2009 Subaru Outback Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Subaru Outback has 106 complaints and 13 recall campaigns, giving it a Complaint Index of 5 but a Caution verdict because of the recall count. Airbags are the top problem area at 28% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 72,751.5 miles.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 5/100
- #20 of 21 Outback years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 106
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 13
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2009 Subaru Outback problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags30 (28%)
- Electrical System26 (25%)
- Engine20 (19%)
- Brakes9 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers9 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (8%)
- Fuel System7 (7%)
- Other6 (6%)
- Structure & Body6 (6%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Passenger airbags can deploy improperly or fail, in one case reportedly causing sudden unintended forward and reverse movement before a crash.
- Dashboard warning lights illuminate erratically, sometimes during rain, followed by unusual noises and reports of fire under the hood.
- Engine loses power and fails to accelerate past a certain speed, with owners noticing heavy white smoke coming from the engine bay.
- Windshield wipers ice up and stop clearing the glass in cold weather, forcing drivers to pull over and clear ice manually.
- Steering shimmies at highway speeds between 70 and 75 mph, a problem some owners said was present from the time of delivery.
- Transmission jerks or stalls unexpectedly during turns or gear changes, sometimes with all warning lights coming on at once.
2009 Subaru Outback recalls
13 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.
2009 Subaru Outback fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 24 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.
2009 compared with other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Subaru Outback reliable?
- NHTSA lists 106 complaints for the 2009 Outback, giving it a Complaint Index of 5, one of the lower complaint counts among Outback model years. However, it carries a Caution verdict because of 13 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit.
- What problems does the 2009 Subaru Outback have?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 28% of complaints, followed by the electrical system at 25% and the engine at 19%. Owners also reported brake, wiper, suspension, transmission, and fuel system issues.
- Does the 2009 Subaru Outback have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag recall campaigns for the 2009 Outback, including 20V001000, 20V003000, 20V002000, 18V012000, 18V014000, 18V013000, and 17V026000, all involving front passenger air bag inflator replacement.
- How does the 2009 Outback compare to other years?
- The 2009 Outback ranks 20th worst out of 21 model years with data, with a Complaint Index of 5, better than most other years. Years like 2017, 2019, and 2020 have higher Complaint Index values of 90, 95, and 100 and carry Avoid verdicts.
- How many recalls does the 2009 Subaru Outback have?
- NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the 2009 Subaru Outback, mostly involving airbags and the electrical system, with none marked as do-not-drive.