Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Subaru Outback, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 16 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 9% |
| Lane departure | 4 | 5% |
| Air bags | 4 | 5% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 4% |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The large LCD screen infront the shifter just goes blank. Been to the dealer the reload the operating system to no avail.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Lane departure
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: Electrical system
When engine auto-restarts after Auto Start-Stop has started engine, steering wheel jerks violently if it is not completely straight, dislocated my 5th finger.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Needed to move quickly out of way of oncoming traffic, but delay/hesitation in CVT made it almost impossible to avoid traffic.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA Complaint Narrative — Draft On July 9, 2026, in the evening, my leased 2026 Subaru Outback Touring caught fire while we were driving home. We were stopped in a left-turn lane waiting on a left-turn signal. When th
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving during heavy rainfall, the front windshield displayed a distorted view while the windshield wipers were activated. The vehicle was taken to a
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
The passenger seat airbag light does NOT always come on when my wife, 93 lbs, sits in the passenger seat. It will come on with someone heavier. This also happened in the loaner car I was given, 2026 Forester, by the deal
NHTSA complaint: Seats
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 74 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 49 | below average |
| Safety | 61 | average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and unknown or other is the most reported area with 16 of them (21%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2025 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.