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2015 dodge Dart vs 2015 subaru Outback

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-04-29 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2015 Dodge Dart and 2015 Subaru Outback are nearly tied on reliability data

2015 dodge Dart

3.3/5
Reliability score
488 complaints
2 recalls (0 critical)
$12,500 repair exposure
vs

2015 subaru Outback

3.4/5
Reliability score
499 complaints
1 recalls (0 critical)
$13,200 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Look, these two are running close enough that you'd be fine either way. Reliability scores are within rounding distance (3.3 for the 2015 dodge Dart, 3.4 for the 2015 subaru Outback), and they've each got their own laundry list of weak spots. There's no clean winner here on the data alone.

If you're leaning 2015 dodge Dart, know what you're getting into on powertrain and engine. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than what the 2015 subaru Outback sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2015 subaru Outback? Watch the electrical and visibility. The 2015 dodge Dart has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2015 dodge Dart
2015 subaru Outback
electrical
80 reports
moderate · ~$850
119 reports
moderate · ~$850
powertrain
144 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
34 reports
severe · ~$2,500
visibility
No reports
125 reports
moderate · ~$350
engine
55 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
23 reports
severe · ~$3,100
brakes
46 reports
severe · ~$450
16 reports
severe · ~$450
steering
32 reports
severe · ~$700
13 reports
severe · ~$700
body
No reports
29 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
cruise control
No reports
20 reports
severe · ~$600
airbags
18 reports
severe · ~$1,100
No reports
suspension
10 reports
severe · ~$900
No reports

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2015 Dodge Dart or the 2015 Subaru Outback?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (3.3 vs 3.4). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2015 Dodge Dart?

Compared to the 2015 Subaru Outback, the 2015 Dodge Dart sees more reported issues in powertrain and engine. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2015 Subaru Outback?

Compared to the 2015 Dodge Dart, the 2015 Subaru Outback has more complaints in electrical and visibility. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2015 Dodge Dart has more active recalls (2 vs 1). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $13,200 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary auto-generated from the data and reviewed by ASE-certified contributors. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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