2024 Subaru Outback Problems

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

This complaint is regarding a 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness with approximately 68,000 miles. The vehicle's low windshield-washer-fluid warning remains illuminated even when the washer-fluid reservoir is full. As a result, the warning system no longer provides reliable information regarding the actual washer-fluid level. Subaru has…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Primary Symptom: Spontaneous thermal stress fracture propagating across the front windshield. Origin Point: Extreme bottom-right outer edge, directly beneath the passenger-side windshield wiper blade. Inspection History: Initial warranty coverage denied by Sheehy Subaru. A second opinion at Farrish Subaru on August 14, 2026, also…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (9), Warnings (7), Adaptive cruise control (6).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

I own a 2024 Subaru Outback Limited XT, VIN [XXX]. While traveling approximately 45, 50 mph on a four-lane road with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) engaged, my vehicle suddenly and rapidly decelerated and automatically applied the brakes as I approached a police vehicle traveling in the lane immediately to my right. There was NOTHING in…Owner complaint, filed 2026

On at approximately XXX 5:30am, while driving my 2024 Subaru Outback Premium Northbound on [XXX] right in front of the [XXX], the EyeSight Driver Assist / Pre-Collision Braking system engaged with hard/sudden braking despite no vehicle, pedestrian, or object present in or near the roadway. There was a vehicle following behind me, and the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

My battery prematurely drained and it caused my car to not start at all. It's a new car and was checked at the dealership and was confirmed to be in perfect working order when I bought it. Not even six months of owning it and then battery died, I had to pay out of pocket for a replacement battery. I can't imagine what could've happened…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Many controls are integrated within the main infotainment screen on the 2024 Outback. Every month or so, a SiriusXM advertisement will randomly pop-up on the screen, taking up the entire screen, rendering all screen controls/buttons useless. This is a safety concern, as not only screen controls are blocked when this ad appears, but air…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The auto start/stop function on my vehicle malfunctioned while I was in heavy traffic. The auto start/stop function shut off while stopped in beltway traffic but did not start again when it was time to begin moving again. The dashboard lights flashed and I attempted to turn the car off and restart it, but the vehicle would not start.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was revving, and the RPM became elevated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 7,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

On deceleration the cars CVT has an intermittent shudder. Sometimes minor sometime severe making it feel like the wheels will slow too quickly and lose contact with the road. The dealer verified the problem changed the transmission control module and re programmed it. That did not correct the problem. I can’t force it to recreate the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving and coming to a stop, the vehicle shuddered and jerked unexpectedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was test-driven, and the failure was duplicated. The dealer replaced the transmission control module and…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 1,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Accident! Deer walked out in front of car resulting in front end collision then semi truck smashed into rear of vehicle car then spun around resulting in side impact. No air bag deployed in the vehicle. Vehicle was considered a total loss! Both individuals in the vehicle were transported to hospital and subsequently released. Vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2026

This is a follow-up to NHTSA Complaint #11744977 regarding the Occupant Detection System on a 2024 Subaru Outback. The passenger airbag indicator showed "off" twice, on separate drives, with two different adult passengers seated normally during regular highway driving. Shifting the seat made the light come back on both times. Since…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the ABS, All-Wheel Drive, Auto Start/Stop, Auto Vehicle Hold, Brake System, Traction Control, Parking Brake, and CTA warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the steering wheel became firm, making it difficult to steer the vehicle. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 2,800 miles

String wheel locked and couldn't start engine. Called dealer, who said to jiggle the transmission while attempting to turn the steering wheel. After three or four tries, everything freed up and everything ran normally. The dealer rep in the service dept said that that had happened to her "a few times"and there wasn't any way to fix it.…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

Automatic braking applied without warning . It activated with no imminent threat and cause my car to stop on the road . It would not go forward pushing the gas pedal and I had to stop in the road completely and put it in park and then put it in drive before I could proceed down the road .Owner complaint, filed 2026

Continued issue with phantom reverse automatic emergency braking occurring while backing up from my driveway causing the car to fully brake without me touching the brake pedal at all once the vehicle is into the street. The only time it doesn’t occur is when continuous brake pressure is applied while backing out. This has caused the car…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for routine service. After retrieving the vehicle, approximately two days later, while driving 30 MPH on a windy day, the hood opened unexpectedly and crashed onto the front windshield. The driver was able to close the hood. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 32,000 miles

Windshield moulding disconnected from body. It is the same part and the same issue that you have flagged in this TSB [XXX] but for some reason this doesn't cover 2024 even though the 2024s are subject to the same issue. Dealer refuses to fix as this TSB does not include 2024. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that during an alignment, it was discovered that the rear suspension geometry caused an excessive negative camber, resulting in premature inner treadwear on the rear tires. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle could not be repaired without manufacturer approval.…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 26,966 miles

My vehicle currently has only 27,500 miles, yet it has been producing a loud and disturbing thud or clunk whenever the vehicle encounters bumps in the road. This problem began earlier this year and the ride quality has progressively deteriorated. I brought the vehicle to Subaru dealer for diagnosis and was informed that the rear…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 mph, the vehicle suddenly and unintendedly accelerated and continued to accelerate. There were no warning lights illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop, crashed into a building, and a brochure bracket…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 1,000 miles

I was driving down the street, stopped at an intersection, and made a U-turn. Immediately after I made the U-turn a message came up on the screen saying "Eye Sight Disabled." From that point on the cruise control stopped working, the lane deviation stopped working, the forward collision system stopped working, and several other things…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

I am filing this complaint regarding the premature wear and replacement of all 4 tires on my 2024 Subaru Outback at approximately 30,000 miles. I believe the tire wear was excessive for a new vehicle and raises concerns about tire durability and vehicle safety. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and review whether similar…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Severe tramilining effect from tires. Risk of personal injury Tramilining effect confirmed by Courtesy Subaru, Rapid City and Heuberger Subaru Colorado Springs, CO. Inspected prior to accident right rear camber out of specification. No warning lights or messages from vehicleOwner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The engine, running at idle in and out of gear, did not respond to input from the gas pedal. Pushing the gas pedal did not have any effect on the engine revs. This was dangerous because I was attempting to enter a busy roadway and suddenly was faced with zero throttle response although the engine was still running and was in gear. The…Owner complaint, filed 2024

On 1/12/24, I was backing up my vehicle in the driveway, the vehicle suddenly stopped, thinking I was going to backup into the gate. I was surprised because I didn't think I was that close. I slightly tapped the gas pedal to move slowly forward when the car suddenly accelerated and lunged forward. I couldn't stop the car, by braking, for…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Driver and passenger seat contour do not provide proper lumbar support. Also while anchoring the car seat on the rear seat with knoee down makes to hear cracking noise from the wooden base board.Owner complaint, filed 2025

There is a problem with the passenger airbag sensor on this model. I weigh under 100 pounds, and the sensor light does not turn on when I am seated in the passenger seat. My husband weighs 160 lbs, and the light goes on when he sits in the passenger seat. Subaru maintains that the sensor is working as designed, but this is clearly a…Owner complaint, filed 2024