Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
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Executive Vehicle Verdict
The 2015 Subaru Outback is associated with 509 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 5 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.
The most frequently reported component area is Visibility & Wipers, accounting for 112 reports (22% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 2 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.5l 4-cyl and 3.6l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 22 to 28 MPG combined.
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 509 consumer reports filed
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 5 official campaigns
- • Primary Defect Domain: Visibility & Wipers (112 / 22%)
- • Field Incident Signals: 19 crash / 5 fire / 12 injury reports
- • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
- • EPA Certified Range: 22–28 MPG across 2 powertrain trims
What is the fuel economy and range of the 2015 Subaru Outback?
Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outback AWD | 2.5L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 25 MPG | 32 MPG | 28 MPG | — | $2,200 / yr |
| Outback AWD | 3.6L 6-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 20 MPG | 27 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $2,800 / yr |
What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2015 Subaru Outback?
Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | 17.5% |
Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2015 Subaru Outback models.
What defect complaints are reported for the 2015 Subaru Outback?
Summary of 509 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2015 Subaru Outback problems & component breakdown (86 categories) →Are there open safety recalls on the 2015 Subaru Outback?
Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA
Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2015 Subaru Outback
Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2015 Subaru Outback
How many safety recalls does the 2015 Subaru Outback have?
The 2015 Subaru Outback is associated with 5 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.
If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2015 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA records list 509 consumer defect complaints for the 2015 Subaru Outback. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Visibility & Wipers, appearing in 112 filings (22% of submissions).
Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2015 Subaru Outback?
Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2015 Subaru Outback earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 1 tested configuration(s).
Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.
What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2015 Subaru Outback get?
Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2015 Subaru Outback range from 22 to 28 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.
Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.
The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
- NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
- U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.