2006 Subaru Outback Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Subaru Outback. Part of Generation 3 — 2005–2009.

20052007
Complaints
404
Crashes
12
Fires
4
Injuries
4
Fatalities
Recalls
7

Worst 2006 Subaru Outback Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#194 complaints

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Avg mileage:124,044 mi
Crash-related:2
#243 complaints

ENGINE

Avg mileage:102,459 mi
Fires:1
#340 complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Avg mileage:102,251 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Subaru Outback.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL942124,044 mi
ENGINE431102,459 mi
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM401102,251 mi
AIR BAGS372107,782 mi
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM29115,321 mi
SUSPENSION211182,800 mi
SERVICE BRAKES16277,914 mi
POWER TRAIN131144,412 mi
SUSPENSION:REAR1348,345 mi
STEERING12185,917 mi
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE987,047 mi
UNKNOWN OR OTHER91117,286 mi
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)6176,414 mi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING693,199 mi
WHEELS6199,000 mi
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL5102,971 mi
TIRES425,000 mi
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM428,505 mi
VISIBILITY/WIPER4124,500 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING338,333 mi
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2118,000 mi
SEATS2137,500 mi
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2184,434 mi
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER217,002 mi
TIRES:TREAD/BELT285,500 mi
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY195,000 mi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER190,674 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:THROTTLEBODY/MANIFOLD1217,000 mi

Recalls for 2006 Subaru Outback

7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,666,189 vehicles.

20V001000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~258,813 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

20V003000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~111,562 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

20V002000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~127,547 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

19V297000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
~511 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

15V323000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~432,016 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

14V311000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
~461,338 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.

13V110000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
~274,402 affected

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.

Other Subaru Outback Years

Wider context: See the full Subaru Outback reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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