2012 Subaru Outback vs 2013 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Subaru Outback | 2013 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 292 | 296 |
| Recall campaigns | 16 | 12 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 320 | 514 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 18 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–24 | 20–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 90,991 mi | 54,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Outback | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 107 | 59 |
| Engine | 50 | 67 |
| Air Bags | 39 | 42 |
| Electrical System | 37 | 23 |
| Service Brakes | 35 | 23 |
| Steering | 9 | 34 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 26 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 83 | 31 |
| Vibration / shaking | 32 | 12 |
| Check engine light | 21 | 11 |
| Rust / corrosion | 13 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 9 |
| Brake problems | 7 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 7 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
2012 Subaru Outback
2013 Subaru Outback
Compare all Subaru Outback 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.