2006 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

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

43Engine complaints

15.6%Of all 276 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 engine ranks on this vehicle

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL94 · 34.1%

ENGINE43 · 15.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM40 · 14.5%

AIR BAGS37 · 13.4%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM29 · 10.5%

Share of the 276 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2006 Subaru Outback overview page.

What owners report

“SUBARU HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS JUST ABOUT ALL SUBARU MODELS WITH 2.5 ENGINE. IF YOU CONTACT VARIOUS SUBARU OWNERS…”NHTSA complaint 10579707 — filed 04/14/2014

“BOTH HEAD GASKETS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 78,063 MILES.”NHTSA complaint 10559951 — filed 01/14/2014

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS…”NHTSA complaint 10552803 — filed 11/18/2013

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Subaru Outback have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2006 Subaru Outback: 43 of 276 complaints on file (15.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2006 Subaru Outback have in total?

276 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 7 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 3 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE 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.