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: steering
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Jul 22, 2019
WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FROM 40-70 MPH, AND MAKING A TURN TO RIGHT OR LEFT, THE STEERING WILL SUDDENLY OVER STEER TOWARDS THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN, GIVING A FEELING OF LOSS OF CONNECTION BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR'S WHEELS. FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. HAVE TO OVER CORRECT THE OTHER DIRECTION TO GET STEERING FEEL AND CORRECT DIRECTION FOR THE CAR BACK. DANGEROUS.
Steering, Jul 1, 2019
ON FREEWAY - TRAFFIC MOVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH ON CORNER - THE CAR VEERED SHARPLY TOWARDS THE FREEWAY INSIDE WALL. NO CONTROL OF STEERING WHEN I TRIED TO GENTLY CORRECT - WHEN THE CAR FINALLY RESPONDED IT VEERED SHARPLY I TOT HE LANES TO MY RIGHT. THE STEERING WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK - IT IS BRAND NEW AND THE STEER ASSIST WAS ON. THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2019 STEERING WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL ON A CORNER GOING APPROX 45 MPH - DANGEROUS. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE STEERING. MY 1998 AND 2016 OUTBACKS DRIVE AND CORNERED EXCELLENT RLY - THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2019 HAS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS STEERING PROBLEM.
Steering, Jun 30, 2019
THE STEERING SEEMS TO FLOAT. YOU LOSE ROAD FEEL AND THE STEERING SEEMS TO CATCH. THERE IS ALSO A SINGLE BEEP HEARD WHEN THIS OCCURS.
Steering, Jun 22, 2019
BASED UPON THE SUBARU REVIEW IN THE CONSUMER REPORTS APRIL AUTO ISSUE, I PURCHASED A 2019 OUTBACK. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. IT HAS ABOUT THIRTY DEGREES OF PLAY. IT TAKES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I JUST HAD TO GET USED TO DRIVING WITH THE SUBARU 'EYE SIGHT'. DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IS STRESSFUL TO SAY THE LEAST. ON A TRIP TO TAMPA ON I-275 I ALMOST SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER CAR.
Steering, Jun 9, 2019
STEERING WOBBLES VEERS IN AND OUT OF LANE AT RANDOM! BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS THAT IT FEELS LIKE 'ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING' FEELS LIKE I AM LOSING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING! NEEDS A TOTAL RECALL. ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN!
Steering, May 10, 2019
BEGINNING IN MARCH OF 2019, I BEGAN NOTICING THAT THE STEERING FELT "WOBBLY" ABOVE 40 MPH, AS IF THE CAR HIT A PATCH OF ICE OR WAS STRUCK BY A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND. DRIVING FEELS VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS OUR THIRD SUBARU OUTBACK, GOING BACK TO 1998, SO WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH DRIVING THIS CAR (OR AT LEAST OLDER MODEL YEARS). FURTHER, BY TURNING OFF THE NEW "LANE DEPARTURE SWITCH" THIS PROBLEM IS MINIMIZED. WE JUST MOVED FROM FLORIDA TO CONNECTICUT AND I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO DRIVING THIS CAR IN THE WINTER. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT!!!
Steering, May 2, 2019
ABOVE 50-60 MILES AN HOUR THE STEERING BEGAN TO WANDER (IT FELT LIKE I HAD NO CONTROL AND THE CAR WANTED TO STEER ITSELF) VERY DANGEROUS! ON AN INTERSTATE WHERE SPEED LIMIT WAS 70MPH.
Steering, Mar 30, 2019
LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING FASTER THAN 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY, OR TURNING ON CURVES. THE STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO WANDER THAT THE DRIVER DOES NOT HAVE THE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER FEELS UNSAFE.
Steering, Feb 11, 2019
CAR HAS LESS THAN 400 MILES ON. WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT FEELS LIKE I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL, NO FEEDBACK FROM A STEERING WHEEL. IT FEELS LIKE DRIVING ON ICE. WENT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. IT FEELS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING, AND I FEEL TOTALLY EXHAUSTED AFTER. HAD MULTIPLE OUTBACKS IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS. THEY NEED TO FIX IT ASAP, TOO DANGEROUS.
Steering, Jan 6, 2019
STEERING UNEXPECTEDLY NUDGES YOU TO ONE SIDE. CAR SEEMS TO TAKE CONTROL TEMPORARILY FROM THE DRIVER AND MAKES A CORRECTION TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT.
Steering, Nov 27, 2018
I TOOK DELIVERY OF THIS NEW VEHICLE ON 10 SEPTEMBER 2018 AFTER SHORT TEST DRIVE ON URBAN STREETS. BY THE TIME I HAD DRIVEN ON ABOUT 100 MILES ON RURAL AND 4 LANE ROADS I WAS REALLY DISTURBED BY THE WAY THE VEHICLE "WANDERED" FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND SEEMINGLY WITHOUT ANY STEERING WHEEL INPUT EXCEPT ENOUGH TO CORRECT THE DRIFT TO RIGHT OR LEFT. IT SEEMS WHEN THE WHEELS ARE CENTERED THE STEERING WHEEL APPEARS TO HAVE "DEAD ZONE". I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE SAID "WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT". TOOK IT TO DEALER ON 30 OCT 2018 AS(3341 MILES) AND SAID IT WAS ALRIGHT . I HAVE NOT "GOTTEN USED TO IT" AND IS EXHAUSTING TO DRIVE. IT IS LIKE DRIVING IN STRONG CROSS WINDS WHEN THERE IS NO WIND OR HYDROPLANING ON DRY ROADS.