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

1,034 reports, newest first.

  1. Electrical system, Apr 27, 2020

    MY VEHICLE HAS UNDER 3000 MILES AND HAS HAD A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY DYING. THE BATTERY HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED TWICE; ONCE WITH AN INTERSTATE BATTERY FROM COSTCO AND ONCE WITH AN ODYSSEY BATTERY FROM BATTERYMART.COM. I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITHT HE BATTERY DYING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG.

  2. Electrical system, Apr 26, 2020

    BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 17,600 MILES. WOULD NOT HOLD CHARGE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO JUMP START. TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD 'THEY SEE THIS SOMETIMES.. MUST BE DUE TO VEHICLES SITTING AROUND PRIOR TO BEING SOLD'.

  3. Electrical system, Apr 25, 2020

    A VEHICLE SLOW STARTING. WOUND NOT START AT TIMES. BATTERY FAILED TESTING. REPLACED AT DEALER.

  4. 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.

  5. Visibility, Other or unspecified, Apr 17, 2020

    UNKNOWN IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR 2 DAYS, WHEN I CAME OUT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

  6. 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.

  7. Electrical system, Apr 2, 2020

    BRAND NEW 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK EXPERIENCES REPEATED PARASITIC BATTERY DRAIN LEAVING MY STRANDED WHILE TRAVELING. SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE STATES THAT THERE IS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE REAR HATCH BUT SUBARU REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED 5 TIMES INCLUDING ONCE IN A REMOTE PART OF CANADA.

  8. Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Apr 1, 2020

    I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EYESIGHT DRIVER ASSIST IF THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE THE CAR SET AT 3 CAR LENGTHS & USE CRUISE ALWAYS. ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN CRUISE IS SET TO 70 - WITH OR WITHOUT FOLLOWING ANOTHER CAR - I WILL LOOK DOWN AND I FIND MYSELF GOING 85 MILES AN HOUR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. OTHER PROBLEM IS THE SAFETY FEATURE OF STAYING IN ONE'S LANE. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO HOLD ONTO A STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE LIKE I DO NOW. IT OVER-CORRECTS AND I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN THROWN INTO ANOTHER LANE. THIS IS MOST DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE GETTING THE CAR AND HAVE REPORTED IT AND HAVE BEEN BLOWN OFF BY SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AS WELL AS A LOCAL SUBARU REPAIR SHOP

  9. 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

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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

  13. Other or unspecified, Mar 20, 2020

    18" LONG WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT 6" FROM THE BOTTOM. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT MAY HAVE CRACKED WHEN OR IF PEBBLE HIT IT. A LOT OF BUGS DIED ON MY WINDSHIELD THAT MORNING TOO SO I HAD TO USE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER FLUID. I DID NOT NOTICE A CRACK BECAUSE IT WAS WAY TOO DARK IN THE MORNING TO SEE ANYTHING. I NOTICED THE CRACK AT 1PM IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK GETTING READY TO GO HOME.

  14. Visibility/wiper, Mar 20, 2020

    WENT TO GO START MY VEHICLE THAT IS PARKED OUTSIDE IN OUR PARKING LOT COMPLEX, AND IT WAS ABOUT 15 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND THEIR WAS FROST ON THE WHOLE FRONT WINDSHIELD. I OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR TO START THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FROST ON THE BOTTOM HALF INSIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AS WELL. ALL OTHER WINDOWS AND DOORS HAD BEEN CLOSED. I STARTED THE VEHICLE UP TO BEGIN DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD AND SCRAPED THE OUTSIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD. UPON COMPLETING THIS, THE FROST ON THE INSIDE WAS STILL THERE BUT SLOWLY MELTING AWAY FROM THE HEATER. WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 20 DAYS AND IT HAD 6,350 MILES WHEN PURCHASED. CURRENTLY HAS 6,940 MILES WHEN THIS DEFECT HAPPENED.

  15. Visibility/wiper, Mar 16, 2020

    WINDSHIELD CRACKED- STARTED AS A SMALL CRACK AND NOW HAS SPREAD OVER THE WINDSHIELD

  16. Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020

    FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE MY 2019 SUBARU WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. CRACK IS AT LEAST ABOUT 18" LONG. IT MAY HAVE STARTED FROM A ROCK/PEBBLE HITTING WINDSHIELD WHILE ON THE ROAD, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ANY ROCKS OR PEBBLES HIT THAT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD WHILE COMMUTING AND CRACK WAS NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO PARKING MY CAR FOR THE NIGHT. TEMPERATURE DIDN'T FLUCTUATE SIGNIFICANTLY ENOUGH OVERNIGHT.

  17. Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020

    SMALL CHIP IN WINDSHIELD ON HIGHWAY TURNED INTO LARGE CRACK REQUIRING WHOLE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED AND VISION SYSTEM RECALIBRATED.

  18. Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2020

    WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN CASTLE ROCK CO. NOTHING HIT BY WINDSHIELD OR ANYTHING. NEXT THING I KNOW. LARGE CRACK IS FORMING FROM THE BOTTOM LEFT OF THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE EDGE.

  19. Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2020

    THREE WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

  20. Visibility/wiper, Mar 13, 2020

    I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A CRACK, THEN SAW A LARGE CRACK ON MY WINDSHIELD! AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED, THE CRACK CONTINUED TO SPREAD.

  21. Visibility/wiper, Mar 13, 2020

    I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND A LITTLE PEBBLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD LEAVING A SMALL CHIP (SMALLER THAN THE SIZE OF A DIME). I PARKED THE CAR AND WITHIN AN HOUR, THIS CHIP KEPT GROWING INTO A LARGE CRACK. OVER ONLY A COUPLE DAYS IT HAD SPREAD TO CRACK ALL OVER THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD.

  22. Other or unspecified, Mar 13, 2020

    WINDSHIELD CRACKED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

  23. Visibility/wiper, Mar 11, 2020

    CAME OUT OF WORK TO FIND A LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD THAT WASN'T THERE WHEN I GOT TO WORK. NOW HAVE TO HAVE WINDSHIELD REPLACE AND EYESIGHT CAMERAS RECALIBRATED.

  24. Visibility/wiper, Mar 11, 2020

    JUST PUT IN A COMPLAINT ON 3/6/20 FOR A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM ON OUR 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING TODAY, FOUR CHIPS APPEARED ON WINDSHIELD AFTER DRIVING PAST WORK BEING DONE ON THE ROAD. DIDN'T EVEN HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING TOUCH THE WINDSHIELD. GOING BACK TO SAFELITE WHERE A NEW WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED LAST MONTH. THIS IS NOT A SAFELITE ISSUE, BUT A DEFECT IN SUBARU GLASS FOR THE OUTBACK. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 38 YEARS AND ONLY DROVE GM CARS BEFORE THIS AND ONLY HAD 1 WINDSHIELD REPLACED AFTER AN ACCIDENT NEVER BECAUSE OF A PEBBLE HITTING IT THERE ARE ARTICLES ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE GLASS ONLINE AND LAWSUITS, BUT SUBARU DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER LAWSUIT OR GET RID OF THE CAR NOW. CAN'T AFFORD A NEW WINDSHIELD EVERY MONTH.

  25. Electrical system, Mar 11, 2020

    PROBLEM: KEYLESS PUSHBUTTON START. WOULD NOT START CAR ON VACATION. VEHICLE MANUAL VERY CONFUSING. AFTER SEVERAL NERVE RACKING MINUTES (1/2 TO 45 MINUTES OF TRYING). NO OTHER WAY KNOWN TO START CAR. THIS WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE! VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER FUELING UP AT GAS STATION.