2005 Subaru Outback vs 2005 Volvo XC90
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 Subaru Outback | 2005 Volvo XC90 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 273 | 223 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 244 | 219 |
| Investigations | 2 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–22 | 15–18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 84,597 mi | 86,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Outback | Volvo XC90 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 28 | 51 |
| Power Train | 17 | 62 |
| Suspension | 56 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 40 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 4 |
| Air Bags | 38 | 4 |
| Engine | 10 | 29 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 27 | 14 |
| Rust / corrosion | 17 | 12 |
| Stalling | 8 | 31 |
| Brake problems | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 15 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 5 |
2005 Subaru Outback
2005 Volvo XC90
Compare all Subaru Outback vs Volvo XC90 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.