Is the Subaru Outback more reliable than the Toyota Grand Highlander?

No. The Grand Highlander has a clear edge in this comparison. Owners filed 8.2 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 26.1 for the Outback. Both hold a good standing, but the Grand Highlander is only three model years old, so it has had less time to collect complaints.

Which has more recalls, the Outback or the Grand Highlander?

The Outback has more. Federal recall records show 22 recalls across nine model years for the Outback and 10 across three model years for the Grand Highlander. The Outback has been on sale longer, so more recalls are expected. Per model year, the Grand Highlander's count is still high.

Does the Outback really have windshield and battery problems?

Yes, they are its two largest complaint areas. Owners report windshields cracking with little or no impact, sometimes replaced two to four times. Others report batteries dying again and again, with some cars going through three or four. Dealers often deny warranty coverage for the glass.

What are the main problems with the Toyota Grand Highlander?

Power train complaints lead. Drivers describe hesitation, lurching and a few seconds of no acceleration when pulling away. Owners also complain about waiting months for airbag recall parts, and a fuel gauge that reads empty with several gallons left. Dealers often could not duplicate the power train faults.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Outback or the Grand Highlander?

The data cannot say, because repair cost is missing for the Grand Highlander. For the Outback, independent repair-cost data shows about $607 a year, 0.4 unscheduled shop visits a year, and a 12% chance that a repair is major.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Subaru Outback vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Reliability Compared

Subaru Outback

Good

More Reliable

Toyota Grand Highlander

Good

On reliability, the Toyota Grand Highlander comes out ahead of the Subaru Outback by a clear edge. Owners report far fewer problems per car sold. The Outback is held back by cracked windshields and repeat dead batteries, though the Grand Highlander is much newer.

How Do the Subaru Outback and Toyota Grand Highlander Generations Compare?

Shoppers face a settled Outback lineup and a brand-new Grand Highlander. The 2018 and 2019 Outbacks belong to the fifth generation, which got a facelift in 2018. The sixth generation ran 2020 through 2025 and was refreshed in 2023. The seventh generation began with the 2026 model year, so it is too new to judge. The two weakest Outback years, 2019 and 2020, sit on either side of the generation change. The Grand Highlander is a first-generation vehicle that has not been redesigned, so its 2024 through 2026 models share one basic design and none has enough time on the road to rank.

Verdict

The Toyota Grand Highlander is more reliable than the Subaru Outback, scoring 79/100 vs 72/100.

Reliability favors the Grand Highlander by a clear edge. Owners filed far fewer complaints per car sold, and its reports lack the repeat windshield cracking and dead batteries that fill the Outback's file. One caution applies. The Grand Highlander has only three model years on the road, so part of that gap is time. The Outback still holds a good standing, but its problems are more frequent and, in several areas, tied to crashes.

Key Differences

1Toyota Grand Highlander has 17.9 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Toyota Grand Highlander has 12 fewer total recalls
3Toyota Grand Highlander scores 7 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Subaru Outback

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3Toyota Grand Highlander

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Subaru Outback vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?

Subaru Outback vs Toyota Grand Highlander at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Subaru Outback	Toyota Grand Highlander
Reliability Score	72/100	79/100
Years Tracked	9	3
Total Recalls	22	10
Complaints per 10k Sold	26.1	8.2
Year Wins	2	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Subaru Outback and Toyota Grand Highlander?

Windshields that crack with little or no impact, sometimes replaced two to four times, and batteries that die repeatedly dominate the Outback file. One dealer traced the drain to the data communications module. Electrical, steering and power train areas all carry crash-linked reports, including a car stuck in first gear that caught fire. Grand Highlander reports lean toward hesitation and power loss, a long wait for an airbag recall fix, and a fuel gauge that reads empty with gallons left. Only its airbag area has a crash-linked report, and that is a single one.

Subaru Outback vs Toyota Grand Highlander common problem areas comparison
Component	Subaru Outback	Toyota Grand Highlander
VISIBILITY/WIPER	8.3Above Avg	0.1Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	7.2Above Avg	0.6Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	3.9Average	1.7Low
POWER TRAIN	0.6Very Low	1.4Low
AIR BAGS	0.5Very Low	1.1Low
VISIBILITY	1.5Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.4Very Low	0.5Very Low
STEERING	0.6Very Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.4Very Low	0.4Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	0.6Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	0.4Very Low
ENGINE	0.2Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.2Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	—None

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

How Does Subaru Outback vs Toyota Grand Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?

Subaru Outback vs Toyota Grand Highlander year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Subaru Outback	Toyota Grand Highlander	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	88/1000R / 0C	Toyota Grand Highlander
2025	82/1000R / 43C	80/1003R / 33C	Subaru Outback
2024	82/1000R / 69C	69/1007R / 171C	Subaru Outback

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Subaru Outback scored 82/100 and the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander scored 69/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Subaru Outback vs the Toyota Grand Highlander?

Choose the Grand Highlander if you want the lowest complaint load and can accept a vehicle with little track record. Check that the airbag recall work was actually done, since one owner was told it was finished when it was not. Test drive for hesitation when pulling away. No model year deserves a favored spot, because all three are young. Choose the Outback if you want a vehicle with a longer record and a wider range of years to shop. Avoid 2019 and 2020, the weakest years. Do not treat 2025 or 2026 as the safest picks just because they show fewer complaints. They have had less time to collect them. Before buying, inspect the windshield around the EyeSight camera, ask whether the battery has been replaced, and test the touchscreen. Drive it at highway speed to check for wandering.

Subaru Outback vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Common Questions

Is the Subaru Outback more reliable than the Toyota Grand Highlander?: No. The Grand Highlander has a clear edge in this comparison. Owners filed 8.2 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 26.1 for the Outback. Both hold a good standing, but the Grand Highlander is only three model years old, so it has had less time to collect complaints.
Which has more recalls, the Outback or the Grand Highlander?: The Outback has more. Federal recall records show 22 recalls across nine model years for the Outback and 10 across three model years for the Grand Highlander. The Outback has been on sale longer, so more recalls are expected. Per model year, the Grand Highlander's count is still high.
Does the Outback really have windshield and battery problems?: Yes, they are its two largest complaint areas. Owners report windshields cracking with little or no impact, sometimes replaced two to four times. Others report batteries dying again and again, with some cars going through three or four. Dealers often deny warranty coverage for the glass.
What are the main problems with the Toyota Grand Highlander?: Power train complaints lead. Drivers describe hesitation, lurching and a few seconds of no acceleration when pulling away. Owners also complain about waiting months for airbag recall parts, and a fuel gauge that reads empty with several gallons left. Dealers often could not duplicate the power train faults.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Outback or the Grand Highlander?: The data cannot say, because repair cost is missing for the Grand Highlander. For the Outback, independent repair-cost data shows about $607 a year, 0.4 unscheduled shop visits a year, and a 12% chance that a repair is major.

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More Toyota Grand Highlander comparisons

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How we score the Subaru Outback and Toyota Grand Highlander

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.

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