RoadVitals

2009 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.
6
Latest Jul 31, 2014
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Subaru Outback Sport, most frequently naming the transmission, airbags and engine 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

  • Transmission228.6%
  • Airbags114.3%
  • Engine114.3%
  • Interior & seats114.3%
  • Exterior lighting114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

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

AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jul 31, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOME LIGHT WAS BURNED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID
10617965
Incident
Jul 24, 2014
Mileage
54,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 2014
Fire reported

SUBARU OUTBACK SPORTS 2009 MODEL, WITH NO PRIOR HISTORY PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT SUBARU RECALLED AN ELECTRONIC BOARD AND IT WAS REPLACED BY SUBARU DEALER. JUST GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY, COMING FROM THE AIRPORT, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WOOD. OPENED THE WINDOW TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT OUR CAR. SMELL WAS STILL THERE. PULLED OFF THE ROAD. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, LOTS OF SMOKE FROM HOOD AFTER ONE SECOND THE FIRE STARTED ENGULFING THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND AND I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR OF FEAR OF AN EXPLOSION AND CALLED 911 RIGHT AWAY. WITHIN 7 MINUTES ABOUT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY BURNT. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITHIN 10 MINUTES WHILE CAR WAS STILL BURNING., LOST SOME ELECTRONIC GADGETS, CAMERA, TABLET, 2 GPS, ETC., AND SOME CLOTHING AND ODDS AND ENDS BUT EVERYONE WAS SAFE. . THE WOMEN FROM THE CLAIM DEPARTMENT SAID THAT SHE ALSO HAD CALL ABOUT A FIRE IN A SUBARU COMING FROM THE AIRPORT LIKE US. SHE DID NOT WANT TO SAY ANYMORE SINCE SHE ACCIDENTALLY SAID IT. SUBARU REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRE UNLESS I PUT A CLAIM AGAINST THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10565996
Incident
Feb 22, 2014
Mileage
35,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 25, 2014

THIS IS THE 4TH HEADLAMP WE HAVE REPLACED WITHIN 12 MONTHS. WE HAVE TRIED PIAA'S, SILVER STAR'S...ALL HAVE THE SAME LIFE SPAN OF APPROX. 3-4 MONTHS...THIS HAS BECOME EXPENSIVE, A SAFETY HAZARD, AND A NUISANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10561492
Incident
Jan 2, 2014
Mileage
40,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 14, 2013

ON NOVEMBER 13, 2013 I WAS DRIVING ON ST RT 52 HEADING EAST IN NEW RICHMOND, OHIO AT A SPEED NOT LESS THAT 50 AND NOT GREATER THAN 60 MPH. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 NOON MY DRIVER-SIDE REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WALL--LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO ANY OF THE FRONT TIRE OTHERWISE I MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10552182
Incident
Nov 13, 2013
Mileage
92,603 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 6, 2010

MY 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT. FAILURE OF BEARINGS IN 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. MADE OPERATION OF VEHICLE DANGEROUS, AND REQUIRES ENTIRE REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION, TAKING 3 WEEKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353974
Incident
Oct 10, 2009
Mileage
6,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 25, 2010

A RETAINING RING IN THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING GEAR DAMAGE AND REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY AN ALL OF THE BEARINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY REPAIR BUT WAS A CONCERNING FAILURE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE HEARD OTHER REPORTS OF SUBARU OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314169
Incident
Feb 1, 2010
Mileage
10,841 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
2009Viewing610—
2008410—
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.