NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2024 Subaru Outback. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
When backing up at night in the dark, the backup camera is useless as the display is too dark to tell where I am going. There have been several times when I almost backed into the ditch or into a pond. My 2017 Subaru Outback backup camera was quite clear even on a dark night, so I never had an issue with backing up at night. My new Outback is dangerous when reversing at night. This needs to be fixed!!!
Two times already the driver side door of the 2024 Subaru Outback opened while driving. One time it was on the freeway, at freeway speeds. The second time happened today 4/6/2024 while driving on a city street. Both times once the vehicle was in motion, there was no indication, no chime, or anything that suggested that the door latch wasn't closed. To be specific, the door actually opened, free from the latch. This was concerning and a safety issue especially when this happened on the freeway, as I was on the left lane. I was able to safely pull to the right and close the door. No lights, no warnings. Nothing.
While going 65-70 mph on the freeway the car began braking on its own with no cars nearby. It almost came to a complete stop but then started moving, then hesitated once more before releasing. I reported it to the dealership. They said they could try to recalibrate but otherwise I should contact Subaru of America because I no longer felt safe on busy California freeways.
Windshield cracked after a tiny pebble hit at around 35mph. Dealer and Subaru of America refuse to take responsibility for their defective and poor quality windshields.
The pre-collision braking system has engaged twice during normal traffic flows and came close to causing an accident.
The front collision warning does not work in this car. When coming within 5 feet of the car in front of my vehicle at higher rates of speed my car offered no warning indication nor did it brake. Pre collision braking is turned on. Lane departure all functions is turned on. Driver monitoring system is turned on. I took car in to have it evaluated and colonial Subaru in Feasterville told me all systems were fully functional.
Windshield cracked 40 days after purchase with no apparent stone strike, collision or pressure. ~4 inch crack noticed from the top middle section where eyesight camera is mounted.
There is a problem with the passenger airbag sensor on this model. I weigh under 100 pounds, and the sensor light does not turn on when I am seated in the passenger seat. My husband weighs 160 lbs, and the light goes on when he sits in the passenger seat. Subaru maintains that the sensor is working as designed, but this is clearly a safety issue.
On 1/12/24, I was backing up my vehicle in the driveway, the vehicle suddenly stopped, thinking I was going to backup into the gate. I was surprised because I didn't think I was that close. I slightly tapped the gas pedal to move slowly forward when the car suddenly accelerated and lunged forward. I couldn't stop the car, by braking, for 56 feet. I was able to avoid hitting another car, parked on the street, by driving into the large bushes along the sidewalk of my home. The only damage that occurred was the destruction of some bushes and the damage to the vehicle is to be determined. No injuries. The Subaru dealership had Eyesight adjustments on 1/08/24.
Windshield cracked after a rock hit. This is the first crack I have ever had and I believe Subaru glass to be at fault. It continued to splinter while driving at a quick rate even on a smooth road. Which also seems unreasonable. This seems like a safety issue.
My car is a lemon and has been unsafe to drive . They aren’t doing anything about it but lowball offers outside of ca lemon law provisions
See attached document for complaint
The contact owned a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated after the crash. The contact sustained a concussion and the driver of the other vehicle sustained a knee injury. The contact received medical attention via the hospital an hour after the incident. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.
The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 mph, the vehicle suddenly and unintendedly accelerated and continued to accelerate. There were no warning lights illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop, crashed into a building, and a brochure bracket stand, and hit a pedestrian who was transported by ambulance with unknown injuries' to the hospital. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire or air bag deployment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed her that the failure was due to user error. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000. The VIN was not available.
Adaptive cruise control slows way down for a sound wall on a curve.
Vehicle has a crack in the windshield, likely from a small rock kicked up while driving on the highway. Vehicle is 5 months old with under 6,000 miles.
Both front headlights cast a tabbed rectangular shadow into driver's field-of-view creating two potentially dangerous disruptive shadows/dead spots at certain longer distances and in open flat terrain areas. These tabbed rectangular shadow/dead spots often tricks the driver into falsely responding/over-reacting unnecessarily. The dead spots in the driver's field-of-view can be potentially dangerous while driving at night and around turns/corners where the LED headlights automatically track and follow based on the steering inputs by the driver. These projected tabbed rectangular tabs often startle my wife and or I often tricking our eyes into seeing what appears to be an object darting out in front of the vehicle.
In a residential area at night there is a film or tint that covers at least three quarters of the windshield. No problem on bright highways. I complained to three different dealers. They can't confirm because they are not allowed to touch eyesight/camera. I called Subaru USA. Gary told me that it's to expenses and offered me service coupons, insulting.
This vehicle has severe CVT problems. It shifts back and forth with a clunk on level roads at a steady speed. I have a 2015 Murano with over 80,000 miles that does not display this type of behavior. I am driving a loaner which is a 2023 Subaru with the same engine and transmission as mine and it has none of my safety problems. The additional safety problems are: very poor resolution on backup camera and incorrect guidance lines; we are a hands free state and my voice command will not properly make calls; built in nav is horrible and Android Auto doesn't work; Adaptive headlights don't work; lane centering hugs the left side of the lane to a degree that I have to pull to the right if a vehicle is passing me; Auto rear braking does not work properly. The rest of the items are more of a nuisance than safety oriented. I have owned over a dozen Subarus without having any issues.
Subaru case # 231102-1901318 - recorded phone call for full discussion between me & Subaru to address this safety issue due to engineering Tried to help Subaru; was told: : "Engineering is not a consumer facing department." Driver side mirror does not adjust enough outboard to prevent blind spot from being larger than an approaching 4 door long bed pick up in lane to the left of 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness. Photo #1: with driver side mirror fully adjusted outboard, body of vehicle fills >1/3, <1/2 of mirror area. Should be just a hint of vehicle side. (I'm under 6' tall but drive with seat fairly back & seat back fairly forward. Photo #2 & #3: measured mirror deflection inside housing showing maximum driver side LESS than passenger side (When, given left side driver position, should be same or other way around. Have only good things to say about dealer. Purchased a handful of Subaru's there with positive results. Have only good things to say about Subaru customer service for ~ 25 previous years - until now. They refused to escalate my attempt to help them fix this obvious safety issue. An argument can be made that the blind spot monitor flashes. To which I respond: If you have a dog, do you stop locking your doors? If you have credit monitoring, can you click on all your suspect emails and leave your checkbook & credit cards out? Dealer service manager examined mirror: 1) mirror is same as on other similar models. 2) internal elements might be adjustable to improve ... but 3) Says Subaru engineering refused to authorize any internal mirror adjustment by dealer service department.
The camber on the right rear wheel is out of specification at -1.8 degrees. This causes the vehicle to constantly dart and sway on the highway and worsens at higher speeds >40mph. This erratic motion makes driving unstable. It is worse on grooved pavement. The manufacturer has measured the camber and showed the result as being out of specification but no fix was provided. Further they are saying that this is "how the vehicle is suppose to operate" There are no warning lamps and the lane control software was disabled. The Service department confirmed the erratic behavior when doing a test drive.
While driving on a state highway in the Phoenix Arizona area the moonroof glass exploded and shattered. The time was approximately 9:45 PM, the outside temperature was approximately 95*F , interior AC was set to MAX/AC, speed was 75 MPH. There was no indication of an object hitting the glass and the glass appeared to be broken from the inside going out.
My issue is that my 2024 outback wilderness has a idling problem when starting cold or hot engine the RPM’s are at 1800 rpm for 1 to 5 minutes .. I feel this is a hazard to public safety in cold weather conditions because it stays at high idle and therefore stopping on slick roads is a problem.. I’ve had this at just one dealership a they said car is normal I do not feel it is safe .. I am a [XXX] male and have had many new automobiles and never had a real complaint this is a very serious complaint I hope someone inquires about it asap . Subaru corp has to technical issues reported but this is a very serious complaint INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
while backing into a parking spot between 2 cars in a parking lot the reverse auto braking engaged. when going into forward the car accelerated and crashed into cement wall about 10-15 feet ahead. Just occurred so no other info available.
In my first “road trip” with the vehicle I experienced a cracked windshield. Less than 2000 miles from new. I was told by dealer nothing can do and that’s why they stress “extended warranty packages”. Sold a >$1,000 package that replaced windshield and converter several more. It seems that this is a very common occurrence from reviewing online forums. It should not be the customers fault for normal driving and the windshield be so thin / incapable of normal rocks etc not causing damage.
The moon roof shattered. Have not even had the vehicle two days yet. It was fine yesterday (5/26/2023). Went out this afternoon (5/27/2023) and found the moon roof completely shattered and fractured. There is a hole near the rear center and fractures covering the entire moon roof window. We had not even operated the moon roof. This vehicle has less than 100 miles on it. Called the dealership and was told to call my insurance company because I could not prove it was caused by a defect.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026