergency - braking at random, both low and high speeds. The most dangerous of the three. 2. Lane keep assist - unaware or unable to compensate for real driving conditions, construction areas, pedestrians walking a dog, heavy machiner
• There are a couple of issues. 1. The car keeps applying the brakes at lower and higher speeds even though there is literally nothing in front. This is both annoying and risky, especially at higher speeds happening at the interstates. When I asked at the dealership, they said the car is not equipped

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“Three primary issues of major concern on this vehicle: 1. Phantom emergency - braking at random, both low and high speeds. The most dangerous of the three. 2. Lane keep assist - unaware or unable to compensate for real driving conditions, construction areas, pedestrians walking a dog, heavy machiner”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

18 complaints

18%

• Three primary issues of major concern on this vehicle: 1. Phantom emergency - braking at random, both low and high speeds. The most dangerous of the three. 2. Lane keep assist - unaware or unable to compensate for real driving conditions, construction areas, pedestrians walking a dog, heavy machiner
• We bought the car in January . When going through our regular car wash, we heard a boom on the roof. We looked and saw no damage. Went through again last week and heard it again. We expressed our concern to the manager who sat in the back as we went through again. She held her hand on the roo
• Driving on the freeway at 65 mph, my sunroof spontaneously exploded. The car is less than one month old and no debris whatsoever hit the car prior to the sunroof exploding. It was a sunny day, about 85 degrees and the freeway traffic was light. There were no cars or trucks directly in front of me

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

9 complaints

• I purchased my car on [XXX]. Since then I have now had two incidents where I was driving on the expressway and the computer completely shuts down. Engine is still active but the dashboard goes black, air conditioning turns off, turn signals don’t work etc. I brought it back to Gerald Subaru of Naper
• The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the "Door and Window Open" message was displayed. The information screen indicated that the driver monitoring system and EyeSight were disabled. While driving, the low tire message was displayed. The con
• The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the "Door and Window Open" message was displayed. The information screen indicated that the driver monitoring system and EyeSight were disabled. While driving, the low tire message was displayed. The con

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

“I purchased my car on [XXX]. Since then I have now had two incidents where I was driving on the expressway and the computer completely shuts down. Engine is still active but the dashboard goes black, air conditioning turns off, turn signals don’t work etc. I brought it back to Gerald Subaru of Naper”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

5 complaints

• small chip / crack in windshield on driver side view
• On my second windshield repair, windshield is highly sensitive and prone to cracks and chips, unbelievable / unacceptable for a new car. I’ve drove a Acura MDX 2006 previous to driving a Subaru Outback 2025 and not once have I ever had a windshield be so prone to cracks / chips.
• Windshield made a very loud bang noise as if something hit it but nothing was observed to hit. After arriving home, I inspected the windshield and discovered a 4 inch straight hairline horizontal crack with no sign of debris impact (no chip, scratch, etc). Safelite inspected it and says it is a st

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“small chip / crack in windshield on driver side view”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

5 complaints

• Shortly after purchasing my vehicle I noticed that the passenger airbag illuminated “off” indicator did not switch from “off” to “on” when an individual weighing under 100 pounds occupies the front passenger set in the vehicle. I could find nothing in the owner’s literature accompanying my car’s pur
• The front seat passenger airbag has an amber colored lighted alert indicator on the dashboard that is supposed to change from “off” to “on” when an occupant of sufficient weight is seated in that position. The dealer who recently sold me my new 2025 Subaru Outback advised me that this indicator is c
• Front Passenger side icon shows airbag off when passenger is in passenger seat

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“Shortly after purchasing my vehicle I noticed that the passenger airbag illuminated “off” indicator did not switch from “off” to “on” when an individual weighing under 100 pounds occupies the front passenger set in the vehicle. I could find nothing in the owner’s literature accompanying my car’s pur”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 102 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: Three primary issues of major concern on this vehicle: 1. Phantom emergency - braking at random, both low and high speeds. The most dangerous of the three. 2. Lane keep assist - unaware or unable to compensate for real driving conditions, construction areas, pedestrians walking a dog, heavy machiner
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: Three primary issues of major concern on this vehicle: 1. Phantom emergency - braking at random, both low and high speeds. The most dangerous of the three. 2. Lane keep assist - unaware or unable to compensate for real driving conditions, construction areas, pedestrians walking a dog, heavy machiner
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I purchased my car on [XXX]. Since then I have now had two incidents where I was driving on the expressway and the computer completely shuts down. Engine is still active but the dashboard goes black, air conditioning turns off, turn signals don’t work etc. I brought it back to Gerald Subaru of Naper
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: small chip / crack in windshield on driver side view
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)