Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Outback vs Honda CR V
How the Subaru Outback and Honda CR V compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Subaru Outback vs Honda CR V: The Outback averages 457.6 complaints per year, while the CR-V averages 709.1. Outback owners report Eyesight failures and electrical corrosion; CR-V owners face sticky steering and engine shutdowns. Both have safety recalls, but the Outback has zero deaths versus one for the CR-V. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Outback or Honda CR V more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is a versatile wagon-like SUV that owners rely on for daily driving and outdoor adventures. However, the complaint data reveals a pattern of electronic and visibility-related gremlins, particularly with the Eyesight driver-assist system and windshield wipers, which can be frustrating and potentially dangerous. Electrical issues, including corrosion in wiring harnesses, have also caused sudden failures of safety systems, making the ownership experience less predictable than expected.
Honda CR V
The Honda CR-V is a popular compact SUV known for its practicality and efficiency, but the complaint data shows significant issues with steering, engine performance, and advanced safety features. Owners report a 'sticky steering' defect that requires excessive force, sudden engine shutdowns with warning lights, and false activations or failures of the forward collision avoidance system. These problems can undermine confidence in the vehicle's reliability and safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Outback | Honda CR V |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,576 Better | 7,091 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 40 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 134 Better | 240 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 457.6 Better | 709.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 80 Better | 214 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Subaru Outback
- 01VISIBILITY/WIPER1,451
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,428
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER878
- 04VISIBILITY244
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE218
Owners report the Eyesight system turning off without warning, disabling all safety features like lane departure and emergency braking. Additionally, there are reports of the moon roof shattering spontaneously and windshield distortion during heavy rain, affecting visibility.
Corrosion on a CAN bus pin in the driver door wiring harness caused simultaneous failure of multiple safety-critical systems in a nearly new vehicle. Other electrical issues include sudden loss of power and warning lights, indicating potential wiring or battery problems.
The Eyesight system's erratic behavior, such as turning off on its own, directly impacts the forward collision avoidance feature, leaving drivers without expected braking assistance in critical moments.
“1.) Eyesight constantly turns off on a whim. No reason or rhyme to it but just turns off. Meaning none of my "safety" systems (lane departure, crash avoidance, emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, collision warnings, collision braking) are functioning.…”
“The moon roof shattered. Have not even had the vehicle two days yet. It was fine yesterday (5/26/2023). Went out this afternoon (5/27/2023) and found the moon roof completely shattered and fractured. There is a hole near the rear center and fractures covering…”
Honda CR V
- 01STEERING1,335
- 02ENGINE1,311
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1,304
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,015
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM973
A common 'sticky steering' defect causes the wheel to stick or notch, requiring excessive force to correct, which can be dangerous at highway speeds. Some owners also report unintended acceleration while parking, compounding steering concerns.
Sudden engine shutdowns at stops, accompanied by 'Brake System Problem' and 'Auto Idle Stop System Problem' warnings, leave drivers stranded. Others report low power when climbing hills, affecting drivability.
The system can malfunction, causing the vehicle to slow down unexpectedly on the highway even when no obstacle is present, or fail to engage properly, undermining driver trust in the safety tech.
Severe electrical surges have led to complete battery replacement and permanent damage to the infotainment head unit, indicating broader electrical instability.
“I am reporting multiple factory defects on my 2024 Honda CR-V, led by a severe, confirmed steering safety defect commonly known as 'sticky steering' where the steering wheel sticks/notches while driving and requires excessive force to correct, causing dangero…”
“Driving a Honda 2024 crv hybrid ,I was pulling into a front row parking spot and braking and as the car just about was going to stop it surged forward turning in the direction I had just pulled in from and accelerated instead of continuing to brake . I kept m…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Subaru Outback — 26 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
The risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Suba…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
The risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.
The risk: A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash.
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, tighten the nut, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is W…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
The risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
Honda CR V — 40 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have b…
The risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers f…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2024 CR-V vehicles. The tire identification number (TIN) is missing the four-digit date code. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 139, "New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light…
The risk: An owner whose TIN information is missing may not recognize that their vehicle is involved in a safety recall and continue to drive on recalled tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is BIS.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeli…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodg…
The risk: The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C2N, P2O.
Buyer analysis
Subaru Outback or Honda CR V: which should you buy?
The Subaru Outback has fewer complaints per year (457.6) compared to the Honda CR-V (709.1), suggesting a lower frequency of reported issues. However, both vehicles have serious safety-related defects, so the difference in counts doesn't guarantee reliability; it just indicates a lower volume of complaints for the Outback.
Key differences
- Subaru Outback's most common issues are visibility/wipers and electrical, while Honda CR-V's top issues are steering and engine.
- Honda CR-V has a higher average complaints per year (709.1) than Subaru Outback (457.6).
- Subaru Outback has zero reported deaths, while Honda CR-V has one death in the data.
- Honda CR-V has more recalls (40) than Subaru Outback (26), indicating more official actions.
- Check the Eyesight system for intermittent shutdowns and ensure all safety features engage properly.
- Inspect the moon roof for any signs of stress cracks or previous shattering, and check the wiring harness for corrosion.
- Test the steering for any stickiness or notching, especially at highway speeds.
- Verify the engine doesn't stall or show warning lights during a test drive, and check the forward collision system for false activations.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the wiring harness and electrical system for corrosion or damage.
- Test all driver-assist features (Eyesight or Honda Sensing) on a variety of roads to ensure they function consistently.
- Check for any open recalls and confirm they've been addressed.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any recurring complaints related to the top problem areas.
- Take the vehicle on a highway test drive to evaluate steering feel and engine performance under load.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Subaru Outback | Honda CR V |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 118 |
| 2025 | 71 | 237 |
| 2024 | 2 | 374 |
| 2023 | 87 | 510 |
| 2022 | 460 | 248 |
| 2021 | 293 | 318 |
| 2020 | 895 | 344 |
| 2019 | 1032 | 1078 |
| 2018 | 807 | 2112 |
| 2017 | 917 | 1752 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Subaru Outback or Honda CR V in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Outback vs Honda CR V
- Subaru Outback total complaints
- 4,576
- Honda CR V total complaints
- 7,091
- Subaru Outback total recalls
- 26
- Honda CR V total recalls
- 40
- Subaru Outback avg complaints/year
- 457.6
- Honda CR V avg complaints/year
- 709.1
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Outback
- Subaru Outback top complaint area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Honda CR V top complaint area
- STEERING