Problems · by component

2010 Subaru Outback exterior lighting problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Subaru Outback cite exterior lighting, 10% of all 360 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
35
10% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“This is not about my car, but instead many different cars. When a cars lights are set to it's parking lights or running lights position, often located on the turn signal stalk, at night it appears to the driver that their headlights are on, when in fact only the "parking lights are on in front. This is a problem, but not what I'm reporting. When in the parking light position (at night), it appears the headlights are on because there's some light out front AND the instrument cluster is lit up as well. Here's the defect in design, the brake lights are NOT on, completely dark at the rear of the vehicle, so drivers are driving on the highway thinking their headlights and brakes lights are on, when they're not. When the parking light position is active, it should include the brake lights. Can't imagine how many rear-enders are because of this design flaw. *The rotating light switch on turn signal stalks often get unknowingly rotated out of Auto or the headlight position when the turn signal is repeatedly used.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 26, 2022Exterior lightingODI 11498844
“About three years ago; there was a recall for the headlights. Subaru did replace the headlights, but I have replaced the headlights two additional times since then. And I currently have a headlight out a marker light out. I also last year had all of my marker lights burn out.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2022Exterior lightingODI 11459761
“I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS.. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG. MY HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS JUST GO OUT ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M DRIVING HOME MY HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST BURN OUT AND IT LEAVES ME TRYING TO NAVIGATE HOME IN THE DARK. WHEN I GO TO MY SUBARU DEALER THEY OFFER ME NO SOLUTION. I ASK IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR THAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN AND THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG AND THEN CHARGE ME $60+ TO CHANGE THESE HEADLIGHT BULBS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND IT IS EXTREMELY COSTLY. ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAS TO BE PUT IN THE SHOP WHEN THE BULBS NEED TO BE CHANGED DUE TO THE WEIRD DESIGN THEY USED. THE DATE FOR THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IS ONLY THE MOST RECENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS SINCE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2020Exterior lightingODI 11365658
“I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. IT'S IS NOT THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES BUT THE VEHICLE. THIS IS COSTLY AS SO MUCH HAS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS. THIS IS GOING TO BE MY THIRD TIME REPLACING MY LIGHTS SINCE JANUARY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2019Exterior lightingODI 11193548
“MY VEHICLE HEAD LIGHTS HAVE BURNT OUT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. THE ENGINE HAS BEGAN STALLING WHEN I COME TO A FULL STOP. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH A CVT AND IT FEELS LIKE COMING TO A STOP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH. IF I LET OFF THE BRAKE QUICKLY IT WILL CONTINUE IDLING BUT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP KILLS THE ENGINE. I GUESS SUBARU HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I NEVER RECIEVED THE NOTIFICATION AND MY VEHICLE IS PAST THE MILEAGE FOR THE WARRANTY ANYWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2019Power train, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11187256
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCHLOSSMANN SUBARU CITY OF MILWAUKEE (LOCATED AT 4640 S 27TH ST, MILWAUKEE, WI 53221, (414) 459-3677) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2018Exterior lightingODI 11161225

Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (such as road spray that has road salt in it) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector(s).

Exterior lightingReported Dec 26, 2012NHTSA 12V602000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 6, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.