Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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).
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while his daughter was reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle was making an abnormal clicking sound. The contact's daughter was able to continue driving; however, the suspension was not stable. The contact and his wife test drove the vehicle and noticed that the suspension was unstable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front subframe was severely corroded. The dealer diagnosed that the subframe, bushings, and the rear toe links needed to be replaced; and an alignment needed to be performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
Subframe or cradle Subaru OEM # 50527AJ01A is a vital safety component (see dealer's written comments below) and as designed and installed completely supports the weight of the engine and transmission - rust and corrosion per mechanics at 3 different garages (Mickey's, Weber, Ganley Subaru) advised vehicle is unsafe to drive due to subframe corrosion and imminent failure. Corrosion of sub frame and its welds are very extreme for low mileage 102,000 Quoting Ganley Subaru dealer in North Olmsted, Ohio in writing (vehicle originally purchase there by me the current owner): "A damaged sub frame puts everyone in the vehicle at risk. During a collision the subframe is responsible for absorbing and evenly distributing the forces from impact. …
My daughter was concerned with the car making strange squeaking sounds on turning and braking and so I met her where her car was parked in a lot and drove it for less than 1 minute and could tell something was very wrong and that it didn't seem safe to drive home. My husband came to check as well and zeroed in on the problem being the front driver's side tire/suspension. Fortunately the Subaru dealership was less than .5 away and my husband drove it there (with flashers on). It was determined by the dealership that the subframe had rusted through (we have photos uploaded below) and a new one was ordered and replaced within the week. The materials and labor for that alone cost $1944.37. Control arm bushings, rear toe arms, and alignment were also completed. The total cost of the repair was $3281.14.
2010 Outback Subframe or cradle Subaru OEM # 50527AJ01A is a vital safety component and as designed and installed completely supports the weight of the engine and transmission - I have excessive rust and Corrosion of sub frame. This should be a recall. A google search shows this is a common issue for this model. Please review my complaint
Engine subframe catastrophic failure (left side) due to severe corrosion. Lower control arm detached resulting in erratic handling and pulling. Car unsafe to drive and expensive to repair at ~$2200. Did research and found to be a very common complaint for 2010-2014. Recall needs to be issued to replace corroded subframes.
My 2010 Subaru Outback k-frame and a-frame rotted out, affecting my steering, my breaking and my ability to control my steering. This caused a very dangerous safety issue. I notified Subaru and they informed me there were no recalls on the k-frame of this year's vehicle, although there had been for the rear sub-frame on this vehicle. Also, Subaru wanted $1400 to repair the sub-frame, so I went to a salvage yard and discovered that all but two of the sub-frames in the salvage yard were all rotted in the same areas. This leads me to believe that the sub-frame should be reported as a safety issue; as if the sub-frame fails at the a-frame, you will lose steering and braking ability. My father was the first and only other owner of this vehicle and it was undercoated by the manufacturer when it was bought--yet it still rotted out.
Extreme shimmy / vibration in front end cause steering wheel to shimmy aggressively. This experience started about 2 months ago, the car has aprpoximately 150K miles. When driving car over 40 miles an hour the entire front end shakes like a very out of balance tire or the feeling of a warped rotor when braking. The shimmy can be seen in the steering wheel bouncing, and felt through the floor and seats.tires and brakes have been inspected and there is no problem. Upon searching the internet I see this is common problem. Why is this no a recall? I am fearful of driving this vehicle.
Vehicle has vibrations increasing with speed. Most noticeable at 60mph and above and they have been getting worse. The car will also occasionally veer off to the right during braking. Took car to dealership for an inspection and was told that Subaru had issues with the suspension that year and that the suspension was upgraded in subsequent years. I was told that it would cost me $2000 if I wanted to upgrade the suspension, but that it wasn't a safety issue if I continued to drive the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the passenger's side control arm and ECM had malfunctioned. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing a control arm and ECM to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 268,000.
I'm driving down the road and I hit a bump, then I go to brake and veers left, I take to my mechanic he says the my subframe cracked, car is not safe to drive, he says it happens a lot
Suspension complaints in other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2010 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the suspension of the 2010 Subaru Outback, 7% of the model year's 360 complaints. The component named most often is front (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Subaru Outback suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2010 Subaru Outback, though it has 18 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Subaru Outback suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 2,000 miles, and 59% 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.