YearToAvoid

2024 Subaru Outback Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#11 most-complained of 16 Outback years

The 2024 Subaru Outback has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 11th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Outback years. NHTSA lists 102 complaints, 0 recalls, 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 4 injuries.

Complaints
102
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
5 / 2
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 29 hwy

Top 2024 Subaru Outback problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other30 (29%)
  2. Visibility & Wipers22 (22%)
  3. Electrical System19 (19%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras19 (19%)
  5. Engine10 (10%)
  6. Airbags6 (6%)
  7. Lane Departure6 (6%)
  8. Structure & Body6 (6%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain6 (6%)
  10. Steering5 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the moonroof glass spontaneously shattering or exploding while driving or while parked, in one case with under 100 miles on the odometer.
  • Some describe sudden unintended acceleration from a stop or low speed that continued despite braking, leading to a collision.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in front and side-impact crashes, including a head-on collision and a deer strike followed by a rear impact.
  • Owners describe reverse automatic braking engaging then the vehicle unexpectedly accelerating forward into an obstacle.
  • Some report sudden loss of acceleration on the highway accompanied by dashboard warning lights and smoke from under the hood.
  • One owner describes the engine idling unusually high (around 1800 RPM) for several minutes after cold or hot starts.
2024 Subaru Outback complaints: complaints filed per month11May 2023Jan 2024Jun 2024Dec 2024May 2025Nov 2025May 2026
139 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2024 (11).

2024 Subaru Outback recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2024 Subaru Outback fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
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.

2024 compared with other Outback years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2022Caution73463426
2023Best089225
2024Good33102025
2025Good4081025

All Subaru Outback years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2024 Subaru Outback reliable based on NHTSA data?
NHTSA lists 102 complaints and 0 recalls for the 2024 Outback, giving it a complaint index of 33, which ranks 11th worst among 16 model years and earns a "Good" verdict relative to other Outback years.
What is the top problem area for the 2024 Subaru Outback?
Visibility & Wipers is the top problem area, accounting for 22 of 102 complaints (22%), largely tied to moonroof glass shattering incidents.
Are there any recalls on the 2024 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2024 Outback, including 0 do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2024 Outback compare to the worst Outback years?
The 2024 Outback's complaint index of 33 is well below the worst years, 2019 (100) and 2017 (87), both rated "Avoid."
What fuel economy does the 2024 Subaru Outback get?
The EPA rates the 2024 Outback at 25 mpg combined (22 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600.

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.