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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 1,034

Of the 2019 reports, 24 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 18 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system363 reports · 35% of complaints
Owner complaints1,034Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system363
  2. Visibility/wiper326
  3. Other or unspecified204
  4. Visibility63
  5. Engine39
  6. Forward collision avoidance36
  7. Steering36
  8. Structure27

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  1. Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020

    PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AND THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED FOR NO REASON AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT.

  2. Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2020

    THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WITH NO EXPLANATION OR IMPACT LEAVING AN 8" LONG CRACK AND NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN.

  3. Visibility/wiper, Oct 12, 2020

    I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDSHIELDS IN 6 MOS. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS MANY DAMAGED WINDSHIELDS. THE OFFENDING INCIDENTS BOTH TOOK PLACE ON THE HIGHWAY.

  4. Visibility/wiper, Oct 12, 2020

    WHEN STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION ON 9/27/2020, THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I SAW ANYTHING PHYSICALLY STRIKE THE GLASS.

  5. Visibility/wiper, Oct 9, 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A PEBBLE HIT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED ABOUT 10 INCHES OF THE PASSENGER SIDE GLASS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE MATERIAL OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT SAFE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PROVIDED A QUOTE FOR GLASS REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

  6. Visibility/wiper, Sep 30, 2020

    I PURCHASED MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK ON NOVEMBER 23, 2019. ON FEBRUARY 15, 2020 ON A COLD WINTER MORNING I WAS DRIVIING TO WORK AND TURNED ON THE DEFROST TO HIGH AND THE WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED. CURRENTLY, THE CRACK HAS TRAVELED FROM END TO END ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE COST TO REPLACE IT IS AROUND $ 800. I FEEL THAT SUBARU NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THIS ISSUE IS OCCURRING WAY TOO OFTEN. IT SEEMS THAT THE WINDSHIELDS ARE TOO THIN. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM.

  7. Visibility/wiper, Sep 26, 2020

    WINDSHIELD ON 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH APPROXIMATELY 10000 MILES CRACKED WITH CRACK EXTENDING INTO THE FIELD OF VISION. WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY, THE WINDSHIELD WAS APPARENTLY HIT BY A SMALL STONE IN THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE WIPER CAUSING A VERY SMALL CHIP THAT COULD ONLY BE FELT WITH A FINGERNAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UPON RETURNING, A CRACK HAD SPREAD DOWNWARD TO THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND UP AND TO THE LEFT ACROSS THE FIELD OF VISION. UPON INVESTIGATING, WE FOUND MANY REPORTS OF RECENT MODELS OF SUBARU SUV'S EXPERIENCING WINDSHIELD CRACKING, PARTICULARLY IN THIS AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD WITH EITHER A VERY MINOR IMPACT OR EVEN NO IMPACT. A SUBARU TSB WAS ISSUED IN 2015/2016 COVERING THIS PROBLEM BUT IT APPEARS THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IN MODEL YEARS FROM 2017 TO 2019.

  8. Visibility/wiper, Sep 19, 2020

    WINDSHIELD SEEMED TO SPONTANEOUSLY CRACK WHILE DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT LESS THAN 20 MPH. I HEARD A POP, THOUGH I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, AND A CRACK ABOUT 22 INCHES LONG IMMEDIATELY APPEARED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK IS ABOUT HALFWAY UP, AND STARTING ON THE LEFT EDGE. UPON INSPECTION THERE IS A VERY TINY CHIP, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A POPPY SEED, NEAR THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD, BUT NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF THE WINDSHIELD BEING HIT WITH A ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT.

  9. Visibility/wiper, Sep 16, 2020

    WINDSHIELD CRACKED TOO EASILY (ON ROAD) FOR A VEHICLE MARKETED FOR "OFFROADS". NO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUES FOR THE VEHICLE. NO RECALLS OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM SUBARU USA.

  10. Visibility/wiper, Sep 6, 2020

    THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY DEVELOPED A LARGE CRACK, NECESSITATING A REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT SINCE THE CRACK WAS ON THE LOWER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CRACK OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND IT JUST WASN'T NOTICED UNTIL THE CAR WAS IN MOTION.

  11. Visibility/wiper, Sep 2, 2020

    WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. MID WAY UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, JUST LIKE HALF THE OUTBACK'S I SEE ON THE ROAD. 2014 AND FORWARD MODEL YEARS PITCHED THE WINDSHIELDS AT A LOWER ANGLE, MAKING THE WINDSHIELD OPENING IN THE BODY LARGER AND MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLEX WHEN THE FRAME RACKS GOING OVER BUMPS. (MAYBE THE SEALANT IS TOO RIGID.)

  12. Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Sep 1, 2020

    THE CAR WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE OWNED WITH LESS THAN 20000 MILES. AFTER I GOT MY FIRST CAR WASH NOTICED THOUSANDS OF PIT IN THE WINDOW. THEY HAD IT SUPER COVERED WITH A COMPOUND THE WASH TOOK OFF. NOW FOR NO REASON A HUGE CRAKE WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD! WARRANTY OF COURSE WON'T COVER IT. WHAM!!! $$1000 REPAIR! I HAVE HAD CAR LESS THEN THREE MONTHS.

  13. Visibility/wiper, Aug 25, 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO CRANK WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER ROYAL MOORE SUBARU LOCATED AT 1326 SE ENTERPRISE CIR, HILLSBORO, OR 97123, (503) 640-5660, AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,510.

  14. Visibility/wiper, Aug 21, 2020

    I HAD MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED IN MARCH 2019. GOT A ROCK CHIP IN THE REPLACED WINDSHIELD FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY PROGRAM THROUGH SUBARU. THREE DAYS LATER I COME OUT AND THE FIXED CHIP SPREAD A FOOT ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD AND IS RAPIDLY GROWING. SUBARU IS NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP OF WEAK/FAULTY GLASS AND THE FRAME THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS INSTALLED INTO. I HAVE HAD TWO OTHER VEHICLES FOR OVER TEN YEARS THAT NEVER HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD, LET ALONE A ROCK CHIP THAT VIOLENTLY SPREADS. I DID NOT PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE TO SPEND $1000+ ON A REPLACEMENT EVERY YEAR.

  15. Visibility/wiper, Aug 19, 2020

    CRACKED WINDSHIELD STARTING AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE EDGE AND CONTINUING OVER 50% OF THE WINDSHIELD HORIZONTALLY. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING THIS TIME.

  16. Visibility/wiper, Aug 11, 2020

    CONSTANT SMELL WHEN USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS (FRONT) AND WASHING FLUID. HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES THEY ASSURE ME IT IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE THAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE AND IT MAY BE A DESIGN FLAW.

  17. Visibility/wiper, Aug 8, 2020

    THE WINDSHIELD RANDOMLY CRACKED AFTER SPRAYING THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID ON IT. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW BIGGER THROUGHOUT A COUPLE DAYS AND REACHED A LENGTH OVER 1 FOOT BY THE SECOND DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT WAS SPRAYED WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID.

  18. Visibility/wiper, Aug 8, 2020

    2 CRACKS IN THE FRONT WINDSHEILD APPEARED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. DID NOT NOTICE ANY CHIPS BEFORE THE CRACKS STARTED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 10000 MILES ON IT AND THERE ARE 2 SEPARATE CRACKS. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN THE CRACKS APPEARED.

  19. Visibility/wiper, Aug 3, 2020

    WHILE HEADING HOME FROM A TRIP DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 69 IN MICHIGAN OUR WINDSHIELD DECIDED TO START CRACKING. WE DID NOT HEAR ANY IMPACT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE OCCASIONAL BUG. OF COURSE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WAS.A ROCK OR FOREIGN OBJECT HAD IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD. WRONG. I HAVE ALWAYS FEARED WHEN GETTING HIT BY A ROCK THE WINDSHIELD WOULD CRACK. MY WIFE ACTUALLY WITNESSED THE CRACKING PROCESS THINKING AT FIRST IT WAS RAIN AGAIN HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN 200 MILES THE CRACK ESCALATED FROM A COUPLE INCH CRACK TO ALMOST A 2 FOOT CRACK STARTING TO MAKE A U-SHAPE AROUND THE EYE-SIGHT CAMERA SYSTEM. I WOULD HATE TO THINK A BUG'S IMPACT WOULD CAUSE SUCH DAMAGE.

  20. Visibility/wiper, Aug 3, 2020

    BRAND NEW 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK WINDSHIELD MAJOR CRACKING DAMAGE FROM SMALL STONE IMPACT OR JUST A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING? UNREASONABLE AND NOT RIGHT AT ALL.

  21. Visibility/wiper, Jul 25, 2020

    I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET WITH NO CARS AROUND AND MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED RIGHT NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER (BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD) AND IT GREW INTO 3 LONG CRACKS THAT ARE OVER A FOOT LONG. I HONESTLY DO NOT BELIEVE A PEBBLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD BECAUSE NO CARS WERE AROUND ME. IN READING ONLINE IT SEEMS LIKE MANY OWNERS OF SUBARU OUTBACKS HAVE HIT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR WINDSHIELD CRACKING IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT.

  22. Visibility/wiper, Jul 13, 2020

    SPONTANEOUS CRACKS APPEARED ON MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 10104 MILES. NO IMPACTS HAVE OCCURRED TO VEHICLE OR WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CRACKS DISCOVERED. VEHICLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN VERY LOW MILES SINCE THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK. THE FIRST CRACK RUNS HORIZONTAL AND POSITIONED ABOUT HALF WAY UP WINDSHIELD AND A LITTLE LEFT OF CENTER (TOWARDS DRIVER'S SIDE). THE SECOND CRACK IS A CRESCENT SHAPED CRACK APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES BELOW THE HORIZONTAL CRACK.

  23. Visibility/wiper, Jul 6, 2020

    UNEXPLAINED CRACKED WINDSHIELD.

  24. Visibility/wiper, Jul 6, 2020

    MY WIFE AND I DRIVING HOME EASTBOUND HIGHWAY 50 AND NOTICED SMALL CRACK IN WINDSHIELD GLASS UNDER WINDSHIELD WIPER. NEVER HEARD OR SAW ANYTHING HIT WINDSHIELD AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OR BEHIND US. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND THE WINDSHIELD USUALLY WILL GET A SMALL DING WHEN HIT HARD BY ROCK OR PEBBLE BUT WILL NOT CRACK. THIS CRACK STARTED AT BOTTOM ON WINDSHIELD UNDERNEATH THE WIPER.

  25. Visibility/wiper, Jul 5, 2020

    I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS. THIS HAPPENED SECOND TIME ON MY CAR WITHIN 12 MONTHS.