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#BS-1997-SUBOUT-192F

1997 Subaru OutbackProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 94 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
94
Crashes
7
Fires
2
Recalls
4
TSBs
17
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 94 complaints, 7 crashes, 2 fires, and 4 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

rattling noise coming from below the car

3 complaints • Severity 5.3/10

$X,XXX
2

engine light came on

3 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

engine failure

2 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
4

rear wiper motor failed

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX
5

tailgate piston arm pops off

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Engine And Engine Cooling:engineHIGH

10 owners reported engine and engine cooling:engine issues — failures commonly reported around 108K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

0–30K
1
30–60K
9
60–90K
5
90–120K
4
120–150K
7
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (9 reports) • Median: 108K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (10 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine10 (11%)
Engine6 (6%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System6 (6%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip6 (6%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline4 (4%)
Speed Control4 (4%)
Electrical3 (3%)
Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.3 (3%)

1997 Subaru Outback: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 1997 Subaru Outback, with 10 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 107,990 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 108K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1997 Subaru Outback, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1997 Subaru Outback, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:cooling system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip Issues

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1997 Subaru Outback, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

5
00
9
01
9
02
8
03
9
04
5
05
5
06
1
07
6
08
2
09
1
10
1
12

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1997 Subaru Outback. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

01V216000Sep 2001

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.

98V035000Apr 1998

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THROTTLE SHAFT BALL BEARING ON THE SENSOR SIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS NOT INSTALLED IN CERTAIN THROTTLE BODIES.

98V042000Jun 1998

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. DUE TO POOR WELDS, IGNITION KEYS CAN STICK, SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES CAN BREAK AND SHIFT LEVERS CAN MOVE.

98V091000Jun 1998

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Subaru Outback is the 2013 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is electrical.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 94 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Subaru Outback Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995
View all Subaru Outback years →

1997 Subaru Outback: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1997 Subaru Outback?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1997 Subaru Outback is related to the engine and engine cooling:engine, with 10 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1997 Subaru Outback reliable?
The 1997 Subaru Outback has 94 complaints, 7 crash reports, and 2 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1997 Subaru Outback problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1997 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
Yes, the 1997 Subaru Outback has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Outback problems start?
Based on 26 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 107,990 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 1997 Subaru Outback data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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