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, Jul 3, 2020
I PURCHASED A NEW 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK IN AUGUST 2019. A LARGE CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD IN JUNE 2020. I REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. 10 DAYS LATER ANOTHER LARGE CRACK DEVELOPED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS REPLACED ON 7/2/2020. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 SO FAR ON WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS FOR A CAR THAT IS UNDER ONE YEAR OLD. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jul 1, 2020
IN SEPT OF 2019 I WAS DRIVING, HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THEN WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR A FEW HOURS LATER SAW A 12 PLUS INCH CRACK FROM THE SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. BY THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS WELL OVER 24 PLUS INCHES. DEALER SAID SOMETHING MUST OF HIT IT. I CHALKED IT UP TO BAD LUCK AND PAID THE NEARLY $1,000 TO REPLACE AND RECALIBRATE IT. THIS PAST MONDAY MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR, NO DAMAGE IN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN HE LEFT. HE HEARD A SLIGHT POP AND WHEN HE RETURNED HOME A FEW HOURS LATER ALMOST 30 PLUS INCHES OF CRACKING. IT BEGAN AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED WAS ON A HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER CARS NEARBY. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE GLASS AND TELLS ME THERE IS AN IMPACT THEY FOUND BY RUNNING A PEN DOWN THE CRACK. THE SUPPOSED IMPACT IS NO LARGER THAN THE TIP OF A PEN. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS GLASS. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS AN IMPACT, BUT EVEN IF THERE WAS, SHOULD THE WINDSHIELD CRACK BEYOND REPAIR IMMEDIATELY. THIS CANNOT BE SAFE. I HAVE CALLED NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OPENED A CASE. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jul 1, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON. NO CHIP OR DAMAGE. HAMPERS EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM. NOT BEING COVERED BY SUBARU DESPITE MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON NHTSA AND LAWSUITS IN NEWS.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 30, 2020
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HEARD A POP AND WITNESSED A CRACK START AND PROGRESS BOTH VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY STARING AT THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD AND HAS CONTINUED TO EXTEND SEVERAL HOURS LATER.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 22, 2020
SUBARU WINDSHIELD EASILY CRACKS. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, A CRACK FORMED BEGINNING AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SPREAD DOWN. SINCE REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD WITH AN OEM PART, 3 MORE LARGE CRACKS HAVE FORMED. WHILE SOME HAVE BEGUN FROM A SMALL ROCK CHIP, THEY ORIGINATE FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS AND SPREAD INWARD. THE GLASS APPEARS WEAK AS EVEN THE SMALLEST CHIP WILL CAUSE A LARGE CRACK. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN ANY DIFFERENTLY FROM CURRENT AND PREVIOUS VEHICLES OWNED YET THE AMOUNT OF CHIPS AND CRACKS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE WINDSHIELD IN THE LESS THAN ONE YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OF CHIPS AND CRACKS WE'VE HAD IN THE LIFETIME OF OUR OTHER VEHICLES. *TR
Visibility, Visibility/wiper, Jun 22, 2020
RECEIVED TWO CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD - ONE IN THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF OWNING THE CAR AND ANOTHER ONE TWO WEEKS AFTER. BOTH CHIPS OCCURRED AT MODERATE SPEEDS - ONE ON A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP AND THE OTHER ON A FREEWAY EXIT RAMP. THE CHIPS SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED QUITE EASILY WITH MINIMAL IMPACT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER CHIPS SINCE NOR HAVE THE EXISTING CHIPS BEEN REPAIRED OR CRACKED YET. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2020
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND RAN ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED THE CRACK AS WE DIDN'T NOTICE ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. THE 1ST TIME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED TOP PASSENGER SIDE AND THE CAR WAS MOVING ALONG THE HWY AND WE NOTICED A RUN FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT RAN ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE. CAR HAD 4000 MILES. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME, THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN WE NOTICED A CRACK AT THE TOP MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT STARTED TO RUN ACROSS THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT. AN ASIDE WE HAD A SUBARU TRIBECA 2007 FOR 12 YEARS AND +200K MILES WITH ONLY 1 CRACK WINDSHIELD THAT NEVER RAN.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 16, 2020
WE HAVE HAD OUR 4TH WINDSHIELD BREAK ON OUR 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. WE BELIEVE THESE TO BE SPONTANEOUS CRACKS, NOT THE RESULT OF A CHIP OR OTHER IMPACT. THE MOST RECENT HAPPENED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED (NOT A HOT DAY) OUT IN THE OPEN. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 15, 2020
WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 14, 2020
I CAME HOME FROM WORK, WENT THROUGH THE CAR WASH, AND THE NEXT MORNING I HAD A CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD EITHER ON THE DRIVE, OR AT THE CAR WASH.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 4, 2020
MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK'S WINDSHIELD CRACK WITH NO REASON, I PARKED THE VEHICLE MY DRIVEWAY ABOUT 3 PM WITH NO DAMAGE AND WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK NEXT DAY AT 5 AM I REALIZE THE CRACK. THE CRACK STARTED FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT GREW DAY BY DAY ALMOST REACHED ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER END. I CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER CARE VIA EMAIL ON 5/21/2020 BUT STILL GOT NO RESPONSE. I ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER IN TEMECULA/CA I ALMOST KICK OUT FROM THERE, AS SOON AS THEY SEE THE CRACK THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HELP OR GIVE ME INFORMATION. ALL I WONDER IS, IT IS BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY OR HOW SHOULD I HANDLE TO REPAIR BECAUSE OF EYESIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 12K MILES ON IT AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Visibility, Visibility/wiper, Jun 4, 2020
LARGE WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE CAR WAS PARKED AND GREW LARGER WHEN CAR WAS PARKED. SUBARU DEALER INSISTED IT WAS FROM AN IMPACT, BUT NONE WERE VISIBLE. DEALER SAID NEW WINDSHIELDS WERE THINNER AND MORE PRONE TO CRACKING AND I MIGHT HAVE IT HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 1, 2020
FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND CAR, NO BUGS HIT WINDSHIELD, NOTHING HIT FRONT OF WINDSHIELD. AUDIBLE LOUD "POP" THEN VISIBLE CRACK THAT STARTED FROM DRIVER'S SIDE EDGE OF VEHICLE EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY INTO DRIVER'S LINE OF VISION. DRIVER WAS STARTLED AND DRIVER'S VISION IMPAIRED FROM CRACK. VEHICLE DRIVEN LESS THAN 10 TIMES, PURCHASED ON 5/16/2020, STORED IN GARAGE AND COVERED PARKING STRUCTURE. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 31, 2020
SECOND SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN 18 MONTHS.
Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM THE MID-CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE PARKED. THE CRACK BEGAN IN OCTOBER, 2019, LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT CAUSING DAMAGE AND THE CRACK BEGAN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 15, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD BROKE WITHOUT HAVING ANYTHING EVER HIT IT. CAME OUT TO CAR ONE MORNING AND THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ACROSS WINDSHIELD STARTING FROM THE BASE CENTER OF THE WINDOW. AT THIS POINT I HAD OWNED THE CAR LESS THEN 6 MONTHS. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 4, 2020
I WAS RETURNING TO DRIVE MY CAR AFTER SITTING STATIONARY IN AN APARTMENT PARKING SPOT FOR TWO DAYS. UPON ENTERING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED A CRACK TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD ACROSS THE DRIVER SIDE EXTENDING TO THE CENTER. I INSPECTED THE OUTSIDE, WITH NO NOTICEABLE CHIPS OR OTHER ISSUE AREAS. THE CAUSE TO ME IS UNKNOWN.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 27, 2020
2019 SUBARU OUTBACK PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2019. I HAVE EXPERIENCED CRACKED A WINDSHIELD 3 TIMES. I'VE HAD 3 NEW WINDSHIEDS REPLACED. MY FIRST WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WAS 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. TWO WEEKS LATER, THAT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND WAS REPLACED. ABOUT 8 MONTHS LATER, THAT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND I HAD IT REPLACED LAST DECEMBER. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AS IT SLOWLY CRACKED ACROSS THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD. THEN IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE IT. THE FIRST TIME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, I WAS DRIVING AND THE DEALER SAID A LITTLE ROCK HAD HIT IT. ALL 3 TIMES, THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME. THEY WERE VERY TINY SPOTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. WHILE DRIVING, I WAS NOT AWARE THAT ANYTHING HAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I FLINCH EVERY TIME AN AUTOMOBILE OR TRUCK PASSES ME ON ROADS OR THE FREEWAY I AM SO AFRAID THAT SOME LITTLE BIT OF DEBRIS WILL HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACK IT ONCE AGAIN. I'VE REPLACED THREE WINDSHIELDS IN ABOUT 13 MONTHS.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Apr 27, 2020
MY CAR SAT AT HOME FOR 2 DAYS. I THEN DROVE 5 MILES AND PARKED FOR 2 HOURS IN A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. AFTER 2 HOURS OF SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY HAD DRAINED AND I HAD TO CALL A FAMILY MEMBER TO JUMPER CABLE THE CAR TO GET IT STARTED. I WAS SO DISTRESSED THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED AT MY EXPENSE. I THEN READ ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING ANYWHERE AND HAVING THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. THE CAR HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 21, 2020
I WAS IN WYOMING FOR A LITTLE TRIP AT THE END OF NOVEMBER. IT WAS ONLY 22 F OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING. CAR WAS ON A PARKING SPOT. I ALWAYS WARMING UP MY CAR BEFORE DRIVING. I DID PUT DEFROST ON FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, TO MELT DOWN LITTLE BIT OF ICE ON WINDSHIELD. WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR, THE CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD ALMOST AT THE MIDDLE APPEARED. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, THAT CRACK SPLIT IN TWO DIRECTIONS. AT THIS MOMENT, ONE LITTLE PROLONGED CHIP OF GLASS CAME OUT AT THE POINT OF SPLIT. I WENT TO ONE OF THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WITH THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T COVER WINDSHIELDS, AND THAT I HAVE TO GO TO CAR GLASS SHOP AND DO IT ON MY OWN. SO, LATER ON I WENT TO ANOTHER SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING, BUT ALSO, THEY WERE ASSURING ME THAT THE CRACK HAPPENED BECAUSE OF SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANTED TO LISTEN, WHAT I WAS TELLING ABOUT HOW IT HAPPENED. NOW I HAVING FREQUENT FALSE ALARMS FOR LANE DEPARTURE AND OBSTACLE ON THE WAY.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 12, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET, NOT FREEWAY. VERY CLEAN ROAD AND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ME NOTICING IT HAPPEN OR HEARING ANY OBJECT TOUCH MY WINDSHIELD. I HAD MUSIC VERY LOW, YET EHARD NO ROCK. WAS GOING ABOUT 35 MILES.
Steering, Visibility/wiper, Mar 31, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT 40 MPH OR ABOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED INDEPENDENTLY FROM LANE TO LANE WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO CAPITOL SUBARU LOCATED AT (235 CHERRY AVE NE, SALEM, OR 97301, 503-576-3300) BY EMAIL BUT WAS YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE IN RETURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT DUE TO THE CURRENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY A DATE OR TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. *BF*JB
Visibility/wiper, Mar 25, 2020
ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN EARLY 2019, A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. 1-2 DAYS LATER THE CRACK GREW LARGE AND THE ENTIRE GLASS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. RECENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WAS DAMAGED AGAIN WITH A SMALL ROCK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND I'M AFRAID I'LL NEED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AGAIN. SUBARU FAILED TO DISCLOSE MATERIAL FACTS AND A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ABOUT THE WEAK WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 24, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I'M JANUARY WITH FEW OTHER VEHICLES AROUND A CRACK STARTED TO GROW FROM THE LOWER RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT CRAWLED TO NEARLY 24 INCHES IN LENGTH. WE WERE NEVER HIT BY A ROCK OR ANY OTHER DEBRIS. THIS IS THE SECOND FACTORY INSTALLED WINDSHIELD ON OUR SUBARU. THE FIRST WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN JULY 2019. THE WINDSHIELD WAS STRUCK BY A SMALL ROCK AND CRACKED. WE HAD THAT WINDSHIELD REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 22, 2020
WHILE PARKED OVER NIGHT IN MY SUBURBAN BOSTON DRIVEWAY THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A FOOT LONG CRACK UP THE MIDDLE FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE