Subaru Outback Wilderness: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Subaru Outback Wilderness: 4 model years scored from 166 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns. Worst year 2025, best year 2024.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2024 (score 83). Worst: 2025 (score 70, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 70 | BUY | $4,605 | 75 | 0 |
| 2024 | 83 | BUY | $4,166 | 89 | 0 |
| 2023 | 93 | BUY | $3,472 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,500 | 0 | 0 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Outback Wilderness sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Subaru Outback Wilderness
Across every Outback Wilderness model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Unknown Or Other44 complaints across all Outback Wilderness years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Forward Collision Avoidance30 complaints across all Outback Wilderness years · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration$780–$2,160
- Electrical System26 complaints across all Outback Wilderness years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Visibility/Wiper18 complaints across all Outback Wilderness years · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement$490–$1,200
- Lane Departure13 complaints across all Outback Wilderness years · typical job: Camera module replacement and calibration$680–$1,700
- Engine11 complaints across all Outback Wilderness years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the best year for the Subaru Outback Wilderness?
On our data the 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness scores 83/100 — the highest of the 4 model years we hold, with 89 NHTSA complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record.
Which Subaru Outback Wilderness years should I avoid?
The 2025 is the weakest year we score, at 70/100 (BUY), on 75 complaints and 0 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Subaru Outback Wilderness problem?
44 of the complaints filed against the Outback Wilderness across all its model years sit in the Unknown Or Other group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04