Complaints
57
Crashes
19
Fires
2
Injuries
14
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Subaru Outback Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#17 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:6
#26 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Avg mileage:135,006 mi
#33 complaints
Engine & Cooling
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Subaru Outback.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 | 6 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 | — | — | 135,006 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Airbags | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 1 | — | — | — |
Air Bags:Frontal
7
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
135,006
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Subaru Outback. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Subaru Outback Years
1996 Subaru Outback — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Subaru Outback reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1996 Subaru Outback has 57 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Air Bags:Frontal with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Subaru Outback?
Top reported problems: Air Bags:Frontal (7 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (6 complaints, avg 135,006 mi); Engine & Cooling (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Subaru Outback?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 135,006 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Subaru Outback include 19 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 14 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Subaru Outback as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Subaru Outback?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Subaru Outback reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Subaru Outback
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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