RecallRepo

1996 Subaru Outback Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1996 Subaru Outback has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 209,442 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SUSPENSION 01V216000 2001-06-25 180,000 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

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. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN…

SUSPENSION 98V091000 1998-05-04 29,442 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
6crashes3injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
SERVICE BRAKES
3
2crashes2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
3
1crashes
STRUCTURE:BODY
3
2crashes2injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
WHEELS
3
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2
POWER TRAIN
2
2crashes2injuries
Total complaints57

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Recently purchased (1/17/14) vehicle a catastrophic loss after pax side t-bone @ a/b pillar subsequent to hill holder self-activation caused unrecoverable yawed slide/skid (to a non-inputted stop from 40-0mph in +/- .25mi.) during brake/downshift control input on (istha foia file)% uphill grade in…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2014-02-05

“Recently purchased (1/17/14) vehicle a catastrophic loss after pax side t-bone @ a/b pillar subsequent to hill holder self-activation caused unrecoverable yawed slide/skid (to a non-inputted stop from 40-0mph in +/- .25mi.) during brake/downshift control input on (istha foia file)% uphill grade in…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2014-02-05

“Recently purchased (1/17/14) vehicle a catastrophic loss after pax side t-bone @ a/b pillar subsequent to hill holder self-activation caused unrecoverable yawed slide/skid (to a non-inputted stop from 40-0mph in +/- .25mi.) during brake/downshift control input on (istha foia file)% uphill grade in…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2014-02-05

“Recently purchased (1/17/14) vehicle a catastrophic loss after pax side t-bone @ a/b pillar subsequent to hill holder self-activation caused unrecoverable yawed slide/skid (to a non-inputted stop from 40-0mph in +/- .25mi.) during brake/downshift control input on (istha foia file)% uphill grade in…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2014-02-05

“Recently purchased (1/17/14) vehicle a catastrophic loss after pax side t-bone @ a/b pillar subsequent to hill holder self-activation caused unrecoverable yawed slide/skid (to a non-inputted stop from 40-0mph in +/- .25mi.) during brake/downshift control input on (istha foia file)% uphill grade in…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2014-02-05

“Recently purchased (1/17/14) vehicle a catastrophic loss after pax side t-bone @ a/b pillar subsequent to hill holder self-activation caused unrecoverable yawed slide/skid (to a non-inputted stop from 40-0mph in +/- .25mi.) during brake/downshift control input on (istha foia file)% uphill grade in…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2014-02-05

“Whenever the car has been parked in sub-zero temperatures for a minimum of three hours, the check valve in the brake booster vacuum hose will freeze in place and results in no power assist braking. The first application of the brakes would be normal as there was residual vacuum in the booster.…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2013-12-23

“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…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · reported 2010-01-06
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Subaru Outback as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.