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2019 Subaru Outback

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Outback years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Subaru Outback are substantially higher than the model-year median of 207.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

469 reports with mileage · 564 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 363 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 326 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports2 fire reports12 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

363 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2020
Electrical System

DEAD BATTERY PROBLEM. HAVING THE BATTERY GO DEAD IN A PARKING LOT, HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED TO GET HOME.HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AFTER A FEW MORE CASES OF SLOW STARTING, BATTERY WAS REPLACE BY DEALER. HAD TO JUMP START THE NEW BATTERY IN GARAGE TWO MORE TIME IN THE PART WEEK. HAD TO BUY A BATTERY STARTER BOX TO CARRY IN THE C…

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DEAD BATTERY PROBLEM. HAVING THE BATTERY GO DEAD IN A PARKING LOT, HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED TO GET HOME.HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AFTER A FEW MORE CASES OF SLOW STARTING, BATTERY WAS REPLACE BY DEALER. HAD TO JUMP START THE NEW BATTERY IN GARAGE TWO MORE TIME IN THE PART WEEK. HAD TO BUY A BATTERY STARTER BOX TO CARRY IN THE CAR TO BE SURE I CAN GET HOME IF I DRIVE THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11372987

8,200 miles · Oct 19, 2020
Electrical System

BATTERY DRAINS AND IS DEAD AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IF NOT STARTED OR DRIVEN

NHTSA ODI #11365189

9,432 miles · Oct 19, 2020
Electrical System

THE BATTERY DIED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEPTEMBER 17. THE CAR WAS JUMPED AND BROUGHT TO DEALER. DEALER SAID TESTED BATTERY AND FOUND TO BE 477 CCA. DID NOT REPLACE BATTERY. THEN ON OCTOBER 16TH THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. THIS TIME CORROSION AND LEAK FOUND ON POSITIVE PART OF BATTERY. TOOK TO THE SAME DEALER, TOLD BATTERY WAS INDEED BAD…

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THE BATTERY DIED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEPTEMBER 17. THE CAR WAS JUMPED AND BROUGHT TO DEALER. DEALER SAID TESTED BATTERY AND FOUND TO BE 477 CCA. DID NOT REPLACE BATTERY. THEN ON OCTOBER 16TH THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. THIS TIME CORROSION AND LEAK FOUND ON POSITIVE PART OF BATTERY. TOOK TO THE SAME DEALER, TOLD BATTERY WAS INDEED BAD AND REPLACED BATTERY. THERE IS NO WARNING OF LOW VOLTAGE IN BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI #11365174

13,000 miles · Oct 5, 2020
Electrical System

SECOND TIME BATTERY WAS DRAINED. ALTERNATOR IS OK. IT IS DRIVEN EVERY WEEK INCLUDING HIGHWAY MILES. DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR. IT HAD BEEN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY 1 1/2 DAYS. PREVIOUSLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH RADIO CHANGING VOLUME BY IT SELF AND HORN HONKING WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CENTER OF DRIVING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #11362918

6,817 miles · Oct 1, 2020
Electrical System

THE CAR HAD ONLY 6817 MILES ON IT WHEN WE BOUGHT IT ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. THE CAR RAN FINE WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED, BUT TODAY, AFTER FINALLY REGISTERING AND RECEIVING THE NY PLATES (DELAYED BY COVID-19), WE TRIED TO START IT AND NOTHING HAPPENED. CHECKING THE BATTERY WITH MY VOLTMETER INDICATED ONLY 4 VOLTS REMAINING. THIS IS AFT…

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THE CAR HAD ONLY 6817 MILES ON IT WHEN WE BOUGHT IT ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. THE CAR RAN FINE WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED, BUT TODAY, AFTER FINALLY REGISTERING AND RECEIVING THE NY PLATES (DELAYED BY COVID-19), WE TRIED TO START IT AND NOTHING HAPPENED. CHECKING THE BATTERY WITH MY VOLTMETER INDICATED ONLY 4 VOLTS REMAINING. THIS IS AFTER JUST SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS NOT USING THE CAR AT ALL. EITHER THE BATTERY IS FAULTY OR SOMETHING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS SLOWLY DRAINING THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI #11362299

17,000 miles · Sep 29, 2020
Electrical System

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY 2019 THE TOURING MODEL IN MAY THE CAR WAS DEAD A TOW COMPANY CAME GOT IT STARTED. THE NEXT DAY DEAD AGAIN THIS TIME IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. I'D HEARD FROM THE TOW GUY A CLASS ACTION SUIT ABOUT THE BATTERY. NOW SEPTEMBER 25 ALL BACKED TO GO FOR A WEEKEND EVENT WITH DOG, DEAD. WE UNPACKED LOADED A DIF…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY 2019 THE TOURING MODEL IN MAY THE CAR WAS DEAD A TOW COMPANY CAME GOT IT STARTED. THE NEXT DAY DEAD AGAIN THIS TIME IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. I'D HEARD FROM THE TOW GUY A CLASS ACTION SUIT ABOUT THE BATTERY. NOW SEPTEMBER 25 ALL BACKED TO GO FOR A WEEKEND EVENT WITH DOG, DEAD. WE UNPACKED LOADED A DIFFERENT CAR. SUBARU IS SAYING THEY NO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND IT'S PROBABLY MY DRIVING HABITS. THEY ASSUME I DON'T DRIVE MUCH IT'S NOW GOT 17K ON IT. I'M GOING TO BE TRAVELING ALL OVER WITH MY DOG TO SOME AREAS THAT ARE REMOTE. EVERYONE IS LEARNING OF THE ISSUE AN NOW I CAN'T SELL IT IN GOOD FAITH AND IT'S WORTHLESS TO TRADE. EACH TIME IT'S DIED IT'S BEEN IN THE GARAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11361719

3,500 miles · Sep 29, 2020
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2019. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE OR ACCESS THE BATTERY TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2019. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE OR ACCESS THE BATTERY TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUSTIN SUBARU (8100 BURNET ROAD, AUSTIN, TX 78757, (512) 220-0930) AND THE BATTERY AND BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

NHTSA ODI #11361707

6,000 miles · Sep 10, 2020
Electrical System

THE BATTERY CONTINUALLY DIES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED IT, BRAND NEW. WE'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR (AND IT ONLY HAS AROUND 6,000 MILES) AND THE BATTERY HAS DIED 4 TO 5 TIMES. MOST TIMES WE CAN JUMP IT OR THE DEALERSHIP DOES. THIS TIME THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND CANNOT BE JUM…

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THE BATTERY CONTINUALLY DIES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED IT, BRAND NEW. WE'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR (AND IT ONLY HAS AROUND 6,000 MILES) AND THE BATTERY HAS DIED 4 TO 5 TIMES. MOST TIMES WE CAN JUMP IT OR THE DEALERSHIP DOES. THIS TIME THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND CANNOT BE JUMPED. THE DEALER REFUSES TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE FURTHER, OTHER THAN BY RECHARGING THE BATTERY. WE'RE HOPING TO GET IT REPLACED THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11354269

10,000 miles · Aug 21, 2020
Electrical System

THE BATTERY DIES CONSTANTLY. I'VE HAD IT FOR JUST OVER A YEAR AND THE BATTERY HAS FAILED 4 TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11350695

13,000 miles · Aug 18, 2020
Electrical System

WHILE CAMPING IN A SEMI-REMOTE LOCATION, OUR BATTERY DIED, REQUIRING A LENGTHY PROCESS TO GET A JUMP START. THE ONLY DRAW ON THE BATTERY HAD BEEN MODERATE USE OF THE LJFTGATE THE EVENING BEFORE. ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INVOLVED A HOTEL STAY AND PURCHASE OF A JUMP BATTERY FOR PEACE OF MIND FOR THE REST OF OUR TRIP. WE DID HAVE TO USE…

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WHILE CAMPING IN A SEMI-REMOTE LOCATION, OUR BATTERY DIED, REQUIRING A LENGTHY PROCESS TO GET A JUMP START. THE ONLY DRAW ON THE BATTERY HAD BEEN MODERATE USE OF THE LJFTGATE THE EVENING BEFORE. ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INVOLVED A HOTEL STAY AND PURCHASE OF A JUMP BATTERY FOR PEACE OF MIND FOR THE REST OF OUR TRIP. WE DID HAVE TO USE THE JUMP BATTERY DURING THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS TO BE ABLE TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ODI #11350037

Official recalls

3

21V587000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Jul 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

20V218000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

19V493000 · Structure

Jun 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, the reduced strength of the vehicle body may increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Outback problems