Home · 2011 Subaru Outback Wilderness · Complaints

What 649 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Subaru Outback Wilderness

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (649)Crash / fire / injury (31)Transmission & drivetrain (216)Lights (117)Engine (85)Brakes (76)Airbags (73)Electrical system (66)Steering (36)Speed control (25)Visibility & wipers (23)Suspension (20)

73 of 649 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 1 of 3

Dec 30, 2024Airbags

The contact owned a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V001000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ODI 11633232

Sep 13, 2024Airbags

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger’s side seat near the hip area between the passenger and the door had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer confirmed that due to the mileage on the vehicle, the manufacturer was not obligated to assist with the repair. The failure mileage was 230,000.

NHTSA ODI 11614440

May 30, 2023SteeringAirbags

Loss of steering wheel electronic functions including paddle shifters radio volume and Airbag light illuminated. Looked up faults and found NHTSA campaign ID 10V283000 which describes cable damage from Subaru manufacturing. According to Subaru and NHTSA, our vehicle was manufactured 2 months after "Affected" vehicles. Subaru unwilling to work on problem as it is not listed in affect vehicles, yet clearly the problems found are exact match to campaign list. I will seek outside confirmation of failure and then request NHTSA to update the affect vehicles list so Subaru can fix a safety issue for all affected vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11524435

Jan 11, 2021Airbags

MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK IS PART OF THE AIRBAG RECALL. I HAVE PHONED SUBARU 6 TIMES AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX MY AIRBAGS. THE REASON IS THAT I LIVE ON A SMALL ISLAND IN HAWAII THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DEALERSHIP OR EVEN A CAR REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE MUST BE SHIPPED TO OAHU TO BE FIXED AND SUBARU REFUSES TO DO THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11387561

Aug 24, 2020Airbags

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SUBARU IN MISSOULA, MT IN OCTOBER OF 2019 TO FIX THE TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. IN JULY OF 2019 I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED THE NUMBER ON THE RECALL NOTICE 855-371-5406. I WAS INFORMED THAT SUBARU HAD PUT IN THE SAME NON-WORKING, UNSAFE PARTS THAT WERE IN THE AIRBAG PRIOR TO THE 2019 RECALL. SUBARU DID THIS TO BUY TIME TO GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM IN STOCK. TAKATA TOLD ME THIS. FOR NEARLY A YEAR I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND THINKING THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS SAFE. SUBARU WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS BUT THEY DO WANT TO INCONVENIENCE THEIR CUSTOMERS A SECOND TIME. SUBARU CUSTOMERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED. INSTEAD, SUBARU WAS DECEITFUL AND NOW INTEND TO STEAL MORE TIME FROM THE CUSTOMERS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY SAID WAS 'LIFE THREATENING.'

NHTSA ODI 11350902

Jun 17, 2020AirbagsSeat belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT WHICH DISABLED THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE GANLEY SUBARU OF BEDFORD LOCATED AT 123 BROADWAY AVE, BEDFORD, OH 44146, AND THE TECHNICIAN DECLINED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT A CASE NUMBER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A CALLBACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.

NHTSA ODI 11329364

May 19, 2020AirbagsSpeed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED COLLIDING WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE SHIFTED TO DRIVE, THE ENGINE REVVED AND SHE LOST CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR FACILITY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO RAFFERTY SUBARU (4700 WEST CHESTER PIKE, NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA 19073 PHONE: (610) 353-6900) WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED APOLOGETIC GESTURES REGARDING THE MATTER, HOWEVER, A CASE WAS NOT OPENED. THE CONTACT STATED THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN HIS STATE OF RESIDENCY REGARDING THE SAME FAILURE HIS WIFE HAD EXPERIENCED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11325109

Nov 25, 2019Airbags

I ACCEPTED A RECALL TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BY THE DEALER EVENSTON SUBARU, 3340 OAKTON STR, SKOKIE, ILL, 60076; AFTER THIS RECALL REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED, MY CAR HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THE PASSENGER WINDOW DID NOT OPPERATE FROM THE COMMEND BUTTON OF THE SAME DOOR AND THE POWER OUTLET FROM THE MIDDLE CONSOLE DID NOT HAVE POWER. THE DEALER THAT PRODUCED THESE TROUBLES REFUSE TO SUPPORT THE COST OF REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11282284

Apr 26, 2019Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SUBARU OF ROCHESTER (LOCATED AT 4840 MAINE AVE SE, ROCHESTER, MN 55904, (507) 285-4777) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR MAY OF 2019 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11203861

Apr 6, 2019Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED NOTICE AND RESPONDED. CALLED SUBARU DEALERS AND SOONEST THEY CAN SCHEDULE IS NOVEMBER 2019. ROUGHLY 7 MONTHS OUT. THIS RECALL IS A BIG DEAL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED IN A TIMELY MATTER. 7 MONTHS IS TO MUCH. WITHIN A MONTH IS ACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11194268

Mar 21, 2019Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED THE RECALL 3/3/19 MARKED "URGENT, IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL." MY SUBARU DEALER IN HYANNIS, MA INFORMED ME THAT I COULD GO ON A WAITING LIST SINCE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THEY EXPECT TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AT THE END OF MAY OR IN JUNE. THIS DOESN'T FEEL URGENT.

NHTSA ODI 11190492

Mar 15, 2019Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CASCADE AUTO CENTER (148 EASY ST, WENATCHEE, WA 98801, (509) 888-2985) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WAS NOT UNTIL JUNE OF 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11187038

Mar 15, 2019Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NORTHTOWN SUBARU (3930 SHERIDAN DR, AMHERST, NY 14226, (716) 992-6547) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WAS NOT UNTIL AUGUST OF 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11187134

Mar 4, 2019Airbags

TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NORTH TOWN SUBARU (3930 SHERIDAN DR, AMHERST, NY 14226, (716) 992-6547) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11183970

Jun 1, 2018AirbagsVisibility & wipers

TAKATA RECALL - ALSO, WIPER MOTOR SAFETY RECALL. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO WORK WITH SUBARU TO GET THESE TWO RECALLS ADDRESSED, AND MADE TWO PHONE CALLS IN EARLY APRIL, AND AFTER BEING TOLD TO WAIT AND BE CONTACTED BY AN APPROVED DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS NO FOLLOW-UP AND NO APPOINTMENT SET. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF WAITING I CONTACTED SUBARU AGAIN, THIS TIME THROUGH EMAIL ON MAY 20TH, AND WAS AGAIN TOLD TO WAIT TO BE CONTACTED BY THE CLOSEST APPROVED DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS MORE THAN 40 MILES AWAY IN MY CASE. THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, SUBARU HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO ACCOMMODATE THE DISTANCE OR TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. STILL, I'VE DONE AS THEY ASKED AND WAITED TO BE CONTACTED BY MY CLOSEST APPROVED DEALERSHIP (CHATHAM PARKWAY SUBARU), AND AGAIN THERE WAS NO FOLLOW-UP. I'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET THESE RECALLS ADDRESSED SINCE APRIL 4TH, AND HAVE GROWN INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED WITH HOW DIFFICULT ITS BEEN TO GET THEIR ATTENTION. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE AVENUE TO FILE SUCH A COMPLAINT, BUT I'M UNSURE OF EXACTLY WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME AT THIS POINT. I JUST WANT TO HAVE TWO SAFETY RECALLS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11099224

Mar 8, 2018Airbags

TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. NO ONE CAN TELL ME IF MY CAR NEEDS A NEW AIRBAG. MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAS TO RIDE IN THAT FRONT SEAT AS THERE ARE 3 GRAND CHILDREN IN THE BACK. I DON'T WANT TO KEEP PUTTING HER IN DANGER (DATE BELOW IS DATE I WRITING THIS COMPLANT

NHTSA ODI 11076903

Jan 27, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. A SUBARU DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE AIRBAG (ACCORDING TO THEIR SERVICE RECORDS). HOWEVER, SUBARU CORPORATE CONTINUED TO SEND ME RECALL NOTICES. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED. 1) THEY REPLACED MY AIRBAG AND FORGOT TO TELL SUBARU. OK OUTCOME 2) THEY REPLACED MY AIRBAG, AND UPDATED A DIFFERENT CAR WITH SUBARU (WHICH WON'T GET RECALL NOTICES ANYMORE). PASSENGERS IN THAT CAR AT AT LETHAL RISK NOW. 3) THEY DIDN'T REPLACE MY AIRBAG, AND ACTUALLY PUT THAT AIRBAG INTO A DIFFERENT CAR. MY PASSENGERS ARE AT LETHAL RISK NOW. I ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON TO INVESTIGATE, BUT HE JUST SAID "IT'S DONE, DON'T WORRY" AIRBAG REPLACEMENT WAS NOVEMBER 2016. THE LAST SERVICE WAS THIS WEEK.

NHTSA ODI 11065400

Dec 9, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury

OUR 2011 OUTBACK WAGON WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A BUS. IT WAS TOTALED. THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY.

NHTSA ODI 11053675

Oct 23, 2017Airbags

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 11033752

Aug 28, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL : MULTIPLE DEALERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THIS AIRBAG RECALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MORE THAN ONE DEALER IN MORE THAN ONE CITY WHO HAS GIVEN ME THE SAME RESPONSE. I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING AROUND WITH THESE FAULTY AIRBAGS WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD HARM ME IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE THEM REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ODI 11020233

Aug 9, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11013968

May 23, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (LITHIA RENO SUBARU 2270 KIETZKE LN, RENO, NV 89502 (775) 800-5534) WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10991213

May 16, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED US IN JULY 2016 ABOUT INFLATORS RECALL. THEY KEEP TELLING US THAT THEY ARE ON ORDER. SO THEY KEEP SELLING NEW CARS ALL THE TIME SO THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. WHY CAN'T WE GET OURS FIXED?

NHTSA ODI 10986089

Mar 25, 2017Airbags

"TAKATA RECALL", NO NOTIFICATION FOR REPLACEMENT APPOINTMENT, CANNOT USE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 10968444

Mar 20, 2017Airbags

TAKADA INFLATORS. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA THAT "PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE" TO REPLACE MY FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. PUTNAM SUBARU OF SAN FRANCISCO WILL NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS RECALL- THEY SAY I AM #80 ON A WAITING LIST AND THEY ARE ON #11. I TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY CALLED ME. I'VE BEEN WAITING A YEAR. I HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM SUBARU NOT TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETED (??!!) WHY AM I GETTING A LETTER SAYING "PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE" WHEN THEY ARE NOT?

NHTSA ODI 10967349

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Working with the data? Download all 649 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Subaru Outback Wilderness verdict →