YearToAvoid

2023 Subaru Outback Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 23 electrical system complaints for the 2023 Subaru Outback, 26% of its 89 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure is 4,100 miles. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Electrical System complaints
23
26% of 89
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
4,100 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Starlink and connected services (SOS alert, stolen vehicle recovery, roadside assistance, automatic collision alert) fail to activate from the time of purchase.
  • Adaptive and automatic high-beam headlights create shadow patterns or fail to dim properly, reducing visibility at night.
  • Batteries drain unexpectedly, sometimes traced to a radio drawing power, leaving the vehicle dead and requiring a tow.
  • The EyeSight driver-assist system disables itself intermittently, sometimes alongside infotainment or backup camera malfunctions.
  • Owners report the windshield display splitting into a dark upper half and clear lower half while driving at night.

When 2023 Subaru Outback electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 5, 2022, latest Jul 8, 2026.

2023 Subaru Outback electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2022Jan 2023Jul 2023Jan 2024Jul 2024Oct 2025
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2022 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2023 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2023 Subaru Outback

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Outback model year

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

  1. 201061 (17%)
  2. 2011165 (25%)
  3. 201251 (17%)
  4. 201329 (10%)
  5. 201437 (18%)
  6. 2015130 (25%)
  7. 2016311 (48%)
  8. 2017396 (43%)
  9. 2018270 (33%)
  10. 2019367 (35%)
  11. 2020267 (30%)
  12. 202177 (26%)
  13. 202254 (12%)
  14. 202323 (26%)
  15. 202419 (19%)
  16. 202516 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2023 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 23 electrical system complaints for the 2023 Outback, which is 26% of the 89 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2023 Subaru Outback electrical system?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this electrical system issue.
At what mileage do 2023 Outback electrical problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 4,100 miles.
Did the electrical issues cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data for this component shows 1 crash and 1 fire reported among the complaints, with 0 injuries.
What specific electrical problems do owners report on the 2023 Outback?
Owners describe inactive Starlink/connected services, headlight shadow issues, unexpected battery drain, and EyeSight system disabling itself.

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.