2019 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 1,034 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 24 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 18 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpJul 29, 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Campaign 21V587000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpApr 16, 2020
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-20.
Campaign 20V218000 on NHTSA.gov
StructureJun 26, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Legacy and Outback vehicles. Spot welds located on the duct below the cowl panel may have been improperly applied, impacting the vehicle's body strength.
In the event of a crash, the reduced strength of the vehicle body may increase the risk of injury.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and repair or repurchase the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUH-93.
Campaign 19V493000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
363 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Apr 25, 2020
A VEHICLE SLOW STARTING. WOUND NOT START AT TIMES. BATTERY FAILED TESTING. REPLACED AT DEALER.
Electrical system, Apr 2, 2020
BRAND NEW 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK EXPERIENCES REPEATED PARASITIC BATTERY DRAIN LEAVING MY STRANDED WHILE TRAVELING. SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE STATES THAT THERE IS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE REAR HATCH BUT SUBARU REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED 5 TIMES INCLUDING ONCE IN A REMOTE PART OF CANADA.
Electrical system, Mar 11, 2020
PROBLEM: KEYLESS PUSHBUTTON START. WOULD NOT START CAR ON VACATION. VEHICLE MANUAL VERY CONFUSING. AFTER SEVERAL NERVE RACKING MINUTES (1/2 TO 45 MINUTES OF TRYING). NO OTHER WAY KNOWN TO START CAR. THIS WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE! VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER FUELING UP AT GAS STATION.
Electrical system, Feb 27, 2020
BOUGHT NEW 11/2019.BATTERY WILL NOT STAY CHARGED...NOW ON 3RD BATTERY INSTALLED BY DEALER.TODAY,(02/27/2020) THIS BATTERY IS NOW DEAD.MY WIFE IS DISABLED AND HAS A 95 YEAR OLD MOTHER LIVING 300 MILES FROM MY HOME THAT SHE VISITS ON A REGULAR BASIS...I DO NOT TRUST THIS VEHICLE NOT TO LEAVE HER STRANDED! SUBARU HAS A PROBLEM ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH AND THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT LEAVES YOU STRANDED.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
STEERING SYSTEM/CAR FEELS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHEN WINDY. CENTER DISPLAY CONTROL BUTTONS DON'T ALWAYS FUNCTION. WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED WITHOUT ROAD HAZARD INCIDENTS
Electrical system, Feb 20, 2020
APPLE CARPLAY AND STARLINK WILL FREEZE AND MAKE A LOUD "RINGING SOUND" UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND TURN BACKED ON.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 16, 2020
WINDOW SLOW/STOP GOING UP ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AUDIO SYSTEM WAS HAVING LOUD POPPING NOISE, SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU WHEN HOW CLOSE YOU ARE TO ANOTHER CAR/AUTOMATICALLY BREAK- TURNS OFF ON OWN/SAYS NO SIGHT CAMERA.
Electrical system, Jan 22, 2020
CAR BATTERY COMPLETELY DRAINED AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT IN GARAGE. NO ELECTRICAL LEFT ON TO CAUSE DRAINAGE, CAR WAS LOCKED AFTER USE. APPROX 6K MILES ON VEHICLE, NO PRIOR INDICATION OF BATTERY FAILURE.
Electrical system, Jan 12, 2020
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE MONTH, MY BATTERY HAS FULLY DRAINED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND IT ONLY HAS 5,000 MILES ON IT.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jun 21, 2019
RECENTLY PURCHASED 2019 SUBARU FROM A SIMILAR 2017. CRUISE CONTROL SPEED SETTINGS HAVE CHANGED WHICH NOW REQUIRE YOU TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD TO WATCH FOR SPEED SETTINGS TO CHANGE. ON THE 2017 AND ALL OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED, TO INCREASE YOUR SPEED SETTING BY ONE MPH, YOU PUSH ONCE AND RELEASE. TO INCREASE BY 5 MPH, PUSH AND HOLD UNTIL IT SENSES THE INCREASE. NOW.... A QUICK PUSH OF THE BUTTON RESULTS IN A 5 MPH INCREASE WHILE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE BUTTON AND WATCH THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR AS IT SLOWLY INCREASES YOUR SETTING 1 MPH AT A TIME. THIS IS DANGEROUS SINCE YOUR EYES ARE NO LONGER ON THE ROAD BUT ON THE DASH AREA. EVERYTHING ELSE I OWN, THERMOSTATS, KEYBOARDS, TV REMOTES....ALL MOVE UP OR DOWN ONE DEGREEE OR CHANNEL AT A TIME UNLESS YOU HOLD THE KEY PRESS LONGER, THEN YOU GET A FASTER REPEAT. I FEEL THAT TAKING MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO WATCH MY SPEED SELECTION CHANGE IS AKIN TO TEXTING. DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE NEW VEHICLE RESPONDS BY SAYING.... "THINGS CHANGE, GET USED TO IT". I FIND THIS SITUATIION UNACCEPTABLE!
Electrical system, Jun 6, 2019
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE RADIO UNIT FROZE MAKING THE BACKUP SCREEN INOPERABLE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR WITH 200 MILES ON IT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD UNIT. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE UNIT WORKING, HOPEFULLY UNTIL THE NEW HEAD UNIT ARRIVES, BY PHYSICALLY DISCONNECTING THE CAR BATTERY. UPON RESEARCH, IT TURNS OUT THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE PROBLEM FOR SUBARU. HAD I KNOWN, I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AND WORRY I WILL BE LEFT WITH A CRIPPLED CAR WITH NO WARRANTY OR REDRESS. SINCE A BACK UP CAMERA IS A REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURE UNDER FEDERAL LAW, SUBARU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL THESE DEFECTIVE CARS UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED, THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY, AND A FULL RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED. JUST GOOGLE 'SUBARU HEAD UNIT FAILURE.' HOW MUCH MORE INFORMATION DOES NHTSA NEED BEFORE IT ACTS? DOES A CHILD NEED TO BE KILLED IN A BACK UP ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE BACK UP CAMERA BEFORE APPROPRIATE ACTION IS TAKEN? IT IS CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT TO ALLOW THESE CARS TO CONTINUE TO BE SOLD UNTIL SUBARU HAS PROVEN THAT THEY HAV FIXED THE PROBLEM!
Electrical system, Mar 8, 2019
DEAD BATTERY IF THE CARS SITS PARKED 2 DAYS. NOTHING LEFT ON, IT IS A PARASITIC BATTERY DRAIN. HAPPENED TWICE AND BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DEAD EACH TIME, NEEDING TO BE FULLY RECHARGED AS IT WOULDN'T TAKE A JUMP. LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON THE CAR.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Visibility/wiper, Jan 11, 2019
NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILURE! I HAVE 3200 MILES ON MY 2019 OUTBACK AND SINCE DAY 1 HAVE HAD PROBLEMS USING THE NAV SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM FREEZES UP COMPLETELY CAUSING EVERYTHING NOT WORK RADIO BACK UP CAMERA ETC. SYSTEMS STAYS ON AT NIGHT DRAINING BATTERY. IT SPORADICALLY WORKS AND WORKS LESS AND LESS EVERY DAY HAD A DEAD BATTERY ALREADY ON A 2019 VEHICLE. *TR