2010 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

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

44Engine complaints

12.3%Of all 359 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

POWER TRAIN79 · 22%

ENGINE44 · 12.3%

STEERING41 · 11.4%

AIR BAGS37 · 10.3%

SERVICE BRAKES35 · 9.7%

Share of the 359 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2010 Subaru Outback overview page.

What owners report

“AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH A FOOT TO GO, GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE CAR SUDDENLY…”NHTSA complaint 10637349 — filed 09/18/2014

“AFTER DECELERATING TO APPROXIMATED 5-15 MPH AND THEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR THERE IS A 1-2 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. WHEN IT…”NHTSA complaint 10505368 — filed 04/02/2013

“CAR STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN STOPPING/STOPPED. RANDOM OCCURRENCES. GAS TANK CAN BE FULL OR LOW, DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER. IDLE MAY BE A BIT ROUGH…”NHTSA complaint 10475542 — filed 09/16/2012

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2010 Subaru Outback have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2010 Subaru Outback: 44 of 359 complaints on file (12.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2010 Subaru Outback have in total?

359 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 12 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 8 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.