Most common 1996 Subaru Outback problems
Share of the 46 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Outback complaints by model year
Best Outback years: 1996, 2004, 2003. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2018, 2022. Compare all years →
1996 Subaru Outback recalls (2)
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,…
Remedy: Dealers will notifiy customers to bring their vehicle to an authorize dealership to have a spring guard installed on both front struts to prevent tire puncture and replace any broken springs free of charge.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace if necessary the front suspension support brackets.
What 1996 Subaru Outback owners say
Engine & cooling
While driving very busy highway, the temperature gauge went all the way to "h". I pulled over and noticed some steam under hood. Added some water. A little later, still on "h". Mechanic who has serviced my 1996 Subaru Outback since I got it in 1998 said it had a blown head gasket, common with subarus. In 2009 I had the 90K mile maintenance done, very expensive. Also had all new brakes, very expensive. Also four new tires and last month, a new battery. Also, last month, had oil change. I have never received even one recall notice from Subaru, even though they knew all along that their head gaskets are failing in their cars. I wanted my Outback to last many more years but now must junk it because of a faulty head gasket. Mechanic said it's useless to fix head gasket or replace it, and told me to get a new car, which I cannot afford. …
Car started and ran normally for 5 to 10 minutes along a country road at about 45 MPH, vehicle suddenly accelerated to full throttle. Poked accelerator pedal a few times with no result, and pedal did not appear to be stuck down. Held speed of vehicle down with both feet hard on brake pedal. Vehicle returned to near normal operating condition on its own after about 30 sec to 1 min, although vehicle could maintain 30-40 MPH when not touching either accelerator or brake. Returned to fully normal operating condition after a few minutes. This was the second occurrence in less than two weeks. In the first occurrence, vehicle was hard to start for several seconds, then when did start raced to extremely high idle for several minutes. Poking accelerator pedal had no effect. Vehicle returned to normal operating condition after being turned off and re-started. …
Air bags
When traveling 45 and MPH upon applying the brake pedal to make a suden stop, vehicle continued to acclerate ,causing extended stopping distance, resulting in an accident. Upon impact, neither driver's side nor passenger's side air bags deployed. Passenger side frontal damage to the front end. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.
In head-on collision with both cars at 30 MPH, both front air bags deployed. Passenger side air bag burst through the windshield and ended up on the hood. Passenger never touched the air bag, but was restrained by the seat/shoulder belt. No other known reason for windshield damage before or during the crash.
Wheels & tires
Consumer loss control of vehicle when the right rear wheel broke at the macpherson strut causing the vehicle to flip over once and come to rest on the drivers side. Consumer walked away with abrasions and bruising.
Michelin tires and aluminum rims appear to be incompatible. Dealer cannot detect reason for continuing air loss. Have been filling tires with air almost as frequently as filling tank with gas. I think this is a safety hazard and because it is all tires or at least two or three, I need an answer regarding a cure. I am in touch with Subaru.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Subaru Outback a good car?
Based on 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Outback rates better than average: 77% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Outback at the same age. It is one of the best Outback years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Subaru Outback?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the air bags (8) and wheels & tires (7).
How many recalls does the 1996 Subaru Outback have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1996 Subaru Outback, the most recent from June 25, 2001 (coil springs). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Outback?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996, 2004 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2018 and 2022. See the full Subaru Outback years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Subaru Outback problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 136,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.