2025 SUBARU Outback

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

Expert Verdict
Good Reliability

This 2025 model shows good reliability, primarily driven by a below-average recall rate for the SUBARU brand.

Key Factor:below-average recall rate

📋Why This Matters

A clean recall record is a positive signal for both safety and ownership costs. Vehicles with no known defects typically qualify for lower insurance premiums and face fewer unexpected repair expenses.

When negotiating insurance rates, a documented history of zero manufacturer recalls can support your case for preferred pricing.

Focus Area:clean safety record
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Expert Analysis

  • 📈
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • ⚠️
    Primary Risk Area:Warning
  • ⚖️
    Vs Brand: Better than avg (1.3)
    📝
    Summary:

Safety & Reliability Score

98/100

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-0
Complaint Impact-2
Investigation Impact-0

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2025 SUBARU Outback

Model Year2025
MakeSUBARU
ModelOutback
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Nov24
ISSUEFirst Report
Jan25
NEWProduction

Consumer Complaint Analysis

⚠️

Most Reported Issue

11 complaints (28% of total)
➡️

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 40 consumer complaints by severity level.

🟠High
3(8%)
🟡Medium
12(30%)
🟢Low
25(63%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

⚙️Engineering Insight

Based on consumer reports, issues for this vehicle tend to peak around the 0-20k mileage range. The average reported failure mileage is 6,988 miles.

📊 Mileage data extracted from 7 of 40 complaints (18% coverage)
0-20k
6 reports (86%)
20k-40k
1 reports (14%)
40k-60k
0 reports (0%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

🛠️ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

No Recalls Found

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Clean Safety Record Verified

2025 SUBARU Outback

Safety Milestone: The 2025 SUBARU Outback maintains a perfect record. As of January 2026, there are 0 official recalls.

Compared to other 2025 models which average multiple safety campaigns, this vehicle's clean sheet is a testament to its engineering integrity.

🛡️ Proactive Safety Maintenance Guide

Even with a perfect recall record, regular maintenance safeguards your vehicle's reliability. Our experts recommend monitoring these systems:

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Brake System HealthInspect pads and fluid levels every 12,000 miles to ensure stopping power.
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Electrical & BatteryTest battery load annually; modern electronics are sensitive to voltage drops.
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Visibility ComponentsReplace wiper blades every 6-12 months and polish clouded headlights.
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Tire & Wheel CheckRotate tires every 5,000 miles and check TPMS sensors for accuracy.

NHTSA Investigations

0 investigations

No active investigations for this vehicle.

Consumer Complaints

40 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2025 Outback.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Warning28%
Accident18%
Crash/Accident18%
Crack13%
Display10%
Noise5%
Acceleration Issues5%
Explode5%
Other🔵 Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The infotainment system, which includes control of driving features, displayed pop-up ads for SiriusXM satellite radio while in motion, obscuring other information How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Unwanted and distracting information obscured control of vehicle functions while in motion Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, dealers are widely aware this is happening Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No

Electrical🔵 Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I am submitting a safety complaint regarding my Subaru vehicle’s infotainment system. The system displays unsolicited, full-screen SiriusXM promotional pop-ups while the vehicle is in motion. These ads override the current display without warning. Most recently, a SiriusXM trial offer appeared and took over my entire screen while I was driving over 60 mph on the highway at night. The sudden change in brightness and the complete obstruction of the display were extremely distracting. It required my attention to dismiss, creating a dangerous situation at high speed. This is not a one-time occurrence. These ads have appeared multiple times, and I have no option to permanently disable them. I did not consent to advertising in my vehicle, much less advertising that interrupts the display while driving. A vehicle’s infotainment system should never display promotional content that interferes with safe operation, especially while in motion. This behavior poses a clear distraction risk and compromises driver safety. I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate this issue, as manufacturers should not be pushing advertisements that override critical vehicle interfaces during active driving. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Electrical🔵 Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

unprompted intermittently while operating the vehicle pop up advertisements will appear on the infotainment system advertising sirius xm radio. this is very distracting as it requires focus to be taken off of the road to bypass the ad to return to normal radio screen functions

Other🔵 Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While driving, the vehicle's infotainment system becomes unusable due to a pop-up ad for Sirius XM satellite radio. All vehicle settings, including safety settings, automatic braking, and other driving assistance settings, are all controlled by the vehicle's infotainment display. Additionally, the infotainment unit displays maps and navigation tools that assist the driver. I believe it is a safety defect to have these pop-up messages display while operating the vehicle because it prevents the driver from accessing the controls through the infotainment display without first interacting with the advertisement.

Other🔶 Medium
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I am writing to report a serious safety issue with the satellite radio service in my vehicle. Recently, advertisements have been automatically taking over my infotainment screen while I'm driving, overriding whatever I am doing and forcing me to interact with the system to dismiss the ad. This behavior is dangerous and distracting. Any unexpected visual takeover of the screen draws my attention away from the road, even if only for a moment. Having to locate and press a "close" or "cancel" button while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of an accident. An infotainment system should never interrupt normal driving functions or demand driver interaction for ads. I am requesting that this forced advertising behavior be disabled immediately, or that an option be provided to permanently opt out. Ads should never override or block vehicle controls, navigation, or audio functions while the car is in motion.

Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

See attached document for complaint.

Visibility🔵 Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER

Windshield made a very loud bang noise as if something hit it but nothing was observed to hit. After arriving home, I inspected the windshield and discovered a 4 inch straight hairline horizontal crack with no sign of debris impact (no chip, scratch, etc). Safelite inspected it and says it is a stress crack, not caused by debris impact. After doing some research, apparently Subaru has a long history (10+ years) of poor glass quality to include a settled class-action lawsuit, and has not fixed the glass-quality problem. This is a safety issue because sudden glass cracking while driving can be a huge distraction to the driver, reduces structural integrity of the windshield, can impair forward visibility, and in severe cases could lead to shattering with glass fragmenting into vehicle. Loss of vehicle control could result with this issue.

Electrical🔵 Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the low beam headlights failed to illuminate the road ahead while going uphill or downhill. The contact had to activate the high beam headlights. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71.

Engine/Powertrain⚠️ High
ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

CRITICAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE - HIGHWAY SAFETY HAZARD 10/23/2025: While driving 2025 Outback (11K miles) at highway speed on I-485 Charlotte, complete electrical system failure occurred without warning. ALL dashboard lights illuminated, COMPLETE LOSS of power steering (steering extremely heavy/difficult to control), all safety systems failed (ABS, brake sensors, traction control). SAFETY DANGER: Sudden power steering loss at 65mph made vehicle nearly uncontrollable. Required extreme force to steer to shoulder. Could have caused fatal crash during emergency maneuver or in traffic. IMPROPER WARRANTY DENIAL: Dealer claimed "cut wire" was "outside influence" but provided NO evidence how wire became accessible on properly designed vehicle. No photos, forensics, or proof. Vehicle never modified/damaged, only normal highway use. PATTERN DEFECT - SUBARU OUTBACK ELECTRICAL FAILURES: - 2020 Outback: 873 NHTSA complaints, electrical failures, battery drain, module failures - 2017 Outback: 893 complaints, "Do Not Drive" warning, steering control loss - NHTSA 23V-551: 35,357 Subarus recalled for wiring harness "insufficient clearance" causing wire damage, short circuits, power loss - 2019-22 Ascent: 271,694 recalled for electrical overheating from improper wiring COMMON DEFECT: Improper wire routing, inadequate protection, vulnerable placement - DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECTS not owner damage. CONCERN: If critical wire accessible to damage after only 11K miles normal driving, this is design deficiency. Properly engineered vehicles protect wiring from road debris, vibration, weather. REQUEST: Investigate 2025 Outback electrical/wiring design. Review for pattern failures. Determine if recall warranted. Complete power steering loss on highway is life-threatening defect. Vehicle: New 2025, maintained per schedule, no modifications/accidents. Subaru denying valid warranty claims by falsely claiming "outside influence" without proof.

Electrical🔵 Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The headlights ... and: and; yes it is available for inspection at any time, preferably at night!!! If you look at the photos attached you can see when headlights are on there is little or no visibility and what you see is what appears to be like a black line. We live in a very rural area and can not see at night with these headlights. So I would say we and the other vehicles on the road are at great risk. We did take vehicle right back to dealer the following day, they informed me that this has been a known problem on these cars and that I should just drive with my high beams. Not a solution!! I do not want to blind other cars coming at me. Not inspected by anyone except dealership. There were no warnings about this problem, and; I was very much shocked and disappointed that the dealership was aware of this issue. They appeared the first time I drove at night and needed head lights on!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any recalls for the 2025 SUBARU Outback?

No, the 2025 SUBARU Outback currently has no recorded recalls from NHTSA.

Is the 2025 SUBARU Outback safe to drive?

The 2025 SUBARU Outback has no active recalls, which is a positive safety indicator. Always maintain regular service intervals for optimal safety.

Where can I check if my 2025 SUBARU Outback has open recalls?

You can check for open recalls by visiting NHTSA.gov and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or by contacting your local SUBARU dealer.

📊Year-over-Year Context

➡️Stable Pattern

Compared to earlier years, the 2025 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.

🧭What This Means for You

Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

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If You Own This Vehicle

  • No active recalls are recorded, but maintain regular service intervals and report any unusual symptoms to NHTSA.
  • Consider setting up VIN-specific alerts to receive notification of future recalls.
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If You're Buying Used

  • Request the VIN before purchase and verify recall status at NHTSA.gov.
  • This model year shows favorable reliability metrics compared to alternatives.

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: January 10, 2026.