Which years should I avoid for the Subaru Outback?

NHTSA data flags 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022 as Avoid years for the Outback, with complaint indexes ranging from 75 to 100 out of 100 and top complaint areas in Electrical System and Visibility & Wipers.

Which years should I avoid for the Ford Explorer?

NHTSA data flags 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020 as Avoid years for the Explorer, with complaint indexes from 75 to 100 and top complaint areas in Steering, Structure & Body, and Transmission & Powertrain.

Which model has more complaints overall?

The Ford Explorer has 16,668 total complaints and 96 recall campaigns versus 8,662 complaints and 57 recalls for the Subaru Outback, but NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.

Does either model have a Good or Best year?

Neither the Outback nor the Explorer has a year rated Best. Some early and late years for each earn Good, but many others are capped to Caution due to recall campaigns even with lower complaint indexes.

Which is more fuel efficient?

The Subaru Outback averages 23.6 mpg combined across its lineup, while the Ford Explorer averages 19.1 mpg combined, per EPA data.

Subaru Outback vs Ford Explorer: Which Years to Avoid

Subaru Outback logs 8,662 complaints across 21 model years (412 per year, 57 recalls) with avoid years 2016-2020 and 2022. Ford Explorer logs 16,668 complaints (794 per year, 96 recalls) with avoid years 2013-2017 and 2020. Neither has a Best year; totals aren't sales-normalized, so raw counts don't equal risk rates.

Head to head

Subaru Outback

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 8,662
Per model year: 412
Recall campaigns: 57
Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
Best years: —
Top problem area: Electrical System
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 23.6
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.9 ★

Ford Explorer

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 16,668
Per model year: 794
Recall campaigns: 96
Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020
Best years: —
Top problem area: Structure & Body
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 19.1
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.9 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Outback				Explorer
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Caution	273	9	20	Good	497	0	15
2006	Good	277	7	20	Good	630	1	15
2007	Caution	129	8	21	Good	208	1	15.5
2008	Caution	226	8	20	Good	148	1	15.5
2009	Caution	106	13	20	Good	33	0	16
2010	Caution	360	18	22	Good	115	1	16
2011	Caution	651	16	22	Caution	1,197	6	19.5
2012	Caution	292	16	22	Caution	827	5	20
2013	Caution	297	12	24	Avoid	2,234	11	19.5
2014	Caution	208	10	24	Avoid	1,678	6	19.5
2015	Caution	510	5	25	Avoid	1,791	8	19.5
2016	Avoid	643	4	25	Avoid	2,451	14	20
2017	Avoid	917	4	25	Avoid	1,691	13	20
2018	Avoid	811	3	25	Caution	731	7	20
2019	Avoid	1,034	3	25	Good	296	6	20
2020	Avoid	897	6	27.5	Avoid	1,218	33	23.5
2021	Caution	296	4	27.5	Caution	426	26	23
2022	Avoid	463	4	26	Caution	267	24	22
2023	Good	89	2	25	Caution	109	15	21
2024	Good	102	0	25	Caution	21	10	20.5
2025	Caution	81	0	25	Caution	100	20	21

Complaint Index by year

Frequently asked questions

Which years should I avoid for the Subaru Outback?: NHTSA data flags 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022 as Avoid years for the Outback, with complaint indexes ranging from 75 to 100 out of 100 and top complaint areas in Electrical System and Visibility & Wipers.
Which years should I avoid for the Ford Explorer?: NHTSA data flags 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020 as Avoid years for the Explorer, with complaint indexes from 75 to 100 and top complaint areas in Steering, Structure & Body, and Transmission & Powertrain.
Which model has more complaints overall?: The Ford Explorer has 16,668 total complaints and 96 recall campaigns versus 8,662 complaints and 57 recalls for the Subaru Outback, but NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.
Does either model have a Good or Best year?: Neither the Outback nor the Explorer has a year rated Best. Some early and late years for each earn Good, but many others are capped to Caution due to recall campaigns even with lower complaint indexes.
Which is more fuel efficient?: The Subaru Outback averages 23.6 mpg combined across its lineup, while the Ford Explorer averages 19.1 mpg combined, per EPA data.