Subaru Outback Safety Ratings
NHTSA gives the 2024 Subaru Outback an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 5 stars in the frontal crash test and 4 stars for rollover resistance.
Latest model year (2027):
NHTSA rates the Subaru Outback at 5 ★ overall, 5 ★ frontal crash, 5 ★ side crash and 4 ★ rollover.
Subaru Outback Safety — All Years
| Year | Variant | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2024 Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 0 | 92 |
| 2023 | 2023 Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 2 | 87 |
| 2022 | 2022 Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 4 | 459 |
| 2021 | 2021 Subaru Outback SUV AWD | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 4 | 292 |
Crash-test star ratings sourced from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Ratings apply to the tested body style and can differ between trims and drivetrain layouts.
Subaru Outback data analysis
NHTSA overall: 5 stars
The Subaru Outback carries an 5-star NHTSA overall score on its 2024 test. Treat five stars as the entry fee. 32 of 164 rated models fall short of it; the useful comparison is between the 4 tested configurations of this model, not against the cohort. Broken out by test: 5 frontal, 5 side, 4 rollover. Rollover probability: 18.5%. Stability control does most of the work keeping that figure down.
Recalls, complaints and equipment
0 recalls, 92 owner complaints and 0 open investigations on the 2024 car. That is a quiet record by NHTSA standards. Recalls are free to have done regardless of ownership history — verify by VIN rather than trusting a seller. Driver assistance on record: stability control, lane departure warning. NHTSA records these as offered, so a base trim from the same year may have none of them. Confirm on the window sticker or by VIN.
How to read this rating
4 model years of NHTSA data, 4 rows in total. These are NHTSA figures only. IIHS runs different tests — small-overlap front and updated side impact — and a car can do well in one programme and poorly in the other. Sources for these 4 rows: manufacturer filings, covering 4 model years.
How Subaru Outback NHTSA rollover risk varies
Across 4 configurations recorded for the 2021 through 2024 Subaru Outback, NHTSA rollover risk runs from 0.2% to 0.2%. The strongest figure belongs to the 2024 Subaru Outback (2024 Subaru Outback SW AWD) at 0.2%, and the weakest to the 2021 car (2021 Subaru Outback SUV AWD) at 0.2% — a spread of 0%. The narrow spread means any year of the Subaru Outback in this table behaves much like the others, so you can shop on price, condition and mileage rather than chasing a particular model year.
What changed for 2024
Average NHTSA rollover risk for the 2024 Subaru Outback is 0.2%, against 0.2% for the 2023 car — it held flat. A carry-over year like this usually means no powertrain or structural change, so an older example is the cheaper way into the same specification.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outback Safety
Is the Subaru Outback a safe car?
NHTSA gives the Subaru Outback an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars, including 5 stars in the frontal crash test and 5 stars in the side crash test. Ratings are per body style and model year — check the table above for yours.
What is the rollover rating of the Subaru Outback?
The Subaru Outback scores 4 out of 5 stars for rollover resistance, with a calculated rollover risk of about 18.5%. Taller vehicles typically score lower here than sedans.
Does the Subaru Outback have driver assistance features?
NHTSA records the tested Subaru Outback as having electronic stability control, without forward collision warning and with lane departure warning. Availability varies by trim and package.
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