crashtest

2024 / Subaru

2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness

Safety ratings

2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness SW AWD

Not ratedOverall
5/5Frontal crash
5/5Side crash
5/5Side pole
Not ratedRollover
Frontal, driver: 5★Frontal, passenger: 4★Side, driver: 5★Side, rear passenger: 5★Rollover risk: 0.0%
  • Lane departure warningStandard
  • Forward collision warningStandard
  • Electronic stability controlStandard

Crash test videos & photos

No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.

Recalls

No recalls on record for this vehicle.

Owner complaints

90
Complaints
5
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Most-reported areas

  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER27
  • VISIBILITY/WIPER18
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15
  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE13
  • AIR BAGS6
  • LANE DEPARTURE6
  • ENGINE6
  • POWER TRAIN6
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

  • 12/11/2024· AIR BAGS,SEATS

    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.

  • 12/07/2024· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

    I was driving down the street, stopped at an intersection, and made a U-turn. Immediately after I made the U-turn a message came up on the screen saying "Eye Sight Disabled." From that point on the cruise control stopped working, the lane deviation stopped working, the forward collision system stopped working, and several other things malfunctioned (I can't seem to connect to the bluetooth system with my cell phone). The local Subaru dealer told me they are aware of the problem, but, have not notified anyone, they told me that I needed to make an appointment to get the problem fixed and it would take four to five hours.

  • 12/04/2025· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    Sirus XM advertisements, whilst driving, taking over display, despite opting out of all possible options, disablement and NEVER purchasing the satellite radio service or wanting it in vehicle. I paid for the car, now I have to be subject to distracting advertising that requires user input even though I already have carplay open with driving directions. Advertising should be optional and there MUST be a way to opt out and it should not be forced or require interaction while car is operational (assuming it is opt in, which it most certainly was not in my case). Everywhere else in the world you can buy a car free of in-vehicle advertising, without being pushed to get satellite radio from a monopoly.. why is USA different?

  • 12/04/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    12/4/2025 Over the past two weeks, two uncommanded pop-up ads from SiriusXM have appeared in the middle of my infotainment screen. The ads pop up in front of anything else that might be on the screen. The ad blocks are bright white and eye-catching (distracting), particularly at night. SiriusXM has never been active in this car, nor do I even have a SiriusXM account.

  • 12/03/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    The infotainment screen pushes ads for Sirius XM even while the car is in motion. This is where the GPS is located and it gets blocked from the ads. It causes me to drive distracted in order to clear away the ad to allow the GPS to work again making me more likely to get into an accident. There is no way to disable the ad feature either.

  • 12/03/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Sirius XM Ad popping up on my Infotainment Screen while vehicle is in motion causing a distraction.

  • 12/02/2024· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    Headlights appear to be adjusted too high from the factory, causing considerable distress to other drivers who are blinded by my bright LED headlights shining directly into their cabin. At night, oncoming drivers are flashing their lights at me constantly, thinking my brights are on. In fact, it's difficult to tell when my brights are on because the headlights are aimed so high that the brights make little difference in terms of sight distance. I asked the dealership to check the lights and all they were able to tell me is that "it's a common complaint." Numerous online forums provide instructions for adjusting the headlight angle downward.

  • 11/24/2025· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    Sirius XM Ads are popping up on infotainment screen caused me to become distracted while operating my vehicle. I had to remove my eyes from the road to find the button to close the ad, then click on the ad to remove it from my screen. It has popped up twice in the last two weeks.

  • 11/24/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    While driving, a pop-up advertisement for SiriusXM appeared on my vehicle’s head-unit screen. The ad covered important display areas and required visual attention to dismiss, creating an unnecessary distraction. This unexpected interruption diverted my focus from the road and posed a potential safety hazard by encouraging interaction with the screen while the vehicle was in motion.

  • 11/15/2023· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    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.

  • 11/11/2024· FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,BACK OVER PREVENTION

    The car Will stop going backwards down a steep driveway thinking that the road is something that I’m going to hit. It will break going forward, including on the highway when there’s nothing in front of it it will break in the fog if the fog is heavy enough. In construction zones, it thinks every cone is a moving car and stops often. I contacted Subaru and they have not addressed my concerns.

  • 11/07/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE

    Continued issue with phantom reverse automatic emergency braking occurring while backing up from my driveway causing the car to fully brake without me touching the brake pedal at all once the vehicle is into the street. The only time it doesn’t occur is when continuous brake pressure is applied while backing out. This has caused the car to come to complete harsh jerking stop, whipping my head and neck forward and back several times. Each time, there are NO people, cars, or anything around that could be seen as a potential hazard.

  • 10/21/2024· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    While driving normally on the highway, the sunroof glass exploded with no warning or previous signs of wear. After reviewing dash cam footage, determined that it was not caused by foreign object.

  • 10/15/2025· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    In November 2024, our 2024 Subaru Outback began leaking a gooey substance from the upper portion of the windshield down the interior windshield. We would wipe it off and it would eventually come back. In September 2025, this gooey substance began leaking in additional spots down the interior windshield. It began to impair driving visibility as it ran further down the windshield. We brought the car in for inspection at our Subaru service center, and they acknowledged that this has been an issue with 2024 Subaru models. They said it is an improper windshield seal that occurred during manufacturing, and they will be replacing the windshield.

  • 10/12/2024· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Windshield cracks spontaneously

  • 10/11/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    MagSafe charger cause my iPhone to overheat every time I try to use it. My iPhone typically shuts down. This seems to be a disaster waiting to happen.

  • 10/02/2024· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the ABS, All-Wheel Drive, Auto Start/Stop, Auto Vehicle Hold, Brake System, Traction Control, Parking Brake, and CTA warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the steering wheel became firm, making it difficult to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 2,800.

  • 09/25/2025· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    I own a 2024 Subaru Outback Wildnerness with approximately 3,000 miles. After about four months of ownership, the windshield suddenly developed a long crack starting from the edge on the passenger side. There was no major rock strike or outside impact - the crack appeared while the vehicle was parked and quickly spread across the glass. This is a major safety concern because the crack extends into the drivers field of vision, reducing visibility. It may also compromise the structural integrity of the windshield in the event of a collision and interfere with the proper function of the Subaru EyeSight safety system, which relies on the windshield mounted cameras. I contacted the dealership, but they claimed the issue was not covered under warranty. After researching, I found that many other Subaru owners have reported similar windshield failures. This appears to be a recurring defect that could pose a significant safety risk.

  • 09/07/2026· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    On our long driveway, the car strongly accelerated with no gas pressure. I firmly pushed the brake and brought it to a stop. Upon lifting the brake again, it immediately accelerated entirely on its own with no use of the gas pedal. Heavy braking stopped it again. The same exact thing happened a few more times, the only way to prevent runaway acceleration was to forcefully apply the brakes. We safely parked the car. This experience was extremely alarming. Had we not been in our driveway and on the street, we could have been in a serious accident. The SUV was totally out of our control.

  • 09/05/2024· FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    Driving on a slightly curving road next to a lake a car started to pull from the left of the road so he could see. This was slow And I started to brake and then to continue when he stopped. He did not enter past the double yellow. Yes he was facing the wrong way. The car locked its breaks and I was shocked but the other driver was waiting still. I could not move!! It did release finally and I continued. Not able to move was terrifying that I was going to be rear ended.. But on Labor Day 3024 9/01/2025 , I went through a construction area and it locked up at a stop sign. I had floor the car to move. Pulled over and tried to fathom why the car was saying the brakes were on. The engine light on. The eye sight light on.... basically everything. . These brakes should not remain locked and I find the idea of locking brakes is not healthy. This can not be logical. Other problems of stupid risks. 1. The turn signal continues on after turns on less they are sharp? If a wheel is turned and straightens out the light should go off. Automatically. 2. The cruise control takes a 3 second wait for a response. Then it will decide to go not to 70 bit right up and past 80. It it not an easy set. Poor and distracts even trying to get it set. Maybe get used to slow. 3. The dynamic steering is a problem in that it is not adjustable. It drives what it considers the middle of the road. Trucks are in the right lanes and trying not to be so close I fight the controls and have a a sore steering arm muscles. Get used to being in the hands of truckers is not my thing. The idea they cann't adjust it is bizarre and illogical. I hate the pull to the right. Yeah. Don't use cruise and turn off the safety systems was the statements from Subaru. 4. The hatchback opens unexpectedly but not when you have hands full. Final: This car is too risky for me. I do not want to drive this machine ever again.

  • 09/01/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    The Map application in my car has very inaccurate speed limit information. In one case the Map App showed the speed limit to be 55 MPH for a residential street. That street is [XXX] . I have reported that and several others to TomTom. Since the App data is loaded not live nothing will change until the next update. This is definitely a Safety Hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

  • 08/14/2026· WHEELS

    I am filing this complaint regarding the premature wear and replacement of all 4 tires on my 2024 Subaru Outback at approximately 30,000 miles. I believe the tire wear was excessive for a new vehicle and raises concerns about tire durability and vehicle safety. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and review whether similar complaints have been reported. I have documentation service records and associated costs and can provide additional information. I also requested reimbursement from Subaru America (case #260709-1500515) which was denied. Subaru's response was to file a complaint with the tire manufacturer - Yokohama.

  • 08/14/2026· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Primary Symptom: Spontaneous thermal stress fracture propagating across the front windshield. Origin Point: Extreme bottom-right outer edge, directly beneath the passenger-side windshield wiper blade. Inspection History: Initial warranty coverage denied by Sheehy Subaru. A second opinion at Farrish Subaru on August 14, 2026, also resulted in a denial, with the service advisor claiming a chip was found under the wiper blade. Safety Hazard: The crack continues to expand rapidly during normal driving conditions, directly impacting visibility and creating an ongoing structural safety I am filing a safety complaint regarding a spontaneous windshield failure on my 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness. While parked overnight, a clean, continuous crack developed starting at the extreme bottom edge of the glass on the passenger side, directly underneath the windshield wiper blade. The crack exhibits no radiating starburst or spiderweb patterns typical of a high-velocity stone or road debris impact. Two authorized Subaru retailers (Sheehy Subaru and Farrish Subaru) have denied warranty coverage under the 3-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The dealerships claim an almost microscopic chip point of impact exists under the wiper blade. However, this point sits completely shielded behind the mechanical arm of the wiper blade where external road impact is physically impossible. The superficial pit is a structural stress fracture point caused by excessive residual tension in the acoustic glass, a well-documented manufacturing defect in recent Subaru model years. This constitutes a critical safety hazard as the structural integrity of the acoustic windshield is compromised, and the crack continues to expand rapidly across the field of vision while driving. Subaru of America refuses to acknowledge this systemic glass fragility defect. I request that NHTSA investigate continuing acoustic glass tension failures in 2024 models to force a safety recall.

  • 08/12/2026· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Large crack spontaneously formed in window whiled parked overnight. No visible indications of impact. Suspect related to it being very hot out.

  • 08/12/2025· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    The malfunction I am concerned with is the battery and the battery charging system (alternator, engine control module). I purchased this car new in July of 2024. However, last month the battery drained to a point where I had to jump it to start it. I drove with the hope that the alternator would charge the battery. Yet, it did not. Within the last four weeks, I proceeded to have to jump the car almost every time I started the car, including every stop when running errands around town. This is a safety concern for me because if I didn't have a jump box for the car I would have been stuck or stranded. This could have been in 110 degree weather with my niece in the back seat. Or if the auto start/stop system was engaged, I could have been stuck with a dead car on the freeway in stop/start traffic in Los Angeles. I have seen multiple Outbacks on the freeway with dead batteries. When I took it to the dealer last week they confirmed the battery had gone bad, but were unable to find a parasitic drain or another reason why a year old battery would go bad. They acknowledged that older model Outbacks have the same battery drain issue and there is a current class action lawsuit for older model Outbacks (2015-2020) with this issue. They did not acknowledge that newer Outbacks had the same issue. No warnings appeared before this issue. There has been electronic issues with the vehicle since I took possession of it last year. After the battery issue presented itself, I did receive warning through my car there were issues with the backup breaking system and the collision control system. The dealer found an update for the Media Center, which they say may have been the cause of the battery drain. The two notifications have been cleared after the update. A simple search online revealed hundreds of complaints about the battery on the Outback, including people stating the manufacturer set the alternator to not charge the battery so they could market better gas mileage for the vehicle.

  • 08/02/2026· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    My battery prematurely drained and it caused my car to not start at all. It's a new car and was checked at the dealership and was confirmed to be in perfect working order when I bought it. Not even six months of owning it and then battery died, I had to pay out of pocket for a replacement battery. I can't imagine what could've happened, had I been actively driving it. It has not been taking to a dealership to officially confirm the issue but I've seen the recent lawsuits and know my vehicle falls within the affected vehicles. There was absolutely NO warnings. My car just would not turn on. All the dash lights would just quickly flash at me and then go dark, I'd get an "Ignition on" message but couldn't do anything at all. Car would even try turning on.

  • 08/02/2023· BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCECrash

    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.

  • 07/27/2026· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEFire

    Vehicle was not accelerating properly, so took to the dealership (Mike Shaw Subaru) to have work completed. Technicians indicated that the engine valves (shim valves) all had to be replaced and other work needed to be performed such as: Intake manifold, shim valves, gasket throt chamber. After dealership assured me that all work was performed and car was okay to take home, the next time it was driven it burst into flames. After filling the tank with gas the vehicle was at a red light. Once accelerator was pushed the vehicle engine burst into flames. Unsure if it is a faulty part or incompetent technician

  • 07/23/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    When Apple Carplay is utilized the operator's phone is muted all though they are unaware of this until notified whereas to correct the call must be disconnected then reconnected. This happens continuously and dealer denied any problem and blamed all kinds of other culprits. Upon contacting Apple then Subaru Corporation Headquarters we have discovered that this a problem for many of these models. Subaru said they are trying to resolve this issue yet no one is notifying car owners of this problem and worse denying it exists. This is a grave safety concern as when this happens it distracts the driver trying to correct and if in an emergency the receiver (911) of the call isn't being informed with vital information.

  • 07/22/2026· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

    The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for routine service. After retrieving the vehicle, approximately two days later, while driving 30 MPH on a windy day, the hood opened unexpectedly and crashed onto the front windshield. The driver was able to close the hood. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The dealer determined that the hood was bent. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer provided a loaner vehicle. The manufacturer declined liability for the damages. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

  • 07/17/2024· AIR BAGS

    This vehicle was purchased in April 2018. It was noticed that, when an adult passenger weighing between 100 and 105 lbs sits in the passenger seat, the occupant airbag system does not activate all the time. According to the manufacturer this is normal for the design of this protection system and this situation cannot be corrected.the problem has reoccurred several times.

  • 07/15/2025· VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

    On Sunday, July 13, 2025, I received a warning that my EyeSight was disabled in the middle of driving. This meant that I was unable to utilize cruise control or any driver assistance functions. The weather was clear, sunny, and there was nothing obstructing the EyeSight cameras, nor were there any cracks in the windshield. The following day, Monday, July 14, EyeSight worked normally in the morning, but was disabled in the afternoon. Again, the cameras were clear of any obstructions and no cracks were visible on the windshield. Cruise control and driver assistance features were unavailable. On the morning of Tuesday, July 15, I came out to a 7-8 inch crack in the windshield, on the passenger side. No impact had occurred to cause this crack and it was not present the previous days. EyeSight is still disabled due to this and the windshield needs a full replacement. All driver assistance/collision prevention features are not available until the windshield is replaced and a recalibration is completed. Advantage Auto Glass of Rockford, IL will be inspecting the glass and can make it available for NHTSA evaluation. However, given that I have owned two Subaru Outbacks now, windshield weakness has been an issue with this vehicle, especially in warmer weather.

  • 07/15/2024· STEERING,POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    String wheel locked and couldn't start engine. Called dealer, who said to jiggle the transmission while attempting to turn the steering wheel. After three or four tries, everything freed up and everything ran normally. The dealer rep in the service dept said that that had happened to her "a few times"and there wasn't any way to fix it. Dealer doesn't want to see or inspect, no warning lights or anything else associated with this failure. First happened on Friday 13 July 2024. Hasn't happened since. What would prevent the steering wheel from locking up while driving? The dealer service rep said if we couldn't fix it by jiggling things, we would have to have it towed in. This doesn't seem to agree with the prior statement that there wasn't any way to fix the problem.

  • 07/12/2024· BACK OVER PREVENTION

    Problem with phantom reverse automatic emergency braking. Backing up from my driveway causes uncommanded full braking once the vehicle is into the street, except when continuous brake pressure is applied while backing out. This has caused the vehicle to come to a full stop while blocking both lanes of traffic and caused an oncoming vehicle to have to also stop during the time it took the vehicle to be able to resume movement.

  • 07/11/2026· AIR BAGSCrash

    Accident! Deer walked out in front of car resulting in front end collision then semi truck smashed into rear of vehicle car then spun around resulting in side impact. No air bag deployed in the vehicle. Vehicle was considered a total loss! Both individuals in the vehicle were transported to hospital and subsequently released. Vehicle was inspected by insurance adjuster and the Ohio highway patrol.

  • 07/10/2024· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Windshield cracked unexpectedly

  • 07/08/2024· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    The engine, running at idle in and out of gear, did not respond to input from the gas pedal. Pushing the gas pedal did not have any effect on the engine revs. This was dangerous because I was attempting to enter a busy roadway and suddenly was faced with zero throttle response although the engine was still running and was in gear. The car has 5,300 miles. The transmission failed at 1,300 miles and was replaced by the dealer. The present incident began when, for unknown reasons, the car battery did not have enough power to start the car after being parked for 30 minutes. I got a jump start, and after letting car run for several minutes, attempted to leave the parking lot as described above. The car would move in forward and reverse at idle speed, but there was absolutely no response to gas pedal input. The car was towed to the dealer who will look into this.

  • 07/07/2024· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    In the 5 whole days of ownership, our windshield chipped pretty easily from a small rock kicked up by another vehicle on the freeway. I’ve had a number of rocks and other things hit the windshield of plenty other cars i’ve had or have driven and non of them have ever chipped or cracked. We barely heard a pop, but all of a sudden a crack appeared. This event happed going maybe 50 mph at the most and caused great alarm for my wife who was driving. We were worried she would lose control of the vehicle. The outside temperature was 114 degrees, maybe that had something to do with it. Either way, we’re worried the crack will quickly expand on our way home to the Bay Area from San Diego. My neighbor and friends hav the same vehicle and mentioned having to replace their windshields multiple times from cracks. They all mention they have models with EyeSight technology.

  • 06/28/2024· ENGINE

    The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was revving, and the RPM became elevated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.

  • 06/24/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    On Sunday [XXX] around 10:00 am I stopped to gas up my car while I was going to church with my [XXX] baby in a car seat in the backseat. I closed the car door leaving my car keys and cell phone in the center console and as I went behind the car to gas up it unexpectedly locked. I panicked and ran into the gas station and had them call 911 because I knew my daughter would die if I could not quickly get her out of the car. An off duty Lee County, Florida Deputy happened to be gasing his car and heard the commotion and attempted to assist with a hammer to break the drivers side window but that did not work. The gas station owner came rushing out with a glass breaking safety tool and Deputy Angell (Badge # 21-182) was able to break the window and I safely got my baby out of the car. I took my car to Subaru of Naples where I had purchased the car several months previously. The Service Manager, Victor Hyer and the Service Consultant, Larry Carsi were very helpful and had the window replaced at no cost to me. They researched the problem and told me that was how the car locking system was supposed to work. This does not make sense to me since if the Deputy had not been able to break the window my baby would have died! I'm hoping you can look into this further as I want to prevent this happening to some other mother, who could have a catastrophic outcome. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

  • 06/21/2026· AIR BAGS

    This is a follow-up to NHTSA Complaint #11744977 regarding the Occupant Detection System on a 2024 Subaru Outback. The passenger airbag indicator showed "off" twice, on separate drives, with two different adult passengers seated normally during regular highway driving. Shifting the seat made the light come back on both times. Since filing the original complaint, the dealer kept the vehicle for multiple weeks, opened a national technical case with Subaru, and performed a "zero-point calibration" of the ODS sensor. Subaru of America opened Case #260618-1500443. A Subaru of America specialist then told us a technician took one test drive, could not reproduce the issue, found no mechanical problem, and concluded the vehicle is "operating as designed." They suggested the original incidents may have been related to "passenger positioning," but did not identify or test any specific position. Subaru has closed the case on this basis. We do not believe a single test drive that failed to reproduce an intermittent fault proves there is no defect. The known failure mechanism in related Subaru ODS recalls — degraded sensor connections and moisture-related circuit damage — is intermittent by nature and would not reliably show up on demand. This vehicle has an unresolved passenger airbag issue that was recalibrated, not diagnosed. The case was closed without identifying a root cause. We are filing this update so the pattern is part of the record.

  • 06/18/2026· AIR BAGS

    Driver and adult passenger were traveling at highway speed on the NJ Turnpike. The passenger noticed that the airbag light on the display showed "Passenger Airbag OFF" We stopped at the next rest area and found guidance online that the Occupant Detection System sometimes doesn't properly register the weight in the seat so shifting the seat could turn the airbag back on. We did this and the light did come back on. We continued our trip. Shortly after the same issue occurred again. We shifted the seat again and the light came on again. We are not satisfied that the ODS is working properly and the risk is too great to have the burden of readjusting the seat to make a sensor work properly so that airbags, which are consequential safety features, will deploy in the event of a crash. Airbags must function to protect passengers and this is not functioning correctly. The dealer said there is nothing wrong, yet we are aware of an ODS recall for prior year Subaru Outbacks that were displaying similar issues. We want this fixed so we don't have to worry. It is not safe to be traveling in a car and to have to worry about whether your air bag is turned on or adjusting a seat to hope it turns back on.

  • 06/14/2024· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    I was traveling on highway 97 in Oregon and encountered a stretch of highway that had been recently graveled. I slowed down and was immediately passed by a long string of 18 wheeled trucks. By the time the string of trucks passed I had three separate chips in my windshield. The windshield should not break nearly so easy. The gravel used to resurface roads is very small and should never have caused that much damage. I believe the windshield in my Subaru Outback is far too flimsy and should be considered a material defect. They should be recalled and replaced with a more substantial windshield.

  • 06/03/2026· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    The entertainment system is dangerous and actively so. The system pushes pop up advertisements for sirius xm among other distracting features that require taking attention away from the roadway to dismiss

  • 06/03/2026· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    While driving, a SiriusXM advertisement popped up in the center infotainment screen that controls not only the radio, but several of the driver assistance and climate control features of the car. They created it in a way that makes calling the advertiser very easy, with a big centrally-located button, and clearing the advertisement out with a tiny x over by the passenger side of the screen. I had to pull over in order to safely regain control of the screen.

  • 06/03/2026· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Sirius XM ads keep popping up at random times removing the ability to use or see the media display unless you press the small X on the far side away from the driver. Usually happens when starting the car, sometimes happens when you are driving regardless of speed. Has happened multiple times and causes distraction and is more than potentially dangerous. Can not opt out of it on the car, have talked to Sirius on the phone and told them I do not want their service. They don't care.

  • 06/02/2026· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    Many controls are integrated within the main infotainment screen on the 2024 Outback. Every month or so, a SiriusXM advertisement will randomly pop-up on the screen, taking up the entire screen, rendering all screen controls/buttons useless. This is a safety concern, as not only screen controls are blocked when this ad appears, but air and comfort controls are blocked until the ad pop-up is closed.

  • 06/02/2026· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Before I begin my commute, I’m greeted by a persistent message within the center infotainment display from the satellite radio service provider SirusXM. The message will not go away until manually closed out, as the exit button is farther away from the drivers reach (more accessible from the passenger side). This can lead to distracted driving, especially if you’ve already expressed no interest in the service, prior to its other attempts. It also doesn’t help that the center console is frustratingly non responsive for the first few minutes during every vehicle startup. There’s also a number displayed on the screen to call SirusXM to opt out of the messages but the attempt is useless as they will corner you into purchasing subscription. I shouldn’t have to do this for a vehicle I own and the monopoly that service presents as the only satellite provider is anti competition.

  • 06/02/2026· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    More than 3 times, I have had a SiriusXM pop-up completely covering my Subaru Outback's headunit screen while I was actively driving. It completely disables all functions on the screen until you are able to click the small red X in the far right corner, away from the driver. Even though the message says you can call to opt out, if you call Sirius, they will tell you there is no way to opt out of the messages in the car. This is crazy unsafe, and Sirius needs to be forbidden from doing this and punished for its current actions.

  • 06/02/2026· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    On multiple occasions, the car's onboard, factory-installed user interface system (the computer screen that operates climate control, navigation, entertainment, etc.) has pushed pop-up ads for Sirius FM. These pop-ups persist and interfere with operating of the system. This presents a driving distraction and hazard due to (1) operator attention is drawn from the road, (2) normal function of the screen is not possible, and (3) the operator is required to interact with the screen to close the pop-up. Nor does the screen expire and simply go away - it persists until the operator takes action. The marketing cannot be turned off and there is no opt. Also, it is not limited to SiriusFM customers - I have never been a user or subscriber. Sirius FM stated that the pop-up marketing is built into the software the Subaru installed in the vehicle.