2012 Acura MDX vs 2012 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Acura MDX | 2012 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 76 | 291 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 16 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 87 | 316 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18 | 20–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 73,500 mi | 90,991 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura MDX | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 13 | 107 |
| Engine | 23 | 50 |
| Electrical System | 13 | 37 |
| Air Bags | 9 | 39 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 34 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 18 |
| Steering | 2 | 9 |
| Structure | 5 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 10 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 32 |
| Stalling | 0 | 83 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 21 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 12 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 11 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 7 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 6 |
2012 Acura MDX
2012 Subaru Outback
Compare all Acura MDX vs Subaru Outback 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.