YearToAvoid

2009 Subaru Outback Electrical System Problems

NHTSA has 26 owner complaints about electrical problems in the 2009 Subaru Outback, 25% of all 106 complaints for this model year. That is #17 highest electrical complaint count among 21 Outback model years. These complaints report 1 fire. Median mileage at failure: 100,250 miles.

Electrical System complaints
26
25% of 106
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
100,250 mi
Related recalls
2

When 2009 Subaru Outback electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 20, 2011, latest Aug 17, 2026.

2009 Subaru Outback electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2011Apr 2014Jan 2015Oct 2015Dec 2016Dec 2018Apr 2021Mar 2024
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2011 to Aug 2026; peak Nov 2015 (3).

Electrical System recalls for the 2009 Subaru Outback

  1. NHTSA 19V297000Apr 11, 2019Electrical System511 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition:switch

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.

  2. NHTSA 16V738000Oct 13, 2016Electrical System100,127 vehicles

    Electrical system

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.

    Risk: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.

Electrical System complaints by Outback model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200550 (18%)
  2. 200645 (16%)
  3. 200723 (18%)
  4. 200844 (19%)
  5. 200926 (25%)
  6. 201062 (17%)
  7. 2011165 (25%)
  8. 201251 (17%)
  9. 201329 (10%)
  10. 201437 (18%)
  11. 2015130 (25%)
  12. 2016311 (48%)
  13. 2017396 (43%)
  14. 2018270 (33%)
  15. 2019367 (35%)
  16. 2020267 (30%)
  17. 202177 (26%)
  18. 202254 (12%)
  19. 202323 (26%)
  20. 202419 (19%)
  21. 202516 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Subaru Outback have electrical problems?
NHTSA has 26 owner complaints about the electrical in the 2009 Subaru Outback, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 100,250 miles.
Which Subaru Outback year has the most electrical complaints?
The 2017 Subaru Outback has the most electrical complaints (396), compared with 26 for the 2009.
Is there a electrical recall for the 2009 Subaru Outback?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2009 Subaru Outback concern the electrical: 19V297000 and 16V738000.

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.