Subaru drivetrain & axles problems
Across all Subaru models in NHTSA's complaint database, 2,499 complaints involve drivetrain & axles. The Outback accounts for the largest share (34%). The single worst model year is the 2011 Outback with 209 drivetrain & axles complaints.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,499 about drivetrain & axles, all Subaru models
- Most affected
- Outback 34% of these complaints
- Typical mileage
- 65,000 miles 1,516 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 102 and 24
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Which Subaru models
| Model | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Outback | 859 | 34% |
| Forester | 488 | 20% |
| Impreza | 277 | 11% |
| Legacy | 259 | 10% |
| Ascent | 184 | 7% |
| WRX | 162 | 7% |
| Crosstrek | 111 | 4% |
| XV Crosstrek | 54 | 2% |
| SVX | 49 | 2% |
| Impreza STI | 11 | 0% |
Worst model years for drivetrain & axles
- 2011 Subaru Outback209 complaints
- 2012 Subaru Outback104 complaints
- 2015 Subaru Forester94 complaints
- 2019 Subaru Ascent88 complaints
- 2010 Subaru Outback80 complaints
Drivetrain & axles complaints by model year
View the numbers
| Model year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 8 |
| 1991 | 9 |
| 1992 | 40 |
| 1993 | 7 |
| 1994 | 7 |
| 1995 | 13 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 1997 | 14 |
| 1998 | 62 |
| 1999 | 49 |
| 2000 | 38 |
| 2001 | 31 |
| 2002 | 37 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 34 |
| 2006 | 38 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 137 |
| 2009 | 85 |
| 2010 | 134 |
| 2011 | 270 |
| 2012 | 169 |
| 2013 | 136 |
| 2014 | 102 |
| 2015 | 200 |
| 2016 | 140 |
| 2017 | 120 |
| 2018 | 61 |
| 2019 | 171 |
| 2020 | 155 |
| 2021 | 64 |
| 2022 | 45 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 18 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Among the 1,516 of these complaints that report mileage, the median is about 65,000 miles.
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many vehicles each brand sells, so large brands naturally have more complaints.