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Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1. Home
  2. >Subaru
  3. >Outback
  4. >2008
  5. >Electrical

2008 Subaru Outback Electrical Problems

Electrical complaints and recalls from NHTSA

Summary

The 2008 Subaru Outback has 32 NHTSA electrical complaints and 2 electrical-related recalls.

Problem Areas for the 2008 Subaru Outback

Airbags
93
Electrical
32
Brakes
27
Engine
13
Lights
10
Powertrain
9
Other
9
Suspension
9
Structure
6
Speed Control
6
Steering
5
Wheels
3

32

Complaints

2

Recalls

0

Injuries Reported

Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026

Electrical Recalls

19V297000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legac...

16V738000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009...

All Electrical Complaints

Date ↓ComponentSummary
Jun 26, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPERThe Rear Gate Harness wires that are in the grommet wear and break from the rear gate going up and d...
Jan 1, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINEFour Subaru dealership licensed service centers in Maine and New Hampshire have had for some 8 weeks...
Jan 15, 2019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKESThe contact owns a 2008 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and...
Oct 2, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGSMY VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH AN INTERMITTENT AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING, INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH TH...
Mar 1, 2017ELECTRICAL SYSTEMTHE WIRING HARNESS PASSING FROM THE VEHICLE BODY THROUGH TO THE HATCHBACK IS CHAFFING AND HAS BROKEN...
Dec 31, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEMEVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM CARMAX THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE H...
Nov 26, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHERWIRE HARNESS GOING TO REAR HATCH HAD MULTIPLE WIRES SEVERED BY REPEATED OPENING/CLOSING OF REAR HATC...
Sep 1, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEMREAR HATCH WIRING INSULATION FAILED AFTER 8 YEARS & 70,0000 MILES RESULTING IN (AMONG MANY OTHER PRO...
May 5, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGSTHERE'S SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE WIRING ON 2005-2009 SUBARU OUTBACK/LEGACY MODELS THAT AF...
Dec 16, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEMTHE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BLINKED OFF & ON AND THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING, THEN STARTED WORKING AGAIN. TH...
Sep 24, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPERHVAC FAILS TO OPERATE. DEFROSTER WILL NOT OPERATE. SYMPTOMS ACCOMPANIED BY FLASHING CONTROL PANEL FO...
May 15, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGSBOUGHT A USED 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK IN APRIL OF 2015, AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS BEGAN SEEING THE AIRBAG D...
May 1, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEMTHE WIRING FOR THE REAR LIFT GATE LOCK IS BROKEN. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED IN 2013. DEFINITELY FAUL...
Apr 29, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEMTHE WIRES IN THE BOOT BETWEEN THE HATCH AND BODY BECOME BRITTLE OVER TIME AND CAN SNAP WITH HATCH US...
Mar 1, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM(VEHICLE HAS 112K MILES) BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY IN THE MARCH 2015 TIMEFRAME, THE RADIO CONTROLS/DI...
Feb 17, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGSHAVING AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY ALONG WITH PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT. MECHANIC SAID AIRBAG...
Feb 3, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGSI'M UPDATING MY 2/3/15 COMPLAINT 10680982. I CONTACTED SUBARU DIRECTLY ON THE SAME DAY AND INCLUDED ...
Dec 15, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTINGRECENTLY REPLACED HEADLIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE ON A RETURN TRIP HOME. THEY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNI...
Nov 18, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPERHVAC / RADIO (CD 6 DISC CHANGER MODEL) FAST FLASHING, ALL FUNCTIONS STAY ENABLED BUT CAN NOT BE CONT...
Oct 1, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGSTHE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS FREQUENTLY ON FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME (DAYS, WEEKS,MONTHS). THE ISS...

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