WhichCarParts

2015–2019 BS (5th generation)

2015–2019 Subaru Outback Common Problems and Years to Avoid

5 documented problems with the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback, with symptoms, affected years, and typical repair costs. 1 of them are serious. 4 carry a recall or TSB number.

Last verified

Quick answer

We have 5 documented problems on record for the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback, of which 1 is serious and 4 carry a recall or service bulletin. Every one below lists symptoms, the years most affected, and what the repair typically costs.

2015–2019 Subaru Outback recalls and service bulletins

Recall / TSBIssueSeverity
TSB 16-95-15; Subaru CVT customer support program (10-yr/100k extension)CVT chain slip, shudder, or failuremajor
Yaegar v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. 1:14-cv-04490 (D.N.J.)FB25 oil consumption (2015 model year, class action)minor
Khona, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc.Spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement)moderate
In re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS (D.N.J.)Parasitic battery drain (class action settlement)moderate

Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the vehicle's age, mileage, or how many owners it has had. Check your VIN against the NHTSA database to see what is still outstanding on your specific vehicle, a recall listed here may already have been performed.

CVT chain slip, shudder, or failure

major

Owners report intermittent shudder, hesitation, RPM flare without a matching speed increase, or outright CVT failure, most often traced to chain slip (Subaru TSB 16-95-15). It's frequent enough that Subaru extended CVT coverage on many 2015 model-year vehicles (and separately on 2019–2020 vehicles) to 10 years/100,000 miles under a customer support program, call Subaru with your VIN to check eligibility before paying out of pocket.

Most affected: 2015–2019Typical cost: Free if within the 10-yr/100k CVT warranty extension; $3,500–$5,500 for a CVT replacement otherwiseRecall/TSB: TSB 16-95-15; Subaru CVT customer support program (10-yr/100k extension)

FB25 oil consumption (2015 model year, class action)

minor

The Yaegar v. Subaru of America oil-consumption settlement's coverage window (2011–2015 FB-engine vehicles) extends into the first year of this generation. 2015 Outbacks with the FB25 that burn oil faster than Subaru's acceptable threshold qualify for the same extended 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on oil-consumption repairs described in the BR generation's entry.

Most affected: 2015Typical cost: Covered under the settlement's extended warranty if still within 8 yr/100k miRecall/TSB: Yaegar v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. 1:14-cv-04490 (D.N.J.)

Spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement)

moderate

Owners of 2017–2019 Forester and Outback vehicles reported windshields cracking, chipping, or shattering with no impact, often near the edge of the glass. A class action (Khona, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc.) settled with an extended warranty covering qualifying windshield claims and reimbursement for prior repairs/replacements.

Most affected: 2017–2019Typical cost: Covered under the settlement's extended warranty for qualifying cracks; $400–$1,000+ for an out-of-pocket windshield replacement with ADAS camera recalibrationRecall/TSB: Khona, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc.

Starlink infotainment freezes and screen delamination

minor

The touchscreen freezes, reboots, loses Bluetooth pairing, or (on some units) develops a delaminated/bubbling screen. Software updates fix some cases; a delaminated screen needs head-unit replacement, which can run into the thousands out of warranty.

Most affected: 2015–2019Typical cost: $0 (software update) to $2,000+ (head unit replacement, delamination)

Parasitic battery drain (class action settlement)

moderate

A defective electrical system can prevent one or more control modules from entering a low-power sleep state, slowly draining the 12V battery even when the car is off and sometimes leaving owners stranded. In re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation settled with an extended warranty for qualifying battery failures on 2015–2020 Outback (and related Forester/Legacy/Ascent/WRX) models.

Most affected: 2015–2019Typical cost: Covered under the settlement's extended warranty for qualifying failures; $150–$300 for an out-of-warranty battery replacement (doesn't fix the root cause)Recall/TSB: In re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS (D.N.J.)

Problems listed here are compiled from NHTSA complaints, recalls, technical service bulletins, and widely documented owner reports for the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback. Not every vehicle will experience these issues.

Which Subaru Outback model years does this cover?

These problems and recalls specifications apply to every Subaru Outback built from 2015 through 2019 — the BS (5th generation), mid-size wagon/crossover. Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. Pick your year for the engines it offered, what changed that year, and the problems recorded against it.

2015 Outback2016 Outback2017 Outback2018 Outback2019 Outback

What changed during the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback

  • 2015Full redesign: all-new FB25, 3.6R moves to CVT, EyeSight driver-assist available for the first time on Outback
  • 2018Facelift: revised front/rear styling, updated Starlink infotainment, standard EyeSight on most trims
  • 2019Final year of this generation; last model year covered by the FB-engine oil-consumption settlement window

2015–2019 Subaru Outback problems and recalls: common questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback?

The recurring ones are: cvt chain slip, shudder, or failure; fb25 oil consumption (2015 model year, class action); spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement); starlink infotainment freezes and screen delamination; parasitic battery drain (class action settlement). Each is detailed above with symptoms, affected years, and typical cost.

Which 2015–2019 Subaru Outback years should you avoid?

The years to be most careful with are those affected by cvt chain slip, shudder, or failure (2015–2019). A documented problem is not automatically a reason to walk away. Service records showing the repair was done change the picture entirely.

Are there recalls on the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback?

4 of the issues listed carry a recall or technical service bulletin: TSB 16-95-15; Subaru CVT customer support program (10-yr/100k extension) (cvt chain slip, shudder, or failure), Yaegar v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. 1:14-cv-04490 (D.N.J.) (fb25 oil consumption (2015 model year, class action)), Khona, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc. (spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement)), In re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS (D.N.J.) (parasitic battery drain (class action settlement)). Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of age or mileage. Check your VIN on the NHTSA site to see what is outstanding.

How much do 2015–2019 Subaru Outback repairs typically cost?

Typical figures for the issues above: cvt chain slip, shudder, or failure, Free if within the 10-yr/100k CVT warranty extension; $3,500–$5,500 for a CVT replacement otherwise; fb25 oil consumption (2015 model year, class action), Covered under the settlement's extended warranty if still within 8 yr/100k mi; spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement), Covered under the settlement's extended warranty for qualifying cracks; $400–$1,000+ for an out-of-pocket windshield replacement with ADAS camera recalibration; starlink infotainment freezes and screen delamination, $0 (software update) to $2,000+ (head unit replacement, delamination).

Sources

Other Subaru Outback generations

2020–2025 problems and recalls2010–2014 problems and recallsCompare all generations

More for the 2015–2019 Subaru Outback

Oil & filterBatteryTires & wheelsWiper bladesAir & cabin filtersBulbsBrakesFluidsService scheduleOil light resetKey fob batterySpecs