← All Subaru models · All makes
The 2015 Subaru Outback is a small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicle covered by 2 EPA fuel-economy configurations. In NHTSA's records it has accumulated 509 owner complaints and 5 recall campaign(s). Of those complaints, 19 report a crash and 5 report a fire; 12 complaints report injuries totalling 16 injured people, and 0 deaths are recorded across all complaints for this model-year. The single most-reported component is Visibility/wiper, named in 130 complaints (25.5% of the total). The sections below reproduce the underlying records in full: crash-test ratings, every recall campaign with its NHTSA campaign number, complaint counts by component, and EPA fuel-economy figures for each configuration.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
NHTSA tested the 2015 Subaru Outback SUV AWD under its 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars; "Not rated" means NHTSA did not publish a score for that test for this variant.
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side pole crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover resistance | ★★★★☆ |
Electronic stability control was fitted as standard equipment on the tested variant, and NHTSA records no safety recall investigation rating adjustments for it.
Recall Campaigns (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) that include the 2015 Subaru Outback. Each campaign below shows the official NHTSA campaign number, the affected component, and the manufacturer's own summary, consequence and remedy statements as published by NHTSA. To check whether a specific vehicle is covered, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
Campaign 16V251000 — Electronic Stability Control (esc) 27/04/2016
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTC-64.
Campaign 14V577000 — Trailer Hitches 19/09/2014
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Outback vehicles manufactured January 22, 2014, to August 18, 2014, and equipped with a Subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs.
Consequence: The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break. If this were to happen while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not be able to operate the vehicle as desired or the trailer may detach from the vehicle. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2014. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQN-50.
Campaign 15V502000 — Power Train:driveline:driveshaft 10/08/2015
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Consequence: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.
Campaign 16V292000 — Steering:column 11/05/2016
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. 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.
Consequence: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Campaign 15V366000 — Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking 12/06/2015
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
Owner Complaints (509)
Owners have filed 509 complaints about the 2015 Subaru Outback with NHTSA. Complaint counts are not sales-adjusted — higher-selling vehicles naturally attract more complaints — but the breakdown by component shows where owners report problems most often.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 130 | 25.5% |
| Electrical System | 127 | 25.0% |
| Unknown Or Other | 108 | 21.2% |
| Engine | 47 | 9.2% |
| Power Train | 37 | 7.3% |
| Structure | 33 | 6.5% |
| Service Brakes | 28 | 5.5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 26 | 5.1% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 18 | 3.5% |
| Air Bags | 14 | 2.8% |
| Visibility | 14 | 2.8% |
| Steering | 13 | 2.6% |
Complaints by Component — Visual
Bar length is proportional to the most-reported component for this model-year (Visibility/wiper, 130 complaints).
By filing year, complaints peaked in 2015 with 135 filings. Owners filed 509 complaints in total across 13 calendar years in the database extract. Complaints involving a crash number 19 and those involving a fire number 5; 12 complaints report at least one injury.
EPA Fuel Economy
The EPA classifies the 2015 Subaru Outback as a small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicle and published ratings for 2 configurations (engine, transmission, drive and fuel combinations). Combined fuel economy spans 22–28 MPG; the median configuration returns 22.5 city / 29.5 highway / 25 combined MPG. Fuel types covered: Regular Gasoline.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 28 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 |
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and safety ratings databases and EPA FuelEconomy.gov dataset, accessed October 2026. See our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2015 Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA's complaints database held 509 complaints for the 2015 Subaru Outback when accessed in October 2026. The most-reported component was Visibility/wiper with 130 complaints.
How many recalls affect the 2015 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) covering the 2015 Subaru Outback in the data accessed in October 2026, including campaign 16V251000 for Electronic Stability Control (esc).
What is the 2015 Subaru Outback's safety rating?
NHTSA gave the tested 2015 Subaru Outback SUV AWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 5 stars for frontal crash, 5 for side crash and 4 for rollover resistance.
What MPG does the 2015 Subaru Outback get?
The EPA rated 2 configurations of the 2015 Subaru Outback. Combined fuel economy ranges from 22 to 28 MPG, with a median of 25 MPG (median city 22.5, median highway 29.5).