2005 Subaru Outback Suspension Problems

NHTSA component category: SUSPENSION · data through 07/12/2026

36Suspension complaints

13.2%Of all 273 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How suspension ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS36 · 13.2%

SUSPENSION36 · 13.2%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL32 · 11.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM26 · 9.5%

SERVICE BRAKES22 · 8.1%

Share of the 273 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Subaru Outback overview page.

What owners report

“RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS SPLIT AND REPLACED ALONG WITH BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS.”NHTSA complaint 10482051 — filed 10/24/2012

“PURCHASED 2005 OUTBACK IN APRIL 2012 WITH APPROXIMATELY 190000 MILES. CAR FELT VERY UNSTABLE WHEN GOING OVER ANY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. REPLACED REAR STRUTS WITH…”NHTSA complaint 10475892 — filed 09/18/2012

“I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN THIS SUBARU SINCE JULY 06 AND HAVE DRIVEN IT THROUGH 5 NORTHERN ILLINOIS WINTERS. TODAY WAS OUR FIRST SNOWFALL THIS…”NHTSA complaint 10443601 — filed 01/12/2012

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Suspension complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Subaru Outback have suspension problems?

Suspension is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2005 Subaru Outback: 36 of 273 complaints on file (13.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2005 Subaru Outback have in total?

273 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 13 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 11 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's suspension category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the SUSPENSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.