2011 Subaru Outback Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2011 Subaru Outback ranks 7th worst of 21 model years with a complaint index of 70 and a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain complaints lead at 33% of the 651 total, followed by Electrical System issues at 25%, alongside 16 recall campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 70/100
- #7 of 21 Outback years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 651
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 16
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 23
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2011 Subaru Outback problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain216 (33%)
- Electrical System165 (25%)
- Engine113 (17%)
- Brakes84 (13%)
- Airbags73 (11%)
- Other41 (6%)
- Steering36 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires36 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers23 (4%)
- Fuel System16 (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 describe unintended forward movement or acceleration at very low speeds in parking situations, sometimes ending in a crash into a fence or barrier.
- Several reports describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor or requiring excessive travel before the vehicle slows, reducing stopping power.
- Some owners with manual transmissions say the electronic parking brake failed to hold the car on an incline, letting it roll away unattended.
- A few complaints describe the vehicle rolling with the key out of the ignition and the gear shift found in drive rather than park.
- Isolated fire reports mention a wiper motor overheating under the hood and flames later found near where the car was parked.
- One owner reported the antilock brakes locking up abruptly during snowy conditions without airbag deployment in the resulting collision.
2011 Subaru Outback recalls
16 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.
2011 Subaru Outback fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 26 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.
2011 compared with other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Subaru Outback reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2011 Outback a Caution verdict, ranking 7th worst among 21 model years with a complaint index of 70. Transmission & Powertrain and Electrical System issues make up more than half of its 651 logged complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Subaru Outback?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 33% of reports, with a median failure mileage of 114,000. Electrical System problems follow at 25%, typically surfacing much earlier, around 54,175 miles.
- Does the 2011 Subaru Outback have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the 2011 Outback, most involving airbags, plus recalls covering the electronic parking brake and ignition switch. None are classified as do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2011 Outback compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 70, the 2011 model sits worse than most other Outback years but is not as poor as the 2016-2020 and 2022 models, which carry Avoid verdicts and higher complaint indexes.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Subaru Outback?
- The 2011 Outback is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined (19 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.