2008 Subaru Outback vs 2008 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2008 Subaru Outback | 2008 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 226 | 403 |
| Recall campaigns | 8 | 11 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 198 | 281 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 44 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 14 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–22 | 19–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,000 mi | 78,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Outback | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 104 | 57 |
| Service Brakes | 30 | 66 |
| Electrical System | 34 | 43 |
| Engine | 14 | 58 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 45 |
| Steering | 5 | 40 |
| Power Train | 12 | 18 |
| Tires | 2 | 25 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 50 | 22 |
| Rust / corrosion | 20 | 7 |
| Stalling | 11 | 24 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 7 |
| Brake problems | 8 | 11 |
| Electrical failures | 8 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 20 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 13 |
2008 Subaru Outback
2008 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Subaru Outback vs Toyota Highlander 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.