RecallMyCar

2011 Subaru Outback Recalls, Complaints & Specs

16 safety recalls list the 2011 Subaru Outback, and owners have filed 652 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

16
safety recalls
652
owner complaints to NHTSA
23 / 6
complaints citing a crash / fire

16 safety recalls for the 2011 Subaru Outback

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V001000 Reported 258,813 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    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…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners…

  2. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V002000 Reported 127,547 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    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,…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer…

  3. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V003000 Reported 111,562 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    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,…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer…

  4. Switch (electrical system)

    NHTSA 19V297000 Reported 511 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    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…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at…

  5. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 19V007000 Reported 43,394 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles 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…

    Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's…

  6. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 19V008000 Reported 330,120 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada,…

    Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's…

  7. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 19V009000 Reported 452,630 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North…

    Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's…

  8. Parking brake

    NHTSA 18V626000 Reported 27,175 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPB actuator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this…

  9. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 18V012000 Reported 64,179 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles 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…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's…

  10. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 17V014000 Reported 53,480 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number…

  11. Motor (visibility)

    NHTSA 16V694000 Reported 592,647 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If an…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.…

  12. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V358000 Reported 302,127 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer…

  13. Equipment and electrical system

    NHTSA 13V061000 Reported 47,419 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.

  14. Exterior lighting

    NHTSA 12V602000 Reported 633,842 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that,…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.

  15. Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)

    NHTSA 11V467000 Reported 69,590 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Subaru is recalling certain model year 2011 outback and legacy vehicles manufactured from august 3, 2010, through july 1, 2011. The moonroof glass may come loose or detach. The amount and position of the adhesive between the glass and retainer was inadequately applied.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass adhesion condition and either apply additional adhesive or replace the moonroof glass, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during october…

  16. Manual transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 10V326000 Reported 809 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 outback and legacy passenger vehicles manufactured from april 28 through june 23, 2010. Due to a programming error, a lubrication hole within the 6-speed manual transmission was omitted.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles by drilling an oil lubrication hole and, if necessary, replace the internal parts with new ones free of charge. The safety recall began on july 28, 2010.…

652 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2011 Subaru Outback have filed 652 complaints with NHTSA; 23 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 79,941 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 90 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“2010-2018 TR580 Outback Torque Converter Lock-up failure symptoms in TSB 16-90-13R fits my 2011 Subaru Outback. 2.5I Premium, (TSB) Originally issued on 1/6/2014 + later revised on 5/7/2014, Early yrs”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 25, 2026 · Unknown or other

“I have advised Autozone about premature failure of this part number ball joint. Originally the part number was FA267. Autozone changed the part number and color but did not address the quality and/or”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 3, 2026 · Suspension

Compare Subaru Outback model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Outback model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Subaru Outback12
1996 Subaru Outback246
1997 Subaru Outback479
1998 Subaru Outback2127
1999 Subaru Outback1111
2000 Subaru Outback1207
2001 Subaru Outback3171
2002 Subaru Outback4143
2003 Subaru Outback1493
2004 Subaru Outback1090
2005 Subaru Outback9273
2006 Subaru Outback7277
2007 Subaru Outback8129
2008 Subaru Outback8226
2009 Subaru Outback13106
2010 Subaru Outback18360
2011 Subaru Outback16652
2012 Subaru Outback16292
2013 Subaru Outback12297
2014 Subaru Outback10208
2015 Subaru Outback5510
2016 Subaru Outback4643
2017 Subaru Outback4917
2018 Subaru Outback3813
2019 Subaru Outback31,035
2020 Subaru Outback6899
2021 Subaru Outback4296
2022 Subaru Outback4465
2023 Subaru Outback289
2024 Subaru Outback0103
2025 Subaru Outback081
2026 Subaru Outback016

Checking a specific 2011 Subaru Outback

How do I know if my 2011 Subaru Outback has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 16 campaigns currently list the 2011 Subaru Outback; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 10V326000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.