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
1,034 reports, newest first.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 3, 2022
I went outside to get my Sunday newspaper and noticed a large somewhat S-shaped crack on my windshield. It has been parked in the driveway Friday night and all day Saturday July 1-3. I have also had 2 small (nickel-sized) dings which I had SafeLite fix and neither of these have run. I’ve never owned a vehicle in my 60 some odd years with this many windshield issues. Subaru needs to pay for these issues and correct the problem. I will be out $997.28 for what appears to be a design problem.
Electrical system, Jun 30, 2022
The car battery was completely dead (no warning light or anything) after ~3 years and 45k miles. When we replaced it, the new battery died within 2 days and less than 150 miles. The mechanic who replaced our battery said that the new one was also completely dead.
Electrical system, Jun 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the battery was drained. The battery warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was jumpstarted and taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to an authorized dealer. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000.
Engine, Jun 26, 2022
Battery died following limited use.
Visibility, Jun 22, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, she noticed there was a crack on the front windshield. There was no impact to the windshield that could have caused the crack. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,593.
Vehicle speed control, Visibility/wiper, Forward collision avoidance, Jun 18, 2022
I had a driver-side mirror damaged in a small crash. The wiring harness for the mirror was pulled from its location. The mirror was replaced, and the wiring harness was not to my knowledge. Since that repair, the vehicled dynamic cruise control, called Eyesight has failed more than 50 times. I have had the vehicle at the dealer 2 times. They concluded yesterday the unit checked out. I drove it for 5 minutes, and it failed again. I believe it could be related to them not replacing the wiring harness. They believe it may be related to a new windshield, which I find it hard to believe. They recalibrated the Eyesight with the non-OEM windshield. Subaru technicians believe it is related to the non-OEM windshield, and I am having a brand new windshield replaced with the OEM windshield. Which I also believe is inferior because of cracks in my orginal windshield.
Power train, Jun 16, 2022
Travelling on the freeway and tapped brakes to disengage the adaptive cruise control due to slowing traffic ahead. The anti-lock brakes came on and the car came to a complete stop even though I had only tapped the brake and taken my foot off the brake. After coming to a stop the car was still running, but the transmission was completely out and the car wouldn't move. Was disabled on freeway until the Highway Patrol came and pushed me off the road.
Electrical system, Jun 13, 2022
First of all, I took my car in for an oil change 2 months ago, and they found nothing wrong with my car. However, yesterday, I attended a meeting away from my home. I was in the meeting in the morning for 2 hours. When I returned to my car, without any previous warning whatsoever, it would not start. My car is only 3 years old. I tried to open the hatch to get my jumper cables, but it requires electricity, I also wanted to roll down my windows because it was so hot, but they also only work with electricity. So I could do nothing but call for help. I was lucky that I wasn’t stranded on some remote place where there was no phone signal. I would not feel comfortable going somewhere on my own in my car, until I know exactly what is causing this problem because I don’t think it is safe — and I could be stranded. I had to have my car jump started again this morning. So tomorrow morning, I am taking the car in to have the battery checked. On December 10, 2019 I took my car in to a Subaru Dealership because I had, had another problem with my Subaru Outback, where I opened my back hatch on two separate occasions, but I could not get it to close (in the rain). I believe I called StarLink for help. However, somehow, by random actions just turning the car off and on, and pushing the “close” button on the back door, it finally worked, but I still don’t understand how or why. I ended up stranded at a grocery store and an airport when this happened. When I took it in to get checked at a Subaru dealership, I was told they could find nothing wrong with it.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 13, 2022
My windshield is constantly getting cracks and chips. When I tried to get the most recent crack repaired, the windshield cracked, forcing me to get a replacement. When the windshield got replaced, another crack appeared 24 hours later, rising from the bottom (near the car frame), towards the top of the car. This crack nearly doubled in size within 48 hours. I will be spending about $1500 total on two new windshields within a month. This is not what I would expect of Subaru. I've owned many cars in the past, and have never had to replace windshields at this rate.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 12, 2022
Three cracked windshields, according to the service personnel the windshield on this vehicle is thin, Subaru was aware of it, but has done nothing about it. Subaru cover the cost of the first windshield and the part that was not covered by insurance on the second one. Now it’s out of warranty and I’m sure the windshield will be out of pocket and it’s well over $1000. The first crack was for no apparent reason, but the second and third one did appear that there was some type of chip in the windshield. I question if the glass is thin how safe can it be?
Other or unspecified, Jun 12, 2022
I will be on my FOURTH windshield in less than a year. Cracked for no reason four times!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2022
Battery drained. Will not hold a charge. From what I’ve been reading it seems there is a problem in the electrical system that is draining the batteries of these cars.
Electrical system, Jun 10, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary, he was unable to start the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he jumped started the vehicle and started up as needed. The contact stated he continued to experience the failure. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the battery replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure and the battery was replaced for a second time. The contact stated he continues to experience the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,563.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 3, 2022
The windshield of my Subaru Outback just cracked spontaneously and it needed to be replaced. Subaru of America is not paying for the replacement even if it is not my fault that it cracked. They said it is out of warranty but there is an ongoing class action suit against them about this
Other or unspecified, May 31, 2022
Minor rock caused major windshield damage where the crack line continues to creep across the window.
Electrical system, May 27, 2022
AFTER 4 DAYS OF NOT DRIVING ..THE BATTERY IS DRAINED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. BATTERY TESTED BY MECHANIC AND HAS NO PROBLEM. MUST CARRY JUMPER CABLES OR A BATTERY CHARGER
Steering, May 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would erroneously turn to either the right or left causing the vehicle to pull in either direction. The contact indicated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.
Electrical system, May 23, 2022
There have been numerous problems associated with battery drain and improper function of the vehicle's automatic lift gate. Starting with the first dead battery situation on 12/25/21, there have been a total of 6 dead battery situations with this relatively new, certified pre-owned vehicle. Two new batteries have been provided through a AAA membership, but neither new battery has addressed the situation. The vehicle was taken to its place of purchase (Kendall Subaru of Eugene) on 02/02/22 to have a battery charge test conducted which was described by the dealership as the first and only course of action for the problem. The car passed Subaru's battery charge test and continued to have battery problems. Other than dealing with numerous dead batteries, improper function of the lift gate has also caused frustrating and unsettling conditions. For example, sometimes the automatic lift gate function on the vehicle's trunk won't work and the trunk will stay open. After force-closing the trunk, sometimes a loud beeping noise persists during driving of the vehicle for seemingly arbitrary and lengthy periods of time. Following is a list of dates when battery problems with this vehicle have occurred: 12/25/21; 12/27/21; 1/25/22; 3/21/22; 4/4/22; 5/22/22
Visibility/wiper, May 19, 2022
My windshield cracked in February 2022 while parked and was replaced with a new Subaru windshield under warranty in February 2022. After having the windshield replaced, it cracked again in May 2022, with the crack propagating from the same spot at the base of the wiper blade on the driver's side windshield. The windshield glass failed. It was available for inspection at Safelite and Subaru upon request. Disagreement between myself and Subaru and Safelite as to cause. The main crack is a stress crack, which started from the base of the windshield and propagated towards the center of the windshield. There is a small radial fracture, which seems to be around a jog in the main fracture, possibly where there was a local stress field change in the glass around the intermittent tip of the propagating fracture. Subaru and Safelite claim it is an impact fracture because of the small radial/conchoidal fracture. However, a) I did not witness an impact while driving when the crack initiated, b) the same type of conchoidal/radial fracture can occur due to localized stress field changes in the damage zone ahead of a propagating fracture tip, 3) and the main fracture can then continue to propagate through the damage zone, as it seemed to do in my windshield. The fracture deviates slightly at the radial point, suggesting the radial nature is due to a local stress field change rather than an impact. Furthermore, the intersection of the crack with the molding at the base of the windshield is in almost an identical location to the February 2022 crack, which occurred while my car was parked and had no impact. Even if there was a minor impact, the crack propagating at the same location at the base of the windshield is statistically unlikely unless there is an issue with the glass. Safety of myself and others was put at risk by reducing visibility. No warnings or other signs of failure occurred prior to the windshield failure.
Visibility/wiper, May 13, 2022
Windshield loud pop then cracked feom bottom up.
Insert, Padding, May 13, 2022
My 11 month old was able to reach underneath the headrest and scratch at the styrofoam. Chunks of styrofoam came out and she ate the styrofoam during a 4-hour car ride. The next day I found styrofoam in her stool.
Electrical system, May 12, 2022
Battery got drained many times, especially after leaving car not running for a couple weeks. One time car did not start. Had to replace battery for a better one. Better battery (Optima) works better but still drains.
Other or unspecified, May 10, 2022
While car was parked overnight the windshield cracked. The windshield was not cracked and there were no signs of any damage when I left the car 12 hours prior. The next morning it was cracked with no sign of any debris or solid matter that may have caused it. I am happy it did not happen while driving. I have an appointment to get it fixed May 10, 2022 at 10 am. I was told by an independent service provider that the wind shield was cracked but had no signs of being struck by anything. He told me he had multiple customers who had similar stories about their windshields. He suggested I check for a recall. There is not a recall yet, but there has been a lawsuit that ruled against Subaru. (see link) https://www.torquenews.com/1084/new-ruling-subaru-cracked-windshield-lawsuit-now-adds-25m-cars
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 9, 2022
Battery drained by approx 50 % in a 12 hour period preventing car from starting. No lights, radio or other electrical feature could be activated. This is the 3rd occurrence of this feature since I purchased the vehicle on 9-28-2020. Supposedly Subaru dealer, Patrick Motors, Worcester, MA replaced the battery in 2020 at that time.
Electrical system, May 9, 2022
Not driven in a few day (2-3), the battery is dead and need to be jump started again an again!!! VERY FESTRIGHTION!!! Purchased the car (lease sales) 3-1-21 apx. Should have been fix under warranty then before sales, problems very sense. Had to personally buy a jump-starter and charger for my safety. EXPENSIVE!!! as a safety