2015 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

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

47Engine complaints

9.3%Of all 505 complaints

#4Most-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

VISIBILITY/WIPER130 · 25.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM119 · 23.6%

Unspecified / other106 · 21%

ENGINE47 · 9.3%

POWER TRAIN37 · 7.3%

Share of the 505 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2015 Subaru Outback overview page.

What owners report

“THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.6R ENGINE AND A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN DESCENDING A LONG HILL IN A FIXED GEAR RATIO (USUALLY 2ND…”NHTSA complaint 10732532 — filed 07/07/2015

“WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, THE IDLE SPEED IS 1600 RPM WHEN STARTED. WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IT REDUCES TO A NOMINAL 900-1000…”NHTSA complaint 10732527 — filed 07/07/2015

“UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS--WHAT WOULD TRADITIONALLY BE 1ST AND 2ND GEAR (THE CAR HAS A CONTINUALLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION)--AND WHILE KEEPING CONSTANT PRESSURE…”NHTSA complaint 10723607 — filed 06/05/2015

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Subaru Outback have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2015 Subaru Outback: 47 of 505 complaints on file (9.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2015 Subaru Outback have in total?

505 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 20 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 17 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.