Is the 2011 Subaru Outback a bad year?
653 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 216, 18× a quiet Outback year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 94k–134k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 191 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 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 114,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 216 (33%) | 94k–134k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 76 (12%) | 47k–123k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 92 (14%) | 72k–130k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 117 (18%) | 28k–84k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 73 (11%) | 1k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 67 (10%) | 40k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 36 (6%) | 0k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 26 (4%) | 33k–94k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 23 (4%) | 24k–96k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 21 (3%) | 1k–50k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 16 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 9 (1%) | 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 114,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 653 complaints: 24 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
6 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Car abruptly shifts, loses power, and intermittently stalls in lower gears during operation. This may occur during braking, idling, or acceleration.
The vehicle begins moving from a stop on city streets and then it quickly hesitates one or more times before staying in gear.
Over the past year my mechanic has put in two new batteries in my car. My 2011 outback has a problem with starting, this was back when I had 80,000 miles on it.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 114,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Subaru Outback: 16
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.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked. A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If an obstruction, such as a buildup of snow or ice prevents the wiper arms from being able to stop in the parked position, the wiper motor may overheat and the bottom cover may melt. If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the wiper motor cover may melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button. The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel.
Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system. This may generate heat which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire.
The moonroof glass may come loose or detach. The amount and position of the adhesive between the glass and retainer was inadequately applied. The moonroof glass can loosen and detach from the vehicle during driving, resulting in a potential road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Due to a programming error, a lubrication hole within the 6-SPEED manual transmission was omitted. If the transmission gears are not properly lubricated, a groaning sound may begin to develop alerting the driver of a problem.
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: 178
Repair instructions Subaru sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 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
Diagnostic flow along with an IMPORTANT caution to follow for certain CVT solenoid related DTCs as listed
Only models with CVT Transmission
Neighbouring years
2010 Outback: 360 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2012 Outback: 295 complaints, consider selling.
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 2011 Subaru Outback a bad year?
653 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 216, 18× a quiet Outback year. At 114,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 94k–134k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 191 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Subaru Outback?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (216), brakes (76), engine (92), exterior lighting (117), air bags (73). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 94k–134k miles.
How many recalls does the 2011 Subaru Outback have?
16 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.