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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2023 Subaru Outback is associated with 88 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Visibility & Wipers, accounting for 15 reports (17% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 3 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.5l 4-cyl and 2.4l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 23 to 28 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 88 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Visibility & Wipers (15 / 17%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 8 crash / 1 fire / 2 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 23–28 MPG across 3 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2023 Subaru Outback?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Outback AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) 26 MPG 32 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Outback AWD 2.4L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) 22 MPG 29 MPG 25 MPG — $2,450 / yr
Outback Wilderness AWD 2.4L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) 21 MPG 26 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2023 Subaru Outback?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SW AWD 18.5%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard & Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2023 Subaru Outback models.
View complete 2023 Subaru Outback crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2023 Subaru Outback?

Summary of 88 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
88
Crash Reports
8
Fire Reports
1
Complaints w/ Injury
2
Total Injuries
3

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Visibility & Wipers 15 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance 11 complaints (1 crash)
Electrical System 9 complaints
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2023 Subaru Outback problems & component breakdown (31 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2023 Subaru Outback?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #23V755000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
NHTSA Campaign #23V647000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
View all 2023 Subaru Outback recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2023 Subaru Outback

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2023 Subaru Outback

How many safety recalls does the 2023 Subaru Outback have?

The 2023 Subaru Outback is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 2 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2023 Subaru Outback?

NHTSA records list 88 consumer defect complaints for the 2023 Subaru Outback. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Visibility & Wipers, appearing in 15 filings (17% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2023 Subaru Outback defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2023 Subaru Outback?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2023 Subaru Outback earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 1 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2023 Subaru Outback get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2023 Subaru Outback range from 23 to 28 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.