Is the 2008 Subaru Outback a bad year?
226 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Outback years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Subaru Outback are in line with other Outback years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 Outback owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 79,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 104 (46%) | 55k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 34 (15%) | 55k–104k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 19 (8%) | 67k–117k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (7%) | 51k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 12 (5%) | 25k–85k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Speed control | 6 (3%) | 20k–139k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 31 (14%) | 122k–170k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 12 (5%) | 26k–73k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 79,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 226 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 5 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jun 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2008 Subaru Outback: 8
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine. The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat. If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request. Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Subaru: 98
Repair instructions Subaru sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Subaru Outback. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles
Diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines
2.5 Liter N/A engine only
Design change to the oil pressure switch assembly
Neighbouring years
2007 Outback: 130 complaints, keep it · 2009 Outback: 106 complaints, keep it.
Every Subaru Outback year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Outback years side by side
Other Subaru models: Subaru Ascent · Subaru Crosstrek · Subaru Forester · Subaru Impreza · Subaru Legacy · Subaru WRX · Subaru XV Crosstrek. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2008 Subaru Outback a bad year?
226 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Outback years. At 79,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Subaru Outback?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (104), electrical system (34), engine (19), exterior lighting (15), suspension (12).
How many recalls does the 2008 Subaru Outback have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 20V-003), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-002), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-001), Electrical system (NHTSA 19V-297) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.