Traction Control complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 0% | 2,000 miles |
| 2019 | 3 | 0% | 3,000 miles |
| 2018 | 4 | 0% | 10,000 miles |
| 2017 | 4 | 0% | 14,000 miles |
| 2016 | 5 | 1% | 19,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 1% | 19,000 miles |
| 2014 | 5 | 2% | 10,000 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% | 78,000 miles |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% | 111,000 miles |
| 2011 | 7 | 1% | 80,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% | 120,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% | 26,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 2% | 94,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 4% | 86,000 miles |
| 2006 | 9 | 3% | 57,000 miles |
| 2005 | 11 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% | 180,000 miles |
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I bought my brand new 2019 Subaru Outback on May 19, 2019. On August 9, 2019 (82 days after buying the vehicle), I was driving about 30 MPH down a side road with very little traffic. A tiny rock struck my windshield and immediately caused a crack. Within minutes the crack expanded to more than a foot long. Within days the crack expanded to be more than two feet long. I had the windshield replaced at the Subaru dealership by a third-party glass repair business (that carter Subaru of ballard uses for all glass replacement). After the part was installed, Subaru had to recalibrate the eyesight cameras to ensure the vehicle was safe to drive. The windshield replacement ($748.58) and the recalibration ($345.45) totaled $1,0494.03. I thought I was just unlucky, having cracked the windshield and required repairs only 82 days after buying the car. …
Window slow/stop going up on driver side door, audio system was having loud popping noise, system that is supposed to tell you when how close you are to another car/automatically break- turns off on own/says no sight camera.
I found a crack in the upper right hand corner of my windshield (Subaru Outback 2018). The vehicle was stationary at the time. There was no cause for the crack (hail storm, rock/gravel hitting car). At this time, the crack has spread and the Subaru eyesight program (sensor program) does not work.
Diving 55 MPH on highway when car started to hard shudder, lose acceleration. Engine light and all other warning lights came on. Difficult to steer and brake. Able to barely pull off road safely and avoid guard rail. No previous problems noted.
On multiple occasions (when starting in driveway - stopped, while driving in parking lot - 5 MPH, driving in town - 25 MPH, while driving on highway - 60 MPH) all advanced safety features are disabled including (but not limited to) eye sight (fab - forward auto brake, acc - adaptive cruise control, las - lane assist steering), rab - rear auto brake, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot detection, park brake, ABS, traction control, power steering. Note that the failure of these systems does not cause a check engine condition and no error codes are logged. The dealer indicated that the first 4/5 failures left no codes. The next failure was delivered to dealer while running in a failed state. Dealer reported no codes found. Since the dealer did not report this to Subaru I will be reporting this problem to Subaru.
Since purchase on 2/19/17 from parker Subaru cda, complaint of shaking front end, wandering on highway and freeway from side to side in a dangerous manner, from complete loss of steering in snow, slush and gravel as of 2/28/17. I have been very specific about the incidence. Going in my driveway at least 8 inccidents; in snow or slush conditions, in depts on only a couple inches or less in the winter of 2017. In the summer of 2017 three incidents of complete failure was reported on grave road at speeds of 15-MPH, I have had the very same complaint every visit: 2/28/17, 3/23/17, 4/6/17. 9/13/17, 10/22/17, 1/22/17- @ parker Subaru cda.
Driving on highway in 18f weather with light snow and previously plowed road. No issues driving around 50-60 MPH until passing under a highway overpass. The car turned into the other lane and then corrected itself. This kept on happening at almost every overpass we went under. Slowing down reduced the degree of veering but we kept experiencing the wobble effect as we crossed under each overpass. Almost like the traction control system was "slow in responding". Took to the dealer but they reported that they could not find any issues with the vehicle. Dealer suggested I bring the car in and have a tech ride with me next time there is a similar weather pattern.
I just picked up and drove home. The driver mirror always detected - every time. The passenger side would not always detect , maybe missing 20-25%,even some large trucks, I did bring back to dealer twice but they said can not duplicate the problem. That made me nervous in that "the technology might lead to an accident ,now the car was 3200 miles and not work at all when I drove from my house to work this morning from renton to redmond on 405 with average 50 mile per hours
Related recalls (1)
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016.
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Outback years have traction control problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (11), 2006 (9), 2011 (7), 2007 (5) and 2014 (5) model years. Traction Control complaints make up 4% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Subaru Outback traction control problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 16V-251 (electronic stability control (esc), Apr 27, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Subaru Outback traction control problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles; 50% happened 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.