RoadVitals

2008 Subaru Outback Sport

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Mar 30, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 2, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Subaru Outback Sport, most frequently naming the airbags, body & structure and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 96 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags360.0%
  • Body & structure120.0%
  • Driver assistance120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09E011000

EQUIPMENT

Apr 2, 2009
2,323 units potentially affected
The defect: THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.
The risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN THE BOLT(S) SNAPPING OFF DURING USE OR WITHOUT A LOAD. THE UNSECURED RACK AND LOAD CAN THEN COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: THULE WILL MAIL A RETRO FIT KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THULE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-238-2388.
THULE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Mar 30, 2019

DASHBOARD IS MELTED AND TOO STICKY TO WASH UP IT SHINES BRIGHT CAUSING REFLECTION AGAINST VISUAL TO DRIVE, IT'S A SAFELY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11192674
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Nov 21, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO "SUBARU OF PLANO" IN PLANO, TX. FOR AN OIL LEAK, WAS THERE FOR 3 WEEKS WHILE I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. ON THE SECOND TO LAST DAY I LEARNED OF THE AIR BAG RECALL AND CALLED TO INFORM MY SERVICE ADVISOR OF THIS SINCE AT THIS POINT I WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL. GOT A CALL FROM HIM THE NEXT MORNING STATING THAT ALL OF THE REPAIRS HAD BE COMPLETED AND MY CAR WAS READY...? (SOUNDED FISHY TO ME..) ANYHOW, I NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY DRIVEN 2 MILES IN THE THREE WEEKS IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. NEEDLESS TO SAY I MADE IT A WHOLE 4 MILES BEFORE THE CAR STARTED TO DIE AND TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD... TOOK THE CAR TO A NEAR BY SERVICE CENTER AND FOUND THAT THE DEALERSHIP PUT 2 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF OIL IN THE CAR THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE WHICH IS CONCERNING BUT WHAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED WITH IS THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IT TOOK TO INSTALL THE NEW AIRBAG, SINCE THE RECALL DEPARTMENT I ORIGINALLY SPOKE WITH STATED THAT THE PARTS WHERE STILL ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER?

NHTSA ID
10927345
Incident
Nov 19, 2016
Mileage
116,756 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 4, 2016

WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE OVER A MONTH AGO THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT NO ONE SHOULD RIDE IN SEAT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SUBARU IS OUR ONLY CAR AND WE HAVE 2 CARSEATS IN THE BACK SO IF WE ARE DRIVING AS A FAMILY, WHICH WE DO ON A DAILY BASISS, SOMEONE HAS TO SIT IN THE FRONT. WE CALLED TEH SUBARU TO GET IT FIXED AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS ON BACKORDER FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME. HOW ARE WE RISKING OUR SAFETY WHILE WE WAIT FOR THIS PART? I AM DESIRING TO BE COMPENSATED FRO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED NO COMMUNICATION FROM SUBARU ABOUT HOW THEY WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM > I CAN'T CONTINUE TO WAIT AND DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WORRY ABOUT TEH SAFETY OF ANOTHER ADULT IN TEH CAR KNOWING THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS.

NHTSA ID
10839799
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2014

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER IGNITION AND WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL I REPLACED THE MAP LIGHT CONSOLE RECENTLY. PROBLEM SOLVED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS IT AFFECTS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR, I.E., THE AIRBAGS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10651580
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Mileage
35,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SubaruNet Annoucement (E

This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.

01-167-08R

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

SubaruNet Announcement (R

POWER TRAIN

This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.

07-240-26R

This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20.

03-97-26

POWER TRAIN

This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.

01-167-08R

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Subaru Outback Sport by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009610—
2008Viewing410—
2006400—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.