repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2011 Subaru OutbackProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 653 owner complaints about the 2011 Subaru Outback, most often about the power train. It is covered by 16 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-297 the manufacturer reports only 62% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 20, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: OSX, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Subaru Outback has problems
653 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
216Power train5 crash/fire/injury
117Exterior lighting1 crash/fire/injury
85Engine5 crash/fire/injury
73Air bags5 crash/fire/injury
67Service brakes8 crash/fire/injury
67Electrical system8 crash/fire/injury
36Steering
26Vehicle speed control
21Suspension
10916 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 216 | 5 |
| Exterior lighting | 117 | 1 |
| Engine | 85 | 5 |
| Air bags | 73 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 67 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 67 | 8 |
| Steering | 36 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 26 | 8 |
| Suspension | 21 | 0 |
| 16 other systems | 109 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
16 recalls
2011 Subaru Outback recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Ignition: switch
Risk. The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash.
Show 12 more recalls
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2020 Q4
Parking brake
Risk. A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2023 Q1
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Windshield wiper/washer: motor
Risk. If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes.
no report yet
Exterior lighting
Risk. Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system.
no report yet
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
Risk. THE MOONROOF GLASS CAN LOOSEN AND DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE DURING DRIVING, RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD FOR OTHER VEHICLES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A…
no report yet
Power train: manual transmission
Risk. IF THE TRANSMISSION GEARS ARE NOT PROPERLY LUBRICATED, A GROANING SOUND MAY BEGIN TO DEVELOP ALERTING THE DRIVER OF A PROBLEM.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
114kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 176 power train complaints. 30% were reported before 100,000 miles.
9under 30k miles53under 100k miles123100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
31 owners mentioned a cost$3,500median
Middle half: $1,900 – $7,000
Engine
8 owners mentioned a cost$2,200median
Middle half: $1,500 – $3,188
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other Outback year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Outback median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Subaru Outback safety ratings
2011 Subaru Outback 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Outback owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My CVT Transmission started having problems with the Valve Body inside the transmission. On acceleration from a complete stop my vehicle would start "bucking" hard causing a violent back and forth rocking or "jerking" of the drive train and vehicle. I did not request a inspection of the failed…
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission output shift was bent and needed to be…
Torque converter issue that causes stalling similar to a manual transmission vehicle. The issue should have been a full recall but instead was only a "bulletin." For my own safety, I am stuck paying several thousand dollars for an issue the manufacturer is aware of but refused to cover by full…
Own a 2011 Outback?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.