2005 Subaru Outback Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2005 Subaru Outback has 273 NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls, earning a Caution verdict capped by those 9 recall campaigns despite a complaint index of 15. It ranks 18th worst among 21 model years, with suspension, engine, and electrical issues topping owner reports.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 15/100
- #18 of 21 Outback years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 273
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 13
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 11
- Top issue
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 0
Top 2005 Subaru Outback problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires68 (25%)
- Engine62 (23%)
- Electrical System50 (18%)
- Brakes42 (15%)
- Airbags38 (14%)
- Fuel System19 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain17 (6%)
- Steering13 (5%)
- Other11 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers8 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes and rollovers, including one crash with four injuries and a fire.
- Owners describe engine compartment fires occurring both while driving and after the vehicle was parked and shut off.
- Some drivers reported sudden unintended acceleration while underway, with the vehicle surging forward briefly before returning to normal.
- Owners describe brakes failing to engage or respond, leading to collisions with trees, curbs, or parked cars.
- Steering reportedly failed to correct vehicle direction on icy or snow-packed roads, resulting in loss of control and sliding off the road.
2005 Subaru Outback recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Airbags258,813 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- NHTSA 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Airbags111,562 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
- NHTSA 20V002000Jan 2, 2020Airbags127,547 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
2005 Subaru Outback fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Subaru Outback reliable?
- NHTSA lists 273 complaints and a complaint index of 15 for the 2005 Outback, ranking it 18th worst out of 21 model years. Its verdict is Caution, mainly because of 9 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit.
- What are the main problems with the 2005 Subaru Outback?
- Owners most often reported issues with suspension, wheels and tires (25% of complaints), followed by the engine (23%) and electrical system (18%). Suspension complaints had a median mileage at failure of 61,000.
- Does the 2005 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2005 Outback covering airbags, brakes, and the electrical system, including ignition switch and passenger air bag inflator issues.
- How does the 2005 Outback compare to other Outback years?
- The 2005 model has a complaint index of 15, better than years like 2017 (90) or 2019 (95) which carry Avoid verdicts, but its verdict is capped at Caution due to its 9 recalls.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Subaru Outback?
- EPA rates the 2005 Outback at 20 mpg combined (17 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,000.