Diagsheet

Compact SUVs · model years 2014 to 2025

Toyota RAV4 vs Subaru Outback: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the RAV4 and the Outback split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call).

Toyota RAV4

Toyota RAV4

3,827 complaints · 23 recalls

Subaru Outback

Subaru Outback

6,016 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 2025RAV4Outback
Complaints that report a crash8.0%3.2%
Complaints that report a fire3.9%0.6%
Complaints that report an injury4.7%1.4%
Median miles when problems are reported23,00019,000
Recall campaigns per model year1.92.8
Do-not-drive recalls01
NHTSA investigations11

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 RAV4 owners complain about most is electrical, and it is the same for the Outback. Complaints citing engine make up 18% of all RAV4 complaints, against 5.9% on the Outback. The Outback leans the other way on windshield and wipers: 28% of its complaints, against 3.1% for the RAV4.

Toyota RAV4Subaru Outback

Electrical22%32%
Windshield and wipers3.1%28%
Engine18%5.9%
Fuel and propulsion11%2.6%
Transmission and drivetrain7.2%4.4%
Airbags8.8%2.5%
Structure8.2%2.8%
Brakes7.1%2.9%
Steering6.7%2.9%
Collision avoidance2.9%4.2%

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 RAV4 is stalling (9.0% of its complaints). On the Outback it is windshield problems (32% of its complaints), against 3.7% on the RAV4.

ProblemRAV4Outback
Windshield cracks or distorts3.7% 14110k mi32% 1,905most in 2019 · 15k mi
Battery dies or the car will not start6.3% 241most in 2020 · 29k mi23% 1,396most in 2017 · 23k mi
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails6.7% 258most in 2019 · 38k mi9.7% 586most in 2018 · 13k mi
Engine stalls or loses power while driving9.0% 344most in 2019 · 30k mi4.5% 268most in 2018 · 27k mi
Airbag warning light or recall8.8% 335most in 2021 · 23k mi2.5% 149most in 2014 · 20k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early7.4% 282most in 2016 · 14k mi2.9% 173most in 2015 · 25k mi
Engine overheats or leaks coolant8.0% 308most in 2020 · 47k mi0.2% 11
Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power5.0% 193most in 2019 · 5k mi0

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

Outback owners report problems earlier. Half the Outback complaints that give a mileage come before 19,000 miles; for the RAV4 the halfway point is 23,000. 73% of RAV4 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.

Toyota RAV4Subaru Outback

Under 25k51%58%
25k to 50k22%25%
50k to 75k14%11%
75k to 100k5.5%3.7%
100k to 150k5.7%2.0%
Over 150k1.8%0.8%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,478 for the RAV4 and 3,060 for the Outback.

Worst and best years

The 2019 RAV4 draws 3.0 times the complaints of a typical RAV4 year for its age. The 2019 Outback draws 2.2 times the complaints of a typical Outback year for its age.

Toyota RAV4

Every RAV4 model year

Subaru Outback

Every Outback model year

Toyota RAV4Subaru Outback

Each model year against its own model's median. RAV4: 2014 0.4, 2015 0.7, 2016 0.6, 2017 0.8, 2018 1.0, 2019 3.0, 2020 2.5, 2021 1.7, 2022 0.8, 2023 1.1, 2024 1.6. 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 RAV4: 0.4 times its median2014 Outback: 0.2 times its median'142015 RAV4: 0.7 times its median2015 Outback: 0.7 times its median'152016 RAV4: 0.6 times its median2016 Outback: 1.0 times its median'162017 RAV4: 0.8 times its median2017 Outback: 1.6 times its median'172018 RAV4: 1.0 times its median2018 Outback: 1.5 times its median'182019 RAV4: 3.0 times its median2019 Outback: 2.2 times its median'192020 RAV4: 2.5 times its median2020 Outback: 2.2 times its median'202021 RAV4: 1.7 times its median2021 Outback: 0.8 times its median'212022 RAV4: 0.8 times its median2022 Outback: 1.6 times its median'222023 RAV4: 1.1 times its median2023 Outback: 0.4 times its median'232024 RAV4: 1.6 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: 2.8 campaigns per model year against 1.9 for the RAV4. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Toyota RAV4

23 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (4), tires (3) and airbags (3).

  • 23V-734 (electrical) covers 5 model years
  • 19V-503 (equipment) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • PE21005: Battery hold down bracket thermal events (closed, led to a recall)

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 RAV4 complaints report a crash: 8.0%, against 3.2% for the Outback. Fire reports: 148 for the RAV4 and 36 for the Outback. Complaints on file report 5 deaths in the RAV4 and 0 in the Outback for these model years.

Toyota RAV4Subaru Outback

Report a crash8.0%3.2%
Report a fire3.9%0.6%
Report someone hurt4.7%1.4%

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 Toyota RAV4 or the Subaru Outback more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the RAV4 and the Outback split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the RAV4 has 3,827 complaints and the Outback 6,016 for model years 2014 to 2025, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the RAV4 or the Outback?

The RAV4 has 23 recall campaigns and the Outback 34 across model years 2014 to 2025. The Outback draws more recalls: 2.8 campaigns per model year against 1.9 for the RAV4.

What are the most common problems on the RAV4 and the Outback?

The most reported problem on the RAV4 is stalling (9.0% of its complaints). On the Outback it is windshield problems (32% of its complaints), against 3.7% on the RAV4.

More comparisons

Every comparison