Used car safety, rank #93 of 188
Subaru Outback Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Subaru Outback, a midsize wagon or minivan, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Subaru Outback has an IIHS driver death rate of 27 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize station wagons/minivans average of 27, which is exactly the class average. That places it #93 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 52.9/100.
What the Subaru Outback death rate means
At 27 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Subaru Outback sits exactly on the midsize station wagons/minivans average. The 95% confidence interval is 18 to 36.
The other-driver death rate of 25 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Subaru Outback. Its 95% confidence interval is 17β34. It is no higher than the Subaru Outback's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used station wagons/minivans
The safest midsize station wagons/minivans in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Subaru Outback highlighted. It ranks 1 of the 1 shown.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Outback (this page) | 2020-23 | 27 (18 to 36) | 52.9 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize station wagons/minivans: 27 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Subaru Outback
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Subaru Outback we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Subaru Outback | TSP+ | 94.3 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 52.9 used-car score above.
International crash test results
Euro NCAP (2021)
ANCAP (2021)
International test results are for the same-generation model sold in those markets. Body structures are typically identical across regions. Euro NCAP vs IIHS explained.
Safety recalls for the Subaru Outback
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
2 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering power train.
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Power train: automatic transmission, park/neutral start interlock switch
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge.
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Power train: driveline, driveshaft
Risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge.
Partial lookup: At least one NHTSA model-variant request failed. The campaigns shown were returned successfully; additional campaigns may be missing. Check your VIN.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Subaru Outback: Common Questions
Is the Subaru Outback a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 27 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Subaru Outback, exactly the class average (27 for midsize station wagons/minivans). That earns a used-car safety score of 52.9 out of 100 and rank #93 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Subaru Outback driver death rate?
27 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 18 to 36. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Subaru Outback died at a rate of 25 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Subaru Outback compare with other midsize station wagons/minivans?
The midsize station wagons/minivans class averages 27 driver deaths per million; the Subaru Outback sits at 27. Among the 1 midsize station wagons/minivans compared above it ranks 1 by safety score.