Subaru Outback vs Volvo XC40
Owner complaints, worst years and recall history side by side, from official NHTSA data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Subaru Outback
- Total complaints
- 9,724
- Avg per model year
- 314
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 68
- Most complained year
- 2019 (1,033)
Top problems: Electrical System, Visibility/wiper, Unknown / Other
Volvo XC40
- Total complaints
- 191
- Avg per model year
- 31
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 13
- Most complained year
- 2021 (52)
Top problems: Back Over Prevention, Electrical System, Unknown / Other
Complaints by model year
| Year | Subaru Outback | Volvo XC40 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 80 | 11 | ||
| 2024 | 102 | 28 | ||
| 2023 | 89 | 44 | ||
| 2022 | 463 | 37 | ||
| 2021 | 296 | 52 | ||
| 2020 | 896 | 12 | ||
| 2019 | 1,033 | 30 |
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports per model year. A model that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — compare the shape across years, not just the raw totals, and read the year pages for what actually fails.