Complaints
94
Crashes
7
Fires
2
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Subaru Outback Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#110 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Avg mileage:106,606 mi
#26 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:79,830 mi
#36 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
Avg mileage:122,203 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Subaru Outback.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 | — | — | 106,606 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 6 | — | — | 79,830 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 6 | — | — | 122,203 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly:Hanger,Bracket | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Tailgate:Latch | 1 | — | — | — |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,606
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,830
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
122,203
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly:Hanger,Bracket
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Tailgate:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Subaru Outback. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Subaru Outback Years
1997 Subaru Outback — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Subaru Outback reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1997 Subaru Outback has 94 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine with 10 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Subaru Outback?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (10 complaints, avg 106,606 mi); Engine & Cooling (6 complaints, avg 79,830 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System (6 complaints, avg 122,203 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Subaru Outback?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 103,557 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Subaru Outback include 7 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Subaru Outback as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Subaru Outback?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Subaru Outback reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Subaru Outback
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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