Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Subaru Outback owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This is not about my car, but instead many different cars. When a cars lights are set to it's parking lights or running lights position, often located on the turn signal stalk, at night it appears to the driver that their headlights are on, when in fact only the "parking lights are on in front. This is a problem, but not what I'm reporting. When in the parking light position (at night), it appears the headlights are on because there's some light out front AND the instrument cluster is lit up as well. Here's the defect in design, the brake lights are NOT on, completely dark at the rear of the vehicle, so drivers are driving on the highway thinking their headlights and brakes lights are on, when they're not. When the parking light position is active, it should include the brake lights. Can't imagine how many rear-enders are because of this design flaw. …
About three years ago; there was a recall for the headlights. Subaru did replace the headlights, but I have replaced the headlights two additional times since then. And I currently have a headlight out a marker light out. I also last year had all of my marker lights burn out.
Problem started in about July, 2014 when my front drivers side low beam headlight went out. I purchased two new bulbs and changed them (and this is no easy process with this vehicle). I wore latex gloves so as not to damage the new bulbs. Approximately a week after installing the new bulbs, my drivers side headlight went out again, but would come on and go out sporadically. It seemed to come and go with damp weather or when I hit bumps while driving, so I questioned the seal of the fixture cover and/or the wiring connection, so I went through the process again and checked the seating of the bulb, wiring connection, and seal of the housing, and all were fine. The problem was solved for a short time, but then started happening again. After a couple of weeks of on/off operation, it went out for good. …
I have 2 cars, a 2002 chev. Impala and a 2010 Subaru Outback. Both cars have an automatic on headlight feature. The headlight switch on the impala is on the dashboard and I have never touched it in the 13 years I have the car. It works perfectly, when the light level is low the headlights come on. The Outback has the headlight switch on the end of the turn indicator stalk. The switch has a number of positions, the first 3 being headlight automatic on, headlight manual on and parking lights on. When the headlights are on, either on the automatic on or headlights manual on positions as well as the parking lights on position there is an indicator light on the dashboard as well as the dashboard lights are on. With the indicator light on the dashboard and the dashboard lights on you cannot tell which of the 3 positions the switch is at, all indicators are the same. …
I have owned this vehicle for about 4 years now and have had to replace my headlights every 2 to 3 months.. Something is definitely wrong. My headlights always just go out especially when I'm driving home my headlights will just burn out and it leaves me trying to navigate home in the dark. When I go to my Subaru dealer they offer me no solution. I ask if there is something wrong with my car that makes this happen and they tell me nothing is wrong and then charge me $60+ to change these headlight bulbs. This is unsafe and it is extremely costly. Especially since this vehicle has to be put in the shop when the bulbs need to be changed due to the weird design they used. The date for the incident happened is only the most recent. This has happened every 2 to 3 months since the ownership of the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. While operating the vehicle, the low beam headlights suddenly failed to illuminate. The low beam headlight bulbs had been replaced on six separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (ultimate automotive Subaru, 5150 jefferson davis hwy, fredericksburg, va) and was repaired per the manufacturer's customer satisfactory extended warranty program. The diagnosis information was not available. The contact also stated that when making an abrupt stop and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would suddenly turn off. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer on two separate occasions, but the cause of the failure could not be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 20,000.
Low beam headlights have needed to be replaced 4 times now (8 bulbs total). First time, it blew out about a year after purchase. Then the second 6 months after that. Third time about a year ago and the fourth time the headlight failed was today (November, 2016). Also my rear night time light also blew out this past August, 2016. Worst part is the difficulty of replacing the headlights. You have to remove the front bumper to get to the headlight compartment which just adds to the aggravation. Something like headlights should be considered a safety feature that needs to be easily replaceable by the car owner. Regardless of the difficulty in replacing the headlights, these lights should not need to be replaced as frequently as what I'm experiencing.
I bought this vechicle new in 2010. Since that time I have had to change the low beam headlights 4 times on the passenger side of the vehicle and 5 times on the drivers side. I consider this a safety hazard as it takes almost 1 1/2 hours to change the bulb. You must remove the wheel, the wheel well, then the water proof cover, the small retaining bracket and then disconnect the bulb all through an opening only a child hand could fit through easily. I have never had both lights go out at the same time, however, on a dark mountain road this could be life threatening. The first time it happened was only 3 months after acquiring the vehicle and the last time was 2 weeks ago.
My vehicle head lights have burnt out at least once a year since I have owned this car. The engine has began stalling when I come to a full stop. It is equipped with a CVT and it feels like coming to a stop in a manual transmission without depressing the clutch. If I let off the brake quickly it will continue idling but coming to a complete stop kills the engine. I guess Subaru has issued an extended warranty but I never recieved the notification and my vehicle is past the mileage for the warranty anyway.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. On several occasions, while the vehicle was being driven, the low beam headlamps failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to schlossmann Subaru city of milwaukee (located at 4640 s 27th st, milwaukee, wi 53221, [phone]) to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
Headlight complaints in other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2010 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the lights of the 2010 Subaru Outback, 10% of the model year's 360 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Subaru Outback headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-602 (exterior lighting, Dec 26, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Subaru Outback headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 31% before 25,000 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.