Cars › Subaru › Outback › 2023
2023 Subaru Outback problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2023 Subaru Outback. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 9% of relevant complaints.
Better than 98% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2023 Subaru Outback have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 7 of 89 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Outback concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (9%). For comparison, the 2022 scores 9%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2023 Subaru Outback
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 7 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Subaru Outback?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2023 Subaru Outback involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
Risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2023 Subaru Outback? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2023 Subaru Outback
Does the 2023 Subaru Outback have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 7 of 89 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Outback concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (9%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Subaru Outback?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2023 Subaru Outback involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 23V755000 (power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch), 23V647000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru Outback years are better?
Among the Subaru Outback years we track, the 2019 (7%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (9%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2023 Subaru Outback?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 Subaru Outback shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.