2010 Subaru Outback Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2010 Subaru Outback has a Complaint Index of 55, ranking 10th worst out of 21 model years, and carries an overall Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain complaints lead at 26% of reports, with 18 recall campaigns filed against the model.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 55/100
- #10 of 21 Outback years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 360
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 18
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 12
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 27 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
Top 2010 Subaru Outback problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain94 (26%)
- Engine77 (21%)
- Electrical System62 (17%)
- Airbags44 (12%)
- Brakes41 (11%)
- Steering41 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires31 (9%)
- Other22 (6%)
- Structure & Body18 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers8 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the engine surging or lunging forward unexpectedly at low speeds while the foot was on the brake, sometimes hitting curbs or objects.
- Some describe sudden, unintended acceleration while backing up or parking, causing collisions.
- Owners report the vehicle failing to restart after being placed in park with the ignition off, requiring towing or repeated mechanic visits.
- Several report airbags failing to deploy during head-on or rollover crashes at highway or low speeds.
- One owner reported a windshield wiper motor catching fire after the headlights were turned on.
2010 Subaru Outback recalls
18 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.
2010 Subaru Outback fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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.
2010 compared with other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Subaru Outback reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2010 Outback a Complaint Index of 55 and a Caution verdict, ranking 10th worst among 21 model years of the Outback. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 26% of its complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Subaru Outback?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 94 reports (26%), followed by Engine issues at 77 reports (21%) and Electrical System issues at 62 reports (17%).
- Does the 2010 Subaru Outback have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the 2010 Outback, including several airbag inflator recalls and an ignition switch inspection recall, though none are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2010 Outback compare to other years?
- With a Complaint Index of 55, the 2010 Outback ranks worse than earlier years like 2006 (index 10, Good) but better than 2017, 2019, and 2020, which carry Avoid verdicts with indexes of 90, 95, and 100.