VehicleVerdict

1999 Subaru Outback engine problems

The 1999 Subaru Outback has 28 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 19% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

28

Engine complaints

19%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Outback engine complaints by model year93 complaints1996: 11 complaints1997: 29 complaints1998: 46 complaints1999: 28 complaints2000: 41 complaints2001: 26 complaints2002: 22 complaints2003: 19 complaints2004: 16 complaints2005: 27 complaints2006: 50 complaints2007: 18 complaints2008: 20 complaints2009: 18 complaints2010: 67 complaints2011: 93 complaints2012: 52 complaints2013: 68 complaints2014: 36 complaints2015: 50 complaints2016: 55 complaints2017: 43 complaints2018: 35 complaints2019: 40 complaints2020: 48 complaints2021: 22 complaints2022: 20 complaints2023: 1 complaints2024: 6 complaints2025: 4 complaints
Outback engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“FRONT CRANK SEAL FAILS. CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE AND POSSIBLE FIRE UNDER HOOD. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARUS. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS SUBARU HAS RELEASED 3 DIFFERENT PARTS IN ATTEMPT TO FIX PROBLEM. SUBARU DENIES THIS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD OR EVEN A PROBLEM WITH THEIR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 20, 2001

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1999 Subaru Outback have?

NHTSA has 28 complaints about the 1999 Subaru Outback engine — 19% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.