Diagsheet

Compact SUVs · model years 2014 to 2026

Honda CR-V vs Subaru Outback: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CR-V and the Outback split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call).

Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V

8,804 complaints · 21 recalls

Subaru Outback

Subaru Outback

6,032 complaints · 34 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2026CR-VOutback
Complaints that report a crash4.0%3.2%
Complaints that report a fire0.4%0.6%
Complaints that report an injury2.7%1.5%
Median miles when problems are reported20,00019,000
Recall campaigns per model year1.62.6
Do-not-drive recalls01
NHTSA investigations61

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system CR-V owners complain about most is engine; for the Outback it is electrical. Complaints citing engine make up 21% of all CR-V complaints, against 5.8% on the Outback. The Outback leans the other way on windshield and wipers: 28% of its complaints, against 3.2% for the CR-V.

Honda CR-VSubaru Outback

Electrical14%32%
Windshield and wipers3.2%28%
Engine21%5.8%
Steering17%2.9%
Collision avoidance15%4.2%
Fuel and propulsion13%2.6%
Transmission and drivetrain6.6%4.4%
Brakes7.8%2.9%
Speed control3.2%3.1%
Airbags3.4%2.5%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the CR-V is sticky steering (9.5% of its complaints). On the Outback it is windshield problems (32% of its complaints), against 2.6% on the CR-V.

ProblemCR-VOutback
Windshield cracks or distorts2.6% 226most in 2024 · 15k mi32% 1,905most in 2019 · 15k mi
Battery dies or the car will not start4.4% 386most in 2017 · 23k mi23% 1,396most in 2017 · 23k mi
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails4.7% 410most in 2017 · 12k mi9.7% 586most in 2018 · 13k mi
Engine stalls or loses power while driving8.6% 754most in 2018 · 26k mi4.4% 268most in 2018 · 27k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early8.1% 709most in 2018 · 16k mi2.9% 173most in 2015 · 25k mi
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)9.3% 819most in 2018 · 22k mi1.4% 8410k mi
Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks9.5% 839most in 2023 · 34k mi0
Check engine light or misfire5.0% 443most in 2017 · 56k mi0.8% 4830k mi

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

Problems show up at about the same mileage on both. Half the CR-V complaints that give a mileage come before 20,000 miles, and half the Outback complaints before 19,000. 78% of CR-V reports and 83% of Outback reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Honda CR-VSubaru Outback

Under 25k56%58%
25k to 50k22%25%
50k to 75k11%11%
75k to 100k5.6%3.7%
100k to 150k4.0%2.0%
Over 150k1.2%0.8%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 3,869 for the CR-V and 3,060 for the Outback.

Worst and best years

The 2018 CR-V draws 4.3 times the complaints of a typical CR-V year for its age. The 2019 Outback draws 2.2 times the complaints of a typical Outback year for its age.

Honda CR-V

Every CR-V model year

Subaru Outback

Every Outback model year

Honda CR-VSubaru Outback

Each model year against its own model's median. CR-V: 2014 0.7, 2015 1.0, 2016 0.6, 2017 3.2, 2018 4.3, 2019 2.5, 2020 0.9, 2021 1.0, 2022 0.9, 2023 2.3, 2024 2.4. Outback: 2014 0.2, 2015 0.7, 2016 1.0, 2017 1.6, 2018 1.5, 2019 2.2, 2020 2.2, 2021 0.8, 2022 1.6, 2023 0.4, 2024 0.6.2014 CR-V: 0.7 times its median2014 Outback: 0.2 times its median'142015 CR-V: 1.0 times its median2015 Outback: 0.7 times its median'152016 CR-V: 0.6 times its median2016 Outback: 1.0 times its median'162017 CR-V: 3.2 times its median2017 Outback: 1.6 times its median'172018 CR-V: 4.3 times its median2018 Outback: 1.5 times its median'182019 CR-V: 2.5 times its median2019 Outback: 2.2 times its median'192020 CR-V: 0.9 times its median2020 Outback: 2.2 times its median'202021 CR-V: 1.0 times its median2021 Outback: 0.8 times its median'212022 CR-V: 0.9 times its median2022 Outback: 1.6 times its median'222023 CR-V: 2.3 times its median2023 Outback: 0.4 times its median'232024 CR-V: 2.4 times its median2024 Outback: 0.6 times its median'241x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The Outback draws more recalls: 2.6 campaigns per model year against 1.6 for the CR-V. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Honda CR-V

21 recall campaigns and 6 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (5), airbags (4) and equipment (3).

  • 23V-858 (fuel system) covers 10 model years
  • 26V-332 (airbags) covers 6 model years

Investigations

  • EA24002: Inadvertent automatic emergency braking (open)
  • EA23003: Momentary increased steering effort (closed, led to a recall)
  • PE22011: Rear differential seizure (closed)

Subaru Outback

34 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (8), transmission and drivetrain (8) and visibility (3).

  • Do not drive 16V-292 (steering), model years 2015, 2016 and 2017
  • 16V-292 (steering) covers 3 model years
  • 21V-587 (fuel system) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of CR-V complaints report a crash: 4.0%, against 3.2% for the Outback. Fire reports: 36 for the CR-V and 36 for the Outback. Complaints on file report 5 deaths in the CR-V and 0 in the Outback for these model years.

Honda CR-VSubaru Outback

Report a crash4.0%3.2%
Report a fire0.4%0.6%
Report someone hurt2.7%1.5%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Honda CR-V or the Subaru Outback more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CR-V and the Outback split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the CR-V has 8,804 complaints and the Outback 6,032 for model years 2014 to 2026, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the Outback?

The CR-V has 21 recall campaigns and the Outback 34 across model years 2014 to 2026. The Outback draws more recalls: 2.6 campaigns per model year against 1.6 for the CR-V.

What are the most common problems on the CR-V and the Outback?

The most reported problem on the CR-V is sticky steering (9.5% of its complaints). On the Outback it is windshield problems (32% of its complaints), against 2.6% on the CR-V.

More comparisons

Every comparison