This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) for certain vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Subaru Outback engine problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Subaru Outback have filed 25 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 80,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Outback | 47 |
| 2012 Outback | 24 |
| 2013 Outback | 47 |
| 2014 Outback | 28 |
| 2015 Outback (this page) | 25 |
| 2016 Outback | 33 |
| 2017 Outback | 14 |
| 2018 Outback | 15 |
| 2019 Outback | 16 |
1fire
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 25 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs P2096 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1) and P2097 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO RICH BANK 1) are detected by the Engine Control Module (ECM).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs P2096 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1) and P2097 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO RICH BANK 1) are detected by the Engine Control Module (ECM).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a range of engine-related problems starting very early in vehicle life. One new car developed engine knock at 1,000 miles and required complete engine replacement. Oil consumption is a frequent complaint—multiple owners report low oil warnings lighting up between scheduled oil change intervals, with one noting oil burning at roughly one pint per 1,500 miles. Internal oil leaks from the cam carrier have required repairs costing $4,744 and, in one case, complete engine removal and replacement of engine rings and cylinder heads. A head gasket on a normally maintained vehicle showed failure at 54,000 miles.
The catalytic converter and exhaust manifold are persistent trouble spots. Several owners report cracks in the converter and flex pipe, causing exhaust odor and fumes to enter the cabin—a carbon monoxide hazard. One owner's converter failed twice: first replaced under recall at 104,000 miles, then failed again at 167,000 miles. Holes in the exhaust manifold also appear, and dealers initially missed the problem on multiple visits before diagnosing it.
Drivability problems include unexplained engine stalling at highway speed with complete power loss (dealer diagnostics unable to find the cause), erratic cold-start idle with unwanted surging, and reported unintended acceleration during downhill coasting. One vehicle caught fire at 120,000 miles while driving. Muffler rattling noise appears to stem from spot-weld gaps caused by thermal cycling, per Subaru's TSB 09-66-16.
Same Subaru Outback engine reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Engine knock and failure
New engine developed loud knocking noise very early in vehicle ownership, requiring complete engine replacement at dealer evaluation.
When: 1,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knocking noise; Engine failure requiring replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement performed by Subaru dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Engine replaced under manufacturer determination of defect
Excessive oil consumption
Engine burns oil at an accelerated rate between scheduled oil changes, requiring frequent top-offs. Multiple owners report low oil warning light illuminating well before standard service intervals.
When: 45,000–80,000 miles; one owner reports 1 pint every 1,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Low oil warning light illuminates between scheduled changes; Oil level below normal at inspection; High oil consumption rate
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostics inconclusive; one owner had stage 2 head gasket replacement. Repairs typically $4,744+ for cam carrier resealing when internal leak suspected.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reported Subaru stated vehicle not covered by class action settlement; other owners received good-will assistance
Oil leaks (cam carrier and internal)
Cam carrier and internal engine seals leak oil, causing slow loss of lubrication and risk of engine damage. One owner required engine removal for internal oil leak repair.
When: 25,600 miles; ongoing at higher mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking from cam carrier area; Low oil warning light; Oil level dropping between services
Repairs/costs cited: Cam carrier resealing estimated $4,744; internal leak required engine removal and replacement of engine rings and cylinder heads with silicone sealer per NHTSA Campaign 15V502000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 15V502000 (Powertrain); manufacturer performed good-will repair including engine ring and cylinder head replacement at 25,600 miles
Head gasket failure
Driver-side head gasket deterioration reported on normally maintained, dealer-serviced vehicle with no towing or harsh use history.
When: 54,108 miles; 6 years 5 months old
Symptoms owners cite: Head gasket starting to fail
Repairs/costs cited: Described as very expensive repair
Catalytic converter and flex pipe cracking
Catalytic converter cracks, flex pipe cracks on exhaust manifold, and bellows fail repeatedly. Multiple owners report same part failing again after warranty repair, particularly in road-salt environments. Cracked parts cause exhaust leaks into cabin and carbon monoxide exposure risk.
When: 60,000–167,000 miles; failures recur post-repair
Symptoms owners cite: Exhaust leak (noisy); Cracked catalytic converter; Cracked flex pipe on exhaust manifold; Exhaust odor in cabin; Carbon monoxide in passenger compartment
Repairs/costs cited: Parts replaced under service bulletin at 104,000 miles; same parts failed again by 167,000 miles. Aftermarket exhaust specialists consulted; estimated cost several thousand dollars.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Program Bulletin WUJ-95; Subaru Recall for catalytic converter/front pipe/bellows at 104,000 miles; manufacturer declined further assistance at 167,000+ miles
Exhaust manifold hole
Hole developed in exhaust manifold, causing noisy exhaust and fumes entering cabin. Dealer initially missed diagnosis on two visits.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Increased exhaust noise from front; Exhaust fumes entering cabin when idling; Hole in exhaust manifold
Repairs/costs cited: Exhaust manifold replaced by dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: PZEV emissions warranty and extended vehicle coverage applied; dealer initially refused, then replaced after customer invoked warranty coverage
Engine stalling and power loss
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving at highway speed without warning, leaving vehicle dead-stick with no power assist. Occurs unpredictably; dealer diagnostics unable to identify root cause. Owner reports other year Subarus recalled for similar issue.
When: Occurred twice during highway travel; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shut off without warning; Loss of power assist; No dash lights initially; Engine lights come on after shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed full diagnostics twice but unable to identify problem or repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for this model year despite similar recalls on other Subaru Outback years
Erratic cold idle and surging
Engine idles erratically when cold, surging 300–400 RPM in morning starts with brake pedal pressed. Car jerks and takes off suddenly, repeating for several minutes until engine warms. Second identical vehicle does not exhibit problem.
When: Morning cold starts, below 40°F
Symptoms owners cite: Erratic idle when cold; RPM surging 300–400 RPM; Jerking motion during brake application; Sudden acceleration without pedal input; Repeating cycle for several minutes
Unintended acceleration on downhill coast
On long downhill grades in fixed-gear ratio with foot off accelerator, vehicle experiences repeated unintended acceleration cycles: slowing to ~1,200 RPM then accelerating to ~2,500 RPM repeatedly. Throttle angle display shows zero, yet acceleration occurs.
When: During downhill driving
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended acceleration on downhill coast; RPM cycling between 1,200 and 2,500; Sudden MPG drop to 25 during acceleration; Foot off accelerator pedal throughout; Throttle angle shows zero
Engine fire
Vehicle caught fire and exploded while driving at highway speed. Flames and smoke came from underneath vehicle, warning lights flashed on and off. Vehicle was total loss.
When: 120,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoking from under vehicle; Flames from under vehicle; Warning lights flashing; Vehicle engulfed in flames; Explosion
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled, towed to junkyard
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; field technician retrieved EDR data; diagnosis not provided to owner
Muffler rattling and gap formation
Muffler develops rattling or growling noise during idle and coasting; noise disappears under acceleration. Gap can develop at spot-welded seams due to thermal cycling from normal use.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Rattling or growling noise from muffler during idle; Noise during coasting; Noise disappears when accelerating; Gap at spot-welded seam
Repairs/costs cited: TSB 09-66-16 describes production change to rear muffler assembly spot-weld locations for improved rigidity
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 09-66-16 issued; describes design change and thermal shock mechanism; states gap does not create exhaust leak
Engine dies and loss of all electrical functions
Engine died while car was being driven, leaving vehicle with no power for steering, brake assist, or driving. Vehicle could not be restarted and all electrical systems immobilized. Risk of rear-end collision on interstate.
When: Not specified; described as occurring at speed potentially near 70 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Red engine light came on; Engine died; Loss of all power and drive; No electrical power; Unable to restart
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Engine consistently burns oil. Adding pints between factory recommended oil change interval when low oil light comes on. On average, one pint is burned every 1500 miles.
Had engine trouble with your 2015 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2015 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 45,110 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,110; a quarter make it past 110,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Subaru/Outback.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.