Vehicle Data Hub

2006 Subaru Outback cruise control problems

Owners reported cruise control problems in 99 complaints for the 2006 Subaru Outback, 24% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
99 24% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
96,000 miles 93 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When cruise control problems show up

Cruise control complaints by mileage, 2006 Subaru Outback Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 96,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 2 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 2 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 10 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 11 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 22 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 18 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 8 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 10 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 3 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 7 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 96,000 miles
Based on 93 complaints that include mileage. 15% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles2
20k to 40k miles2
40k to 60k miles10
60k to 80k miles11
80k to 100k miles22
100k to 120k miles18
120k to 140k miles8
140k to 160k miles10
160k to 180k miles3
180k to 200k miles7
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 93 cruise control complaints that report mileage, the median is about 96,000 miles, and 15% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes.

What owners wrote

2006 subaru outback. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle sudden acceleration. *smd the consumer stated on the morning of november 26, 2012, whole pulling out of a parking space in a public garage, the vehicle became uncontrollable and smashed into a concrete garage post and then the garage wall. There was significant damage to the car and to areas in the garage. The consumer stated as she started to leave the parking space, the vehicle accelerated backwards and hit a post.

Reported at 62,000 miles, November 2012 Crash

Throttle failure. While driving throttle completely fails. No acceleration, car will only move at automatic idle speed. Cruise control light flashes, check engine light on. Extremely dangerous -- very lucky it didn't happen in an intersection or while passing another car. Turns out to be common for this model -- and mine has only 93,000 miles. I am attaching a sample from an online complaint site. This requires a recall.

Reported at 93,000 miles, April 2016

Other problems reported for the 2006 Subaru Outback

Cruise control problems in other years

Cruise control problems across all Subaru models