Is the 2015 Subaru Outback a bad year?
510 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Outback years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2015 Subaru Outback are in line with other Outback years. Visibility and wipers and electrical system stand 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 2015 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 10,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 143 (28%) | 3k–35k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 127 (25%) | 7k–53k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 47 (9%) | 2k–70k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 37 (7%) | 5k–35k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 33 (6%) | 3k–51k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 28 (5%) | 9k–45k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 26 (5%) | 4k–35k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 18 (4%) | 5k–46k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 13 (3%) | 1k–27k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 14 (3%) | 19k–57k miles · ahead | — |
| Wheels | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 5 (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 10,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 510 complaints: 20 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 13 say the car was towed.
17 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Two issues; the similarly reported electrical stop. Started car on cold morning, drove short distance, dropped kids off at school.
Excessive oil consumption between oil change. When the vehicle reached to 45,000 miles, the low oil light is on less than 5,000 miles between oil change.
The muffler makes a rattling or growling noise when idling or coasting. The noise disappears when accelerating.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 10,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Subaru Outback: 5
The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels. The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke. If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function. If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs. The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break.
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: 282
Repair instructions Subaru sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 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 used when DTCs P2096 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1) and P2097…
Diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines
Diagnostic procedures and availability of new Engine Control Module (ECM) reprogramming files to address DTC P2404…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2014 Outback: 208 complaints, keep it · 2016 Outback: 643 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 2015 Subaru Outback a bad year?
510 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Outback years. At 10,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Outback?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (143), electrical system (127), engine (47), transmission and drivetrain (37), body structure (33).
How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Outback have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 16V-292), Stability control (NHTSA 16V-251), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 15V-502), Collision avoidance (NHTSA 15V-366) 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.