2015 Subaru Outback MPG
The 2015 Subaru Outback gets 20–25 mpg in the city and 27–32 on the highway (22–28 combined), across the 2 versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive, at 28 mpg combined. At the other end, the 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive manages 22 mpg combined, 6 mpg less. That is 2 mpg better than the best gasoline 2014 version (26 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outback AWD | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 25 | 32 | 28 | Regular · 319 g CO₂/mi |
| Outback AWD | 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 22 | Regular · 398 g CO₂/mi |
2015 Subaru Outback fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2015 Subaru Outback costs about $2,330 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (28 mpg combined), or roughly 16 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (22 mpg combined) comes to about $2,970 a year, $640 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2015 Subaru Outback specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2015 Subaru Outback: 2.5 L 4-cyl and 3.6 L 6-cyl. It came with a CVT, with all-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Small Sport Utility Vehicle" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L | 4 | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 1 |
| 3.6 L | 6 | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2015 Subaru Outback problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 510 owner complaints about the 2015 Subaru Outback.
Visibility/wiper is the most-reported area (20% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (20%) and engine (7%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 42 complaints a year: more than the 2014 (16 a year) and fewer than the 2016 (58 a year).
That ranks 8th of 17 Subaru Outback model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 510, 20 mention a crash, 5 a fire and 13 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 130 | 20% |
| Electrical system | 127 | 20% |
| Unknown or other | 108 | 17% |
| Engine | 47 | 7% |
| Power train | 37 | 6% |
| Structure | 34 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 27 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 26 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 18 | 3% |
| Air bags | 14 | 2% |
| Visibility | 14 | 2% |
| Steering | 13 | 2% |
| Wheels | 8 | 1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | <1% |
| Lane departure | 6 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 5 | <1% |
| Equipment | 5 | <1% |
| Suspension | 5 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | <1% |
| Seats | 4 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 3 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 2 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 2 | <1% |
| Child seat | 1 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
Around 8 am on 1/4/2022, driving the car on I85 in Durham County, NC, at a normal highway speed, the sunroof glass shattered suddenly and without warning. …
The Subaru's Starlink Radio has completely delaminated on the layer between the display and the digitizer, which does not allow the radio to be controlled in any way, shape, or form. …
NHTSA issued a notice for a recall on the 2015 Subaru Outback for an exhaust pipe bellows crack which causes exhaust noise and odor which affects emission and engine performance. …
2015 Subaru Outback recalls
The 2015 Subaru Outback has been the subject of 5 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 16V292000 from May 2016, concerns steering.
16V251000 · April 27, 2016 · Electronic stability control (esc)
Problem: The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge.
15V366000 · June 12, 2015 · Forward collision avoidance, Exterior lighting
Problem: If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Risk: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge.
14V577000 · September 19, 2014 · Trailer hitches
Problem: During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs.
Risk: The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Outback years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V292000 | May 11, 2016 | Steering | 2015–2017 |
| 15V502000 | August 10, 2015 | Power train | 2015–2016 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2015 Subaru Outback; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Subaru Outbacks can be compared fairly. Among other 2015 models in the EPA's small sport utility vehicle class, the 2015 Nissan Rogue (28 mpg), 2015 Honda CR-V (29 mpg) and 2015 Mazda CX-5 (29 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 24 | 294 | 20 | 16 |
| 2013 | 26 | 297 | 21 | 12 |
| 2014 | 26 | 208 | 16 | 10 |
| 2015 | 28 | 510 | 42 | 5 |
| 2016 | 28 | 643 | 58 | 4 |
| 2017 | 28 | 919 | 91 | 4 |
| 2018 | 28 | 816 | 90 | 3 |
Every Subaru Outback model year compared →
Similar 2015 models
FAQ
Is the 2015 Outback a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2015 Subaru Outback has 42 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (8th most of 17 model years), 5 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 28 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2015 Outback problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are visibility/wiper (130), electrical system (127) and engine (47). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2015 Outback have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2015 Outback get?
The EPA rates the versions at 22–28 mpg combined (20–25 city, 27–32 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2015 Outback per year?
About $2,330 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,970 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).