2005 Acura MDX vs 2005 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 Acura MDX | 2005 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 180 | 273 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 98 | 244 |
| Investigations | 5 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 13 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 19–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 83,350 mi | 84,597 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura MDX | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 87 | 17 |
| Air Bags | 39 | 38 |
| Suspension | 2 | 56 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 40 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 28 |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 22 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 30 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 16 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 29 | 0 |
| Stalling | 11 | 8 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 5 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 27 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 17 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 7 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 5 |
2005 Acura MDX
2005 Subaru Outback
Compare all Acura MDX vs Subaru Outback years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.