YearToAvoid

Subaru Best and Worst Years by Model

12 Subaru models, 21,258 NHTSA owner complaints and 268 recall campaigns for model years 2005–2025. Pick a model to see which years to avoid and which are the safest bets.

Subaru models ranked by owner complaints

Sorted by popularity. Years to avoid / best years come from each model’s own Complaint Index.

Verdicts are based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, compared within each model. This is not a reliability rating. How the Complaint Index works.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Subaru Outback2005–20258,662572016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022—Electrical System
Subaru Forester2005–20255,520372015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 20252024Visibility & Wipers
Subaru Crosstrek2012–20251,174132018, 2019, 2021, 20242013, 2014, 2015Visibility & Wipers
Subaru Impreza2005–20251,956452008, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 20192022, 2025Electrical System
Subaru Ascent2019–20251,030132019, 20202024, 2025Electrical System
Subaru Legacy2005–20251,842522010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 20202021, 2023, 2024, 2025Electrical System
Subaru WRX2005–2025445222008, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022—Transmission & Powertrain
Subaru BRZ2013–202410152013, 2017, 2022—Engine
Subaru XV CrossTrek2013–201726232013, 2014—Engine
Subaru Baja2005–20066110——Engine
Subaru Solterra2023–2025604——Electrical System
Subaru B9 Tribeca2006–201214572006, 2007—Structure & Body

Subaru model years with the most complaints

Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.

  1. 2019 Subaru Outback · 1,034 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  2. 2017 Subaru Outback · 917 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  3. 2020 Subaru Outback · 897 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  4. 2019 Subaru Forester · 833 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  5. 2018 Subaru Outback · 811 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  6. 2011 Subaru Outback · 651 complaints · 16 recalls Caution
  7. 2016 Subaru Outback · 643 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  8. 2015 Subaru Forester · 613 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  9. 2020 Subaru Forester · 601 complaints · 0 recalls Avoid
  10. 2017 Subaru Forester · 587 complaints · 1 recalls Avoid

How we rank Subaru years

For each model we compare its own model years using the Complaint Index: complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and “Do Not Drive” recalls reported to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. The top quarter of a model’s years is marked Avoid, the bottom quarter Best. Because NHTSA publishes no sales data, models are not ranked against each other. Full details in the methodology.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.