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: visibility/wiper
326 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Nov 6, 2019
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. IT WAS SNOWING, WE HAD THE WIPERS GOING AND THE VENTS TO DEFROST ON. ON OUR 3 MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK, WHILE WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT THE CRACK FORMED, AND THEN SPREAD. IT COVERS NEARLY THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS A WATER STREAK - BUT IT DID NOT FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WE DID NOT HIT A ROCK OR A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD, THERE WAS NO HAIL, THERE WAS NO REASON TO EXPLAIN THE CRACK. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER WHICH WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY TOLD US THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW WINDSHIELD FROM SUBARU AND THEN HAVE IT INSTALLED BY THEM. WE NEEDED TO DO THIS SO THEY COULD RE-CALIBRATE THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM. I AM INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATED THAT A 2019 VEHICLE REQUIRES SUCH AN EXPENSIVE WINDSHIELD REPAIR AFTER NO FAULTY DRIVING OR CLEAR INCIDENT THAT CAUSED DAMAGE. WE WERE QUOTED $1700 TO REPLACE AND RECALIBRATE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 5, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED IN OCTOBER OF 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON I-64 ON MY WAY TO WORK. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AND AGAIN CRACKED IN NEARLY THE SAME LOCATION IN DECEMBER OF 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON I-64. THIS WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AND IN JULY 2019 CRACKED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON I-70.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Nov 4, 2019
WINDSHIELD IN MY VEHICLE CRACKED TWICE WITHIN 11 MONTHS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE DUE TO LITTLE OR NO CAUSE. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE WINDSHIELD OUT OF MY POCKET.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 3, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD HAS TAKEN MORE ROCK CHIPS AND CRACKS THAN ANY OTHER WINDSHIELD I'VE HAD. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO HAVE MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED BY THEIR CERTIFIED GROUPS DUE TO THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM AND THEY WANTED ME TO REPLACE MY BRAND NEW WINDSHIELD FOR $1500. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY. SEPTEMBER A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND IT WAS ON A SUNDAY AND THERE WASN'T A REPAIR SHOP OPEN ON SUNDAY AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE THE CAR MONDAY MORNING IT SPREAD OVER 2 FEET. I'M RELUCTANT TO REPLACE SINCE I KNOW I WILL CATCH ANOTHER ROCK AS SOON AS I SHELL OUT WAY TOO MUCH FOR GLASS.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 3, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. FIRST CRACK OCCURRED 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE OF BRAND NEW VEHICLE. MULTIPLE CRACKS OCCURRED OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. LAST TWO SIGNIFICANT CRACKS OCCURRED WHILE CAR PARKED.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 1, 2019
I WAS DRIVING MY BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK 2019 WITH LESS THEN 1200 MILES ON IT AND I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE CENTER BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK WORKED IT'S WAY UP FROM THE BOTTOM. I DID NOT HEAR OR SEE ANY IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE ISSUE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND SUBARU OF AMERICA (SR #:1-46794058270). THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL DEALER WAS CONVINCED THE GLASS CRACK WAS CAUSED BY AN IMPACT AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I HAD TO GO THROUGH INSURANCE TO GET THE REPAIRS FIXED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THESE WINDSHIELDS THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Visibility/wiper, Oct 31, 2019
I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK ON MAY 19, 2019. ON AUGUST 9, 2019 (82 DAYS AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE), I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH DOWN A SIDE ROAD WITH VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC. A TINY ROCK STRUCK MY WINDSHIELD AND IMMEDIATELY CAUSED A CRACK. WITHIN MINUTES THE CRACK EXPANDED TO MORE THAN A FOOT LONG. WITHIN DAYS THE CRACK EXPANDED TO BE MORE THAN TWO FEET LONG. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP BY A THIRD-PARTY GLASS REPAIR BUSINESS (THAT CARTER SUBARU OF BALLARD USES FOR ALL GLASS REPLACEMENT). AFTER THE PART WAS INSTALLED, SUBARU HAD TO RECALIBRATE THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS TO ENSURE THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT ($748.58) AND THE RECALIBRATION ($345.45) TOTALED $1,0494.03. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST UNLUCKY, HAVING CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD AND REQUIRED REPAIRS ONLY 82 DAYS AFTER BUYING THE CAR. THEN TODAY I READ AN ARTICLE THAT SAID THE WINDSHIELDS ON 2017-2019 OUTBACKS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. IF THIS IS THE CASE, I'D LIKE SUBARU TO PAY FOR MY WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT,ENT.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2019
I HAVE HAD 4 WINDSHIELD CRACKS ON MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK SINCE PURCHASE IN MARCH 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ALL 4 TIMES AND WAS HIT BY A ROCK. THIS CANNOT BE NORMAL- I HAD A HONDA CIVIC FOR 7 YEARS AND 150,000 MILES AND NO CRACKS (EVEN THOUGH ROCKS HIT IT MANY TIMES).
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2019
I PURCHASED A NEW 2019 OUTBACK AT THE END OF MARCH IN 2019. IN MAY 2019, MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED, DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN JULY TO NOTE THE CRACK AND REQUEST THEY REPLACE IT SINCE IT SEEMED TO HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. THE CRACK BEGAN FROM THE TOP EDGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM SUBARU OR THE DEALERSHIP.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2019
WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF DRIVING MY BRAND NEW 2019 OUTBACK, I HAD AN 10-TO-12-INCH CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. I AM AN INCREDIBLY CAREFUL DRIVER AND HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING ON PAVED ROADS AT MODERATE SPEEDS. I ALSO WAS DRIVING A PASSENGER AROUND DURING THIS TIME PERIOD AND NEITHER ONE OF US HEARD A SOUND (E.G., A ROCK OR PEBBLE FLYING UP AND HITTING THE WINDSHIELD). I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE HOW I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A LARGE CRACK WITHIN THE FIRST TEN DAYS ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY SINCE NEITHER I NOR MY PASSENGER ENCOUNTERED ANY SORT OF ROAD CONDITION OR ENVIRONMENTAL/WEATHER CONDITION THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED IT. IT JUST MYSTERIOUSLY APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD ONE DAY. I HAVE BEEN CONFUSED FOR THE PAST 6 WEEKS BUT THEN I HEARD THAT THERE HAD BEEN SIMILAR ISSUES WITH SUBARU WINDSHIELDS, AND I BELIEVE MINE IS SIMPLY DEFECTIVE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT, AND THIS REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED 10-YEAR WARRANTY. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP CONNECTED ME WITH SAFELITE, WHICH GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF OVER $1500 TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
PURCHASED OUTBACK WITH 6K MILES 8/2019 HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 WINDSHIELDS 1ST WAS SMALL CHIP WHEN DRIVING THAT GREW ALMOST INSTANTLY TO APPROX 2 FEET AFTER 2ND REPLACEMENT DROVE HOME PARKED IN GARAGE WOKE UP TO CRACK ACROSS MIDDLE OF WINDOW ORIGINATING DRIVER SIDE A PILLAR HALF WAY UP WENT BACK TO SAFELITE THEY SUGGESTED TO CONTACT SUBARU . I FEEL THIS IS POOR QUALITY MATERIAL WINDSHIELD
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO TREES OR CARS NEARBY, MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE FOUND THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUES WITH SUBARU INVOLVING A LOST LAW SUIT IN 2018, AND A CURRENT 2019 LAW SUIT ON GOING. THERE ARE NEARLY 100 COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA.GOV, COUNTLESS ARTICLES, AND FORUMS FROM 2019 SUBARU OWNERS. IN ADDITION, MY REAR WINDSHIELD FLUID DOESN'T WORK. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRONIC ISSUES INCLUDING THE TOUCH SCREEN CONSTANTLY RESETTING, THE VOICE ACTIVATION TURNING ON BY SELF ITSELF, AND NOTIFICATION ALARMS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON (LIKE OBSTACLE IN ROAD WITH NOTHING THERE) JUST TO NAME A FEW. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM HELP WITH THE WINDSHIELD THEY WERE VERY RUDE AND DISMISSIVE, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO LISTEN TO ME OFTEN INTERRUPTING ME WHEN I SPOKE AND REFUSING TO HELP ME WITH MY ISSUES. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT SUBARU DIRECTLY SINCE THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF I NEED TO PURSUE A LEMON LAW CASE OR IF I CAN ACTUALLY BE HELPED AT ALL WITH THESE ISSUES. I AM A LONGTIME FAN OF SUBARU AND WAS GREATLY LOOKING FORWARD TO OWNING MY OWN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A LARGE CRACK STARTING FROM THE TOP-CENTER EDGE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OR SIGNS OF IMPACT. THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE IN THE EVENING AND WAS OVER 6" LONG IN THE MORNING (VEHICLE PARKED IN FULLY ENCLOSED GARAGE OVERNIGHT).
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD OF MY CAR CRACKED BY ITSELF WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT THE PARKING RAMP AT WORK.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME, AND I HEARD A CLICK. I LOOKED AROUND AND NOTICED A 3' CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK HAS SINCE GROWN TO 24'
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
EYESIGHT WINDSHIELD BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY IN LIGHT RAIN. NO KNOWN CAUSE. CRACK CONTINUED EXPANDING FOR 2 DAYS IN WARM, DRY WEATHER. HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED ON AN INSURANCE CLAIM WITH SAFELITE AND THEY ALSO CALIBRATED THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. PARKED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE, NOTHING AROUND THE VEHICLE, CAME OUT AND NOTICED A CRACK FROM THE A POST INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY, ATTEMPTED TO CALL INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED NEAR THE TOP, BY THE DRIVER ASSIST CAMERA. UNKNOWN HOW IT OCCURRED. OWNER ASSUMED CAUSED BY ROCK SLUNG BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT CRACK WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL MANY DAYS LATER. INSURANCE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, BUT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP CHARGED $270 FOR EYESIGHT RE-CALIBRATION.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 25, 2019
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A RAMP. THE CRACK IS AT THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 3, 2019
I GOT A BRAND NEW SUBARU 2019 SUV IN SECOND WEEK OF MAY 2019. CAR HAS AROUND 5500 MILES ON IT. WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK THAT I OBSERVED WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR NEXT MORNING. OVERNIGHT CAR WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVE WAY. THERE ARE NO TREES AND I DONT SEE ANY ROCKS HITTING. IT CRACKED OUT OF NO WHERE
Visibility/wiper, Aug 30, 2019
DRIVING DOWN NORMAL HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A CRACK FORMING. WINDSHIELD CRACKED NEAR WIPER FROM MAYBE SOME ROAD DUST HIT IT THAT IS COMMON ON ANY HIGHWAY. NEVER HAD SUCH A BIG CRACK FROM NORMAL ROAD DUST BEFORE.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 21, 2019
CRACK APPEARED ON WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ANY PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE AREA WHILE DRIVING. STARTED BELOW WINDSHIELD WIPER ON DRIVERSIDE AND CONTINUES FOR 24" ACROSS THE CENTER OF THE GLASS IN A CURVED 40 DEG ANGLE.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 18, 2019
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUS CRACK UNDER WIPER DEICER CONNECTION VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY
Visibility/wiper, Aug 17, 2019
SUBSTANTIAL WINDSHIELD CRACK WITH NO VISIBLE PREVIOUS DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTDOORS AT APPROXIMATELY 2045 CENTRAL TIME ON 8/15/2019 FACING WEST. AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 CENTRAL TIME ON 8/16/2019 VEHICLE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL 7+ INCH CRACK DESCENDING FROM TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD DIRECTLY ABOVE AND DESCENDING VERTICALLY DOWN FROM NEAR THE DRIVER EYESIGHT CAMERA. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FOR GLASS WHICH IS MEANT TO PROTECT THE DRIVER AND PROVIDE A VIEW PORT FROM WHICH MOST SAFETY SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE OPERATE.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 13, 2019
WE HAD OUR FIRST SPONTANEOUS CRACK ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING OUR OUTBACK IN NOVEMBER 2018. I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT HAPPENED BUT WE HAD NOT HAD ANY ROCKS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A CHIP (THEY USED A BALLPOINT PEN TO INSPECT AND I BELIEVE THEY CREATED A SMALL CHIP ALONG THE CRACK LINE) BUT THEY REPLACED IT FOR FREE. THE SECOND CRACK OCCURRED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE NEW WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND HEARD IT HAPPEN; THERE WAS NO APPARENT ROAD HAZARD THAT CAUSED THE CRACK.THIS TIME I DIDN'T ALLOW THEM TO INSPECT WITH A BALLPOINT PEN AND, SURE ENOUGH, THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS A SPONTANEOUS CRACK AND SUBARU REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD FOR US. THE THIRD CRACK JUST OCCURRED AND I BELIEVE IT IS ALSO A SPONTANEOUS CRACK THAT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT. THERE IS NO APPARENT CHIP. ALL OF THEM START IN THE BLACK AREA BELOW THE WIPERS. I WONDER IF THERE COULD BE A DEFECT IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR THAT CAUSES UNDUE STRESS ON THE WINDSHIELD. I WENT TO A LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS GET THEIR BALLPOINT PEN OUT. I WILL WAIT TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND WILL ALSO PURSUE ISSUE WITH SUBARU CUSTOMER RELATIONS.