Check a vehicle VIN check Latest recalls Latest complaints Common problems Rankings Compare vehicles Recall roundups All makes Guides Share your experience
Theme

Body, doors & structure

Subaru Outback Body problems by year

328 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Outback's body, doors & structure. Doors, hoods and latches, frame rust, sunroofs, leaks, trim and structural failures.

Body complaints by model year

YearBody complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20261010
20252000
20235020
20228010
20217000
202024010
201930141
201816000
201728100
201620210
201533100
201411410
201313220
20126210
201111000
201014240
20096000
20088100
20076220
20062000
20057110
20041000
20035000
200211100
200115100
200015000
19998130
19985010
19977010
19963220

Body recalls

Latest Outback body complaints

2012 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structure

The front sub-frame assembly has rusted through in several areas. This problem was discovered by the mechanic while preparing to make an unrelated repair. There were no indications of the problem until is was discovered by the mechanic.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11774292
2020 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structure

On 25 Oct 26 at 1030, the hood latch on my 2020 Subaru Outback failed while driving on I 75 at Exit 220, causing the hood to fly up and smash into the windshiled causing other damage to the car. There was no warning, the safety latch, did not function, the hood just flew up.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11773924
2017 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structure

The vehicle is 10 years old with 150,000 miles. The vehicle did not pass inspection, as the front end chassis/structural frame is completely rusted and corroded. The cost to replace this structure is $3,200. This seems unusual for a 10 year old car with no visible rust that is in very good condition. I read that the air conditioning condensate drips on the structure. This coupled with road salt in Rochester, NY, caused the unusual corrosion.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11773841
2018 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structure

I was driving on the highway going 70 MPH when the hood latch suddenly came unlatched. The hood flew up and smashed into the windshield, blocking my view. I was able to slow down and pull onto the shoulder, but there was damage to my hood, windshield, rear view mirror, body panels, sunroof, roof, and trim.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11763120
2010 Subaru OutbackElectrical systemBody, doors & structureSeats & seat beltsFire

I own a 2010 Subaru Outback. While parked at a college in Medford, Oregon, it suffered a spontaneous electrical fire that originated inside the driver's door. This is the exact failure described in Subaru Safety Recall Campaign WQE-41. The NHTSA website states the recall was completed on this VIN, meaning the recall repair itself has failed and caused a total loss of the vehicle at this time as we are unsure if it's fixable or even worth fixing. Fire dept did come out and confirm fire was out completely and instructed me not to drive car at all until it could get looked at.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Structure · SeatsNHTSA 11753313
2013 Subaru OutbackTransmission & drivetrainBody, doors & structure

Please contact Carvana and make them take that vehicle off the market. I purchased it and by chance found out that bottom parts like subframe and exhaust pipe were inadequately installed . The mechanic said eventually I was going to flip over myself on the highway in that car. He also stated that this repair cost would be around $8000 - more than half of this used car was offered for on Carvana. I returned the car. Half a month later is back on Carvana website for the same price. Please help! I have no alt motive but try and save someone's life.

Filed Incident Power train · StructureNHTSA 11750991
2026 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structureSeats & seat belts1 injury

I am reporting a severe saftey and crash-compatibility defect on the front passenger side of the 2026 Subaru Outback Premium trim. This vehicle is equipped with a fixed-height passenger seat that is positioned unsafely high relative to the headliner and sun visor assembly. Because the seat height cannot be lowered, an adult passenger of average height sits with their head in immediate proximity to the sun visor. Under standard deployment of the vehicle brakes, forward occupant kinematics cause the passenger's...

Read the full complaint

forehead to travel collide into the rigid, unyielding lower edge of the sun visor, which act as a hard/sharp parts cut the forehead and twisting the neck seriously. During a recent braking event, this lack of structural clearance caused a direct head-strike incident. The occupant's forehead collided with the sharp bottom edge of the visor, acting as a blunt knife edge that resulted in a laceration to the forehead and a hyper-extension strain injury to the neck. This is a critical design failure where occupant safety clearance envelope was poorly designed for this elevated fixed-seat configuration. In a high-speed collision, this layout poses an imminent risk of severe facial trauma, skull fractures, or catastrophic cervical spine injuries from the visor before the seatbelt pre-tensioner can fully lock. This requires immediate investigation and a mandatory safety recall to provide height-adjustable/lower seat frames to affected vehicles.

Filed Incident Structure · Seats · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11741702
2018 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structure

Our sunroof exploded and shattered. It could have caused a bad accident as the speed limit is 65-70 full of cars and trucks on i-95 north. There was no warning, just a large explosion and shattered glass. Luckily our sunshade was closed so the glass was contained. It was raining and about 50 degrees.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11727236
2018 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structure

Hood flew open at 70 mph on smooth highway. Visibility was restricted to narrow field below open hood and front windshield was cracked through force of impact of hood on front windshield.

Filed Incident Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 11723911
2022 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structure

Hood became unlatched while driving. Significant vehicle damage to hood, windshield and roof. No other vehicles involved or bodily injuries.

Filed Incident Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 11717934
2017 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structure

The contact's sister owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the hood unlatched, flew open, and struck the windshield, causing the windshield to shatter. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. It was unknown whether the driver was able to close the hood. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the driver was provided a loaner vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. It was unknown if the manufacturer was contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 11715835
2014 Subaru OutbackSuspensionBody, doors & structure

1. The under carriage has corroded creating a safety hazard. Senior dealer representative indicated verbally that 2010-2014 models years are the most prone. 2. If the under carriage fails the engine and transmission could fall out of the car potentially creating a serious issue. 3. The dealer brought the issue to my attention after performing an inspection of the car. 4. I was unaware of the issue until the dealer brought the issue to my attention. 2014 Subaru Outback. The car has been taken care of in a manner...

Read the full complaint

that exceeds the manual recommendations including always flushing the underside of the chassis during washes; especially the winter season. The car was taken to a dealer to have the intake manifold gasket looked at. The dealer took the opportunity to raise the car in the air, conduct an inspection and reported that the front carriage assembly is rusting away and considered dangerous. The Service Manager indicated that the model years 2010 to 2014 exhibit a high-degree of corrosion to the supportive member which holds the engine and transmission in place and if it fails could cause an extremely dangerous situation. What if any information has NHTSA compiled regarding these issues and Subaru's use of an under-designed, defectively manufactured part that could potentially cause a serious accident if the support structure collapsed? And if the NHTSA has conducted any research into this issue is there any option for a consumer to recoup or require Subaru to cover the cost of replacement which according to two Subaru Dealers is approximately $4,200. Below is a recap of the repair costs including parts and labor: CRADLE FRM CP OBK 2-3 Day QT 1 $842.66 20202AJ04B ARM ASSY F RH In Stock QT 1$173.41 901000346 BOLT FLG 14X128 In Stock QT 2 $8.18 / $16.36 20420XA000 LINK AY F STABILIZER In Stock QT 2 $72.85 / $145.70 20202AJ05B ARM ASSY F LH In Stock QT 1 $173.41 901000060 BOLT FLANGE In Stock QT 2 $2.88 / $5.76 The labor is calculated at 13.5 Hours @ $189.00

Filed Incident Suspension · Structure · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11711258
2019 Subaru OutbackBody, doors & structure

We were driving down an interstate highway going 70 mph on a foggy Christmas Eve 2025 approximately 7 a.m. No cars were close around us. We had been on the road for 30 minutes or so, and it was in the 50-60 degree temperature range. Suddenly we heard what sounded like a gunshot right above our heads. We opened the sunshade under the sunroof, and saw that our sunroof had exploded and left a hole. Before this, we heard nothing strike the sunroof or the car. It seemed like a spontaneous explosion. The explosion noise is recorded on our dash cam video. I was unable to upload the video because it must not be in the correct format.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11708662

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

Owners helping owners

Know before you drive.

Every experience you share - good or bad - shows on that vehicle's page and helps the next owner and buyer. Two minutes, anonymous.

Share your experience