2008 Subaru Outback electrical system problems
Owners reported electrical system problems in 34 complaints for the 2008 Subaru Outback, 12% of the complaints on file. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 34 12% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 81,000 miles 28 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When electrical system problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 28 electrical system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 80,000 miles, and 32% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 1 fire.
What owners wrote
Unknown why car sparked & ignited. Car was driven to grocery store 5min away then sat for approx. 2hrs before catching fire.
Since the car was nearly new the airbag warning light comes on intermittently and now stays on continuously, rendering the airbag system inoperative. The vehicle was brought to the dealer the first time it happened but the dealer said no fault code was found. In december 2012 the warning light came on continuously. I brought it to the subaru dealer to diagnose and service the problem.