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 2011 Subaru Outback owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
We were coming home from a fireworks display at night and my son told me to turn on my lights which already had done, and the low beams on both sides and the marker lights didn't work. I tried turning switch to all positions and they still didn't come on. The high beams work okay and turn signals front and back & brake lights work. We drove home with the fog lights which still work. We need the car to go on vacation and the dealer can't fix it right away as well as what it will cost there or if I have to have some else fix it. It's definitely a safety issue because the road we drive home on has very little if any lighting and there are twists and turns and you could easily drive into a stone outcropping or into he water at any point. I had my wife and two young nephews with us as well. …
Ascended steep hill and stopped at stop sign. Processed to drive through intersection uphill. All lights on dash began to flicker on and off and car stalled out going down the road. After this occurred, I lost all electrical functions of car. I was not able to restart car, place car into park, apply emergency brake, turn on hazard lights, and the power brakes and steering were not present. I spent 5-7 minutes trying to restart the car and trying to figure out a way to stabilize the car since I was currently going down a steep hill without anyway of stabilizing it. After this time, smoke began coming out from under the hood. I had to coast car down hill into busy intersection and turn it onto next road in order to find a flat area to stabilize car so I could get out of it. When I got out, I began seeing flames drop down from front driver side of engine area. …
Frequent replacement of low beam bulbs. Not easy to replace and Subaru service best equipped to do procedure. Labor costs at various dealers for this service widely vary and can increase without reason. Subaru of America recently sent out letter saying warranty on bulbs has been extended (not that there is issue with electrical system). Soa will replace or refund, however, this does not solve the issue of continued (perceived) deficiency in the lighting system overall and refund requirements are very stringent per the letter they sent. I consider this issue as a safety defect. We have both an Outback and legacy that are both affected by this. Have owned legacy since new and replaced both bulbs four times since taking ownership. Have tried other brand bulbs to no better result (hence my belief it is electrical system). …
Our 2011 Subaru Outback premium 2.5i has had to have both low-beam headlights replaced numerous times. Only the low-beam lights need to be replaced so often. I have done it myself several times, but accessing the light bulbs is a difficult process that requires going through the wheel well and doing everything by feel because it is impossible to see what you are doing. Now I just have a repair shop do it when I have it in for regular maintenance. It is getting old saying, "oh yeah, can you replace my headlight that is out, too." there are numerous reports of headlight issues on various venues on the internet, and I have friends with a slightly older Outback who have had both headlights go out at the same time. This is a fundamental piece of safety equipment that should not need to be replaced multiple times a year. …
Purchased this car 7/2011. No problem with exterior headlights until about one year after purchase. Highbeams are fine. Never had to replace them. Running lights have never had an issue. Around 11/2012, regular headlights(both bulbs in the headlight housing )have been repeatedly replaced. In oct 2013, both bulbs on driver side were replaced. Went several weeks later for my state safety sticker, the small bulb needed to be replaced on the driver side. Then in feb 2014, the large bulb on the driver side burnt out and was replaced. May 2014, both lights on the passenger side where out. Replaced them. These needed to be done at a garage each time. Jan 2015, both replaced on the passenger side.now, feb 12, 2015 and again, both on the passenger side are out, and need replacing. Going to try more heavy duty bulbs. Husband has learned how to replace the bulbs through the wheel well. …
Bought a 2011 Subaru Outback on February 7, 2018 from dealership, 90K miles. I've owed this car for 5 weeks and one day and I finally had time to go to the dealership to have the driver's side low beam bulb (which blew out about 3 weeks after purchase but is under warranty) and also both brow lights (daytime running lights). One was dim, the other was out. I brought the bulbs and gave them to the dealership to be installed. When finished replacing, dealership said I had a tail light out too. I told them I would replace and went across the street to purchase a bulb. Drove home and went to replace tail light and noticed I had two out, one on each side?! Confused, I grabbed a friend to verify and after a bit, I ended up tapping the light lense and the light came on. Both of them did after tapping each lense. Checked the bulbs and they were secure. …
Purchased Subaru Outback 2011 new. At approximately 65,000 miles low beam front headlights began to burn out quickly: 4 replaced over about 14 months. Experienced an episode 1/8/16 where all front lights completely failed in the park and drive position but left low beam headlight worked intermittently when car was in reverse. All front headlights but 2 worked the following day when at the dealership. Brake/rear car lights also stopped working intermittently during the time the auto experienced total front high, parking and low beam failure. Whether or not rear car lights worked was also affected by whether car was in drive, park or reverse at times.this did not happen the following day at dealership. …
Headlight and other exterior light bulbs die prematurely. I received a letter from Subaru about a warranty extension and that they would cover the costs. So far I've had 3 headlights go out in the last two years (after 85K miles) and also was told by a Subaru dealer yesterday that 5 other exterior lights were out. The general consensus is that it's a power surge in the lighting/electrical system that Subaru isn't addressing. The replacement of headlight bulbs is extremely difficult and recommended that a shop or dealer do the work, making it very inconvenient to replace lights. It is dangerous to have the headlights go out so often when driving at night and visibility is reduced. There has been no recall or technical service bulletin issued by Subaru, that I know of, and a lawsuit pending. …
Manufacturer recall number wqe41; NHTSA recall number 12V602000.puddle lights for 2011 Subaru Outback. In January 2013, I received a recall notice from Subaru. . Since receiving the recall notice, I have made numerous, really, numerous, attempts to have this recall addressed by my local Subaru dealer. All attempts to have this recall addressed have been unsuccessful. I have been repeatedly told that the parts are on back order. My puddle lights have ceased working which is an indicator of an electrical short within the electrical system which May result in smoke or fire according to the ntsb. On April 8, 2017 my latest attempt to get a definitive answer from my local Subaru concerning repair of the puddle lights and completion of the recall was again unsuccessful.
Headlights on 2011 Subaru Outback continue to blow. Replaced all front lights multiple times. Reckless endangerment of their customers and will cause crashes as lights go out while driving vehicle. So far only one has gone out at a time for I am not holding my breath. Appears that this is a very common issues that Subaru fails to stand behind the issue. Customers should not be forced into purchasing only Subaru replacement product to achieve safety. This sounds like extortion since it appears the only answer is to purchase Subaru original bulbs . This is getting frustrated and I do not hear or see of a recall for the problem. I see alot of complaints, but again, no recalls to fix the problem. Subaru keeps taking my money to fix the problem
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 2011 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA has 117 complaints about the lights of the 2011 Subaru Outback, 18% of the model year's 652 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 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 2011 Subaru Outback headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 53,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.