Which has more recalls, the Outback or the Passport?

The Passport has more. Federal recall records show 29 recalls across 8 Passport model years, and 22 across 9 Outback model years. Recall counts alone do not make a car less reliable, so weigh them next to owner complaints and repair costs.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Outback or the Passport?

The Passport is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $521 a year for the Passport and $607 for the Outback. That is roughly $430 over five years. The Passport also averages 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, against 0.4 for the Outback.

Why do Outback windshields crack so often?

The data does not give a cause. Owners report cracks that start with little or no impact, sometimes while parked, and spread within hours or days. Some replaced the glass two to four times. Dealers often blame rock strikes and deny warranty claims.

What goes wrong with the Honda Passport engine at stoplights?

Owners report the engine can fail to restart after the idle-stop feature shuts it off at a light. The car then sits in the intersection until it gets a jump start, and it will not shift into neutral. Dealers found batteries and electrical systems passed tests.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Honda Passport vs Subaru Outback: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Honda Passport

Good

Subaru Outback

Good

Reliability favors the Honda Passport by a slight margin over the Subaru Outback. The Outback draws far more owner complaints for every vehicle sold. The Passport also costs less to repair, though it has more federal recalls.

How Do the Honda Passport and Subaru Outback Generations Compare?

Weak years for the Outback straddle a generation change. The fifth generation ran from 2015 to 2019 and was facelifted for 2018. The sixth generation began with 2020 and was refreshed for 2023. A seventh generation arrived for 2026. For the Passport, the third generation began in 2019 and was facelifted for 2022, with model year changes in 2023 and 2024. A fourth generation arrived for 2026. Any 2019 Passport is a first-year design, and its weak showing fits that. The 2026 models of both cars are too new to judge, since owners have had little time to file complaints.

Verdict

The Honda Passport is more reliable than the Subaru Outback, scoring 74/100 vs 72/100.

Slight edge goes to the Honda Passport. Both sit in good standing, so the gap is small. What separates them is the volume of owner trouble: the Outback draws 26.1 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 11.6 for the Passport, and it costs a little more to keep on the road. The Passport is not trouble free. It has more recalls, and its stalling and transmission problems are serious. Still, fewer owners report problems, and that earns it the lead.

Key Differences

1Honda Passport costs $86 less per year to repair
2Honda Passport has 14.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Subaru Outback has 7 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

4Honda Passport

—

1Subaru Outback

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair Frequency

Honda Passport vs Subaru Outback: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda Passport vs Subaru Outback at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda Passport	Subaru Outback
Reliability Score	74/100	72/100
Years Tracked	8	9
Total Recalls	29	22
Complaints per 10k Sold	11.6	26.1
Annual Repair Cost	$521/yr	$607/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.4/yr
Year Wins	3 (1 tied)	4 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Passport and Subaru Outback?

Common, repetitive trouble defines the Outback. Windshields crack with little or no impact, and owners replace the glass two to four times. Batteries die again and again, and the touchscreen fails. The Passport's problems are rarer but sharper. The engine can stay off after the idle-stop feature shuts it down at a light. Phantom braking happens, and the transmission can drop into neutral while driving. Crash-linked reports also differ. The Outback has them in steering, where the car wanders at highway speeds, and in the power train. The Passport has no steering area among its main problems.

Honda Passport vs Subaru Outback common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda Passport	Subaru Outback
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.6Low	7.2Above Avg
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	8.3Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.2Low	3.9Average
POWER TRAIN	1.2Low	0.6Very Low
VISIBILITY	0.1Very Low	1.5Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	1.4Low	0.2Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1Very Low	0.2Very Low
ENGINE	0.7Very Low	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.5Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.6Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
TIRES	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda Passport or Subaru Outback?

Less money goes to repairs on the Passport. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $521 a year, against $607 for the Outback. Over five years, that gap comes to about $430. The Passport also sees fewer unscheduled shop visits, at 0.3 a year compared with 0.4. The data gives the Outback a 12% chance that any repair is major. It lists no such figure for the Passport. Neither car is expensive to run, so cost should not drive the decision.

How Does Honda Passport vs Subaru Outback Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda Passport vs Subaru Outback year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda Passport	Subaru Outback	Edge
2026	84/1000R / 0C	82/1000R / 0C	Honda Passport
2025	82/1000R / 11C	82/1000R / 43C	Tie
2024	79/1001R / 12C	82/1000R / 69C	Subaru Outback
2023	75/1004R / 24C	77/1002R / 83C	Subaru Outback
2022	74/1003R / 45C	67/1004R / 435C	Honda Passport
2021	68/1005R / 119C	69/1004R / 283C	Subaru Outback
2020	68/1008R / 84C	60/1006R / 884C	Honda Passport
2019	59/1008R / 253C	63/1003R / 1017C	Subaru Outback

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Honda Passport scored 79/100 and the 2024 Subaru Outback scored 82/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Honda Passport vs the Subaru Outback?

Pick the Passport if you want fewer headaches overall and a lower repair bill. Its owner complaint rate is less than half the Outback's. The newest years, 2025 and 2026, rank strongest, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven. The weakest Passport years are 2019 and 2020, so look hard at those or skip them. Ask whether any idle-stop restart failures or transmission warnings were ever logged on the car. Pick the Outback if you prefer its design and can live with its known habits. Expect a possible cracked windshield, and if the car has EyeSight, replacement glass needs the camera recalibrated. Check for repeat battery trouble before you buy, since some owners went through three or four. Avoid 2019 and 2020, the weakest Outback years. The newest years look strong, but that partly reflects fewer miles on the road. A well-kept car from the years in between is the safer choice.

Honda Passport vs Subaru Outback: Common Questions

Is the Subaru Outback more reliable than the Honda Passport?: No. The Passport has a slight edge, though both stand in good shape. Outback owners file 26.1 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 11.6 for the Passport. The Outback also costs more per year to repair and sees more unscheduled shop visits.
Which has more recalls, the Outback or the Passport?: The Passport has more. Federal recall records show 29 recalls across 8 Passport model years, and 22 across 9 Outback model years. Recall counts alone do not make a car less reliable, so weigh them next to owner complaints and repair costs.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Outback or the Passport?: The Passport is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $521 a year for the Passport and $607 for the Outback. That is roughly $430 over five years. The Passport also averages 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, against 0.4 for the Outback.
Why do Outback windshields crack so often?: The data does not give a cause. Owners report cracks that start with little or no impact, sometimes while parked, and spread within hours or days. Some replaced the glass two to four times. Dealers often blame rock strikes and deny warranty claims.
What goes wrong with the Honda Passport engine at stoplights?: Owners report the engine can fail to restart after the idle-stop feature shuts it off at a light. The car then sits in the intersection until it gets a jump start, and it will not shift into neutral. Dealers found batteries and electrical systems passed tests.

More Honda Passport comparisons

Honda Passport vs Ford Explorer reliability Honda Passport vs Toyota 4Runner reliability Honda Passport vs Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability Honda Passport vs Kia Telluride reliability Honda Passport reliability by year Honda Passport years to avoid

More Subaru Outback comparisons

Subaru Outback vs Toyota Highlander reliability Subaru Outback vs Toyota Grand Highlander reliability Subaru Outback vs Ford Explorer reliability Subaru Outback vs Honda Pilot reliability Subaru Outback reliability by year Subaru Outback years to avoid

Decided between Honda Passport and Subaru Outback? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Honda Passport and Subaru Outback

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

See incorrect data? Report an issue