# Subaru Outback tire pressure light: complaints, recalls and what to do **Verdict:** Drive to a shop this week - **Owner complaints:** 13 - **Most complaints:** 2018 (5) - **Related recalls:** 0 - **Verdict:** This week ## Quick answer NHTSA has 13 owner complaints about the tire pressure light on the Subaru Outback (2015-2026 models), most for the **2018** model year (5). No recall covers the parts behind this light, so a repair is usually at the owner's cost. Drive to a shop this week: You can drive carefully to the nearest air pump. ## Subaru Outback tire pressure light complaints by model year | Model year | Complaints mentioning the tire pressure light | All complaints that year | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2015 | 1 | 509 | 0% | | 2016 | 1 | 642 | 0% | | 2017 | 1 | 921 | 0% | | 2018 | 5 | 816 | 1% | | 2019 | 3 | 1036 | 0% | | 2020 | 2 | 905 | 0% | Counts are complaints filed with NHTSA whose description mentions this light. They show where owners have had trouble, not a failure rate: popular years collect more complaints simply because more cars are on the road. ## Is there a recall for the Subaru Outback tire pressure light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. The Subaru Outback has 24 recalls for other parts in 2015-2026; see the [Subaru Outback page](/vehicles/subaru-outback) or check your VIN at [nhtsa.gov/recalls](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). ## What Subaru Outback owners report - "TPMS showed one tire with low pressure alert, checked and corrected all 4 tires. Drove vehicle for over 30 miles and all 4 tires showed same pressure but one tire continued to show a false alert. This is the 2nd time this has happened, the TPMS shows false alarms and cannot be relied upon as a safety feature." -- owner of a 2020 Subaru Outback, complaint filed 2021 - "The computer control system showed low tire pressures. While the passenger's seat was occupied, there was an abnormal dinging sound detected. The message that the seat not activated message was displayed. The contact stated that the battery drained, and the vehicle failed to start. The starting system had drained..." -- owner of a 2019 Subaru Outback, complaint filed 2024 - "As a result I no longer see my TPMS, the ability to lock/unlock the car with the remote, interior lights no longer work." -- owner of a 2018 Subaru Outback, complaint filed 2025 Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly cleaned for reading. They are owners' own accounts and have not been verified. ## What the tire pressure light means A steady tire pressure light means one or more tires is significantly underinflated, usually 25% or more below the pressure on the driver door sticker. Cold weather and slow leaks are the most common reasons. If the light flashes for about a minute and then stays on, the monitoring system itself has a fault, often a dead sensor battery. The most common causes, on any make: 1. **Cold weather dropped the pressure** (most common) 2. **Slow leak or puncture** (common) 3. **Dead TPMS sensor battery** (common) 4. **Sensors not relearned after tire work** (less common) Full causes, what to do and how to reset it: [Tire pressure (TPMS) light](/warning-lights/tire-pressure). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a recall for the Subaru Outback tire pressure light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. A repair is usually at the owner's cost unless the car is under warranty. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, since new recalls are added often. ### Which Subaru Outback years have the most tire pressure light complaints? In NHTSA's database the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Outback model years have the most complaints mentioning the tire pressure light, with 5 for 2018. Complaint counts reflect how many cars were sold as well as how often problems happen. ### Is it safe to drive a Subaru Outback with the tire pressure light on? Drive to a shop this week. You can drive carefully to the nearest air pump. If a tire looks visibly flat, the car pulls hard, or you hear flapping, stop and change to the spare or call for help, because driving on a very low tire can destroy it and cause a blowout. ### How do I check if my Subaru Outback has an open recall? Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any Subaru dealer. Open recalls are fixed free of charge, even if you are not the first owner. ## Sources - [NHTSA: Vehicle safety complaints and recalls (api.nhtsa.gov)](https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis) - [NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) ## Other Subaru Outback warning lights - [ABS warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/subaru-outback): 10 complaints - [Airbag (SRS) warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/subaru-outback): 33 complaints - [Battery (charging system) warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/subaru-outback): 14 complaints - [Brake warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/subaru-outback): 46 complaints - [Check engine light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/check-engine/subaru-outback): 67 complaints - [Coolant temperature warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/subaru-outback): 25 complaints - [Oil pressure warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/oil-pressure/subaru-outback): 18 complaints - [Power steering warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/power-steering/subaru-outback): 33 complaints - [Traction control light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/traction-control/subaru-outback): 15 complaints ## Tire pressure (TPMS) light on other models - [Honda Accord](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/honda-accord): 154 complaints - [Honda CR-V](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/honda-cr-v): 146 complaints - [Honda Civic](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/honda-civic): 59 complaints - [Ford Escape](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/ford-escape): 36 complaints - [Ford Explorer](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/ford-explorer): 23 complaints - [Hyundai Sonata](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/hyundai-sonata): 23 complaints - [Chevrolet Equinox](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/chevrolet-equinox): 20 complaints - [Hyundai Elantra](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/hyundai-elantra): 20 complaints - [Honda HR-V](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/honda-hr-v): 18 complaints - [Jeep Grand Cherokee](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/jeep-grand-cherokee): 18 complaints ## Subaru Outback - [Subaru Outback specs and mpg by year](https://diagxcar.com/vehicles/subaru-outback) --- Source page: https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/subaru-outback Updated: 2026-11-04 General information, not a substitute for a qualified mechanic.