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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

1,033 reports
7,000 miles · Jul 10, 2019
Visibility/wiper

OUR NEW 2019 OUTBACK EXPERIENCED A WINDSHIELD CRACK WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF IMPACT OF A FOREIGN OBJECT. THE CRACK APPEARED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING ON THE DEFOG SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING. THE LOCAL DEALER INSISTED THAT THE CRACK WAS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AND NOT WINDSHIELD MATERIAL FAILURE. AFTER CONTACTING SUBARU…

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OUR NEW 2019 OUTBACK EXPERIENCED A WINDSHIELD CRACK WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF IMPACT OF A FOREIGN OBJECT. THE CRACK APPEARED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING ON THE DEFOG SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING. THE LOCAL DEALER INSISTED THAT THE CRACK WAS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AND NOT WINDSHIELD MATERIAL FAILURE. AFTER CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPAIRED AS A COURTESY AT THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #11230708

10,000 miles · Jul 9, 2019
Visibility/wiper

SMALL ROCK HIT LOWER LEFT CORNER OF WINDSHIELD, APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES FROM EDGE. CONTINUED DRIVING. SUDDENLY, ENTIRE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ACROSS APPROXIMATELY 70% OF GLASS WITHIN 5 MINUTES, OBSTRUCTING VIEW. INITIAL IMPACT WAS TINY CHIP, BARELY VISIBLE WITHOUT CLOSE INSPECTION. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, HIGHWAY, 60MPH, DRY R…

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SMALL ROCK HIT LOWER LEFT CORNER OF WINDSHIELD, APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES FROM EDGE. CONTINUED DRIVING. SUDDENLY, ENTIRE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ACROSS APPROXIMATELY 70% OF GLASS WITHIN 5 MINUTES, OBSTRUCTING VIEW. INITIAL IMPACT WAS TINY CHIP, BARELY VISIBLE WITHOUT CLOSE INSPECTION. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, HIGHWAY, 60MPH, DRY ROAD & WEATHER, BEFORE SUNRISE. SINGLE OWNER VEHICLE, 10K MILES. COMPLAINT ALSO FILED WITH SUBARU.

NHTSA ODI #11230389

600 miles · Jul 6, 2019
Visibility/wiper

PURCHASED NEW 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT AFTER JUST A COUPLE WEEKS A STRESS CRACK BEGAN TO FORM FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD GOING DOWN. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS OUTSIDE ON A HOT DAY AND THE CRACK BEGAN TO GET WORSE. NO IMPACT ON WINDSHIELD FROM ROCK OR ANYTHING ELSE. MAY BE CAUSED FROM HEAT? VEH…

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PURCHASED NEW 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT AFTER JUST A COUPLE WEEKS A STRESS CRACK BEGAN TO FORM FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD GOING DOWN. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS OUTSIDE ON A HOT DAY AND THE CRACK BEGAN TO GET WORSE. NO IMPACT ON WINDSHIELD FROM ROCK OR ANYTHING ELSE. MAY BE CAUSED FROM HEAT? VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN BOTH CASES.

NHTSA ODI #11229755

12,000 miles · Jul 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper

JUST EXPERIENCED MY SECOND SPONTANEOUS CRACK WITHIN FOUR SIX MONTHS WHERE THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CRACK STARTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE WIPER BLADES AND THE CRACK EXPANDS UPWARD APPROXIMATELY 12-18 INCHES. IT IS BEYOND MESHY THESE WINDSHIELDS HAVE TO BE REPLACED SO O…

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JUST EXPERIENCED MY SECOND SPONTANEOUS CRACK WITHIN FOUR SIX MONTHS WHERE THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CRACK STARTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE WIPER BLADES AND THE CRACK EXPANDS UPWARD APPROXIMATELY 12-18 INCHES. IT IS BEYOND MESHY THESE WINDSHIELDS HAVE TO BE REPLACED SO OFTEN AND IT IS MY OPINION THEY ARE MADE WITH MATERIALS THAT CANNOT STAND UP TO DAY TO DAY TEMPERATURE CHANGES OF NEW ENGLAND. THE CAR WAS PARKED ALL WEEKEND AND HAD NO CRACK. HOWEVER, ON MONDAY MORNING, THE CRACK WAS THERE.

NHTSA ODI #11229689

3,500 miles · Jul 4, 2019
Visibility/wiper

PLEASE REVIEW AND ESCALATE THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE SAME ISSUE RESULTED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA. I PURCHASED MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK ON 12.31.18. AFTER WORK IN MID APRIL OF 2019, I RETURNED TO MY PARKED CAR. UNLOCKED AND ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I LOWERED THE SUN SHADE AND NOTICED A LARGE …

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PLEASE REVIEW AND ESCALATE THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE SAME ISSUE RESULTED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA. I PURCHASED MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK ON 12.31.18. AFTER WORK IN MID APRIL OF 2019, I RETURNED TO MY PARKED CAR. UNLOCKED AND ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I LOWERED THE SUN SHADE AND NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT STARTED AT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE GLASS ON THE DRIVER SIDE, ARCED UP AND CURVED TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS NOTICED INSIDE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED IT FOR ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AND CHECKED THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE OUTSIDE. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY OTHER DAMAGE THAN THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND A MINISCULE LEFT PASSENGER DOOR DING. AS IF THE EDGE OF ANOTHER CAR DOOR CAME IN CONTACT WITH MY SUBARU. NO ROAD HAZARDS OR DEBRIS WAS ENCOUNTERED ON THE WAY TO OR FROM WORK. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP, HILEY SUBARU OF FORT WORTH, AND REQUESTED TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED DURING MY NEXT SERVICE APPOINTMENT INDICATING THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY. AT THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT, THEY DECLINED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11229414

7,400 miles · Jul 1, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW MARCH 2019. I DEVELOPED A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD, CLOSER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE, THAT QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WINDSHIELD 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING AND WITH LESS THAN 6K MILES. IT APPEARED TO BE FROM A SMALL STONE CHIP. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS VERY MINIMAL AND I HA…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW MARCH 2019. I DEVELOPED A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD, CLOSER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE, THAT QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WINDSHIELD 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING AND WITH LESS THAN 6K MILES. IT APPEARED TO BE FROM A SMALL STONE CHIP. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS VERY MINIMAL AND I HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD MUCH LARGER CHIPS THAT HAVE 'SPIDERED' BUT NEVER SPREAD AS RAPIDLY AS THIS CRACK ON MY NEW OUTBACK. I WORKED WITH MY INSURANCE TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, TOTAL COST WAS OVER $800. I DROVE THE CAR 4 TIMES IN 3 DAYS AFTER GETTING IT REPLACED, ALL ON PAVED ROADS. THIS MORNING I DEVELOPED A CRACK AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE THAT QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WINDSHIELD AGAIN. THEIR APPEARS TO BE A SMALL SANDSTONE CHIP THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE REASON FOR THE CRACK. I AM TAKING IT BACK TO THE PLACE THAT REPLACED IT AND HOPING IT'S COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY OF THE RECENT REPLACEMENT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY SUBARU BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11228820

500 miles · Jul 1, 2019
Steering

ON FREEWAY - TRAFFIC MOVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH ON CORNER - THE CAR VEERED SHARPLY TOWARDS THE FREEWAY INSIDE WALL. NO CONTROL OF STEERING WHEN I TRIED TO GENTLY CORRECT - WHEN THE CAR FINALLY RESPONDED IT VEERED SHARPLY I TOT HE LANES TO MY RIGHT. THE STEERING WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK - IT IS BRA…

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ON FREEWAY - TRAFFIC MOVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH ON CORNER - THE CAR VEERED SHARPLY TOWARDS THE FREEWAY INSIDE WALL. NO CONTROL OF STEERING WHEN I TRIED TO GENTLY CORRECT - WHEN THE CAR FINALLY RESPONDED IT VEERED SHARPLY I TOT HE LANES TO MY RIGHT. THE STEERING WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK - IT IS BRAND NEW AND THE STEER ASSIST WAS ON. THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2019 STEERING WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL ON A CORNER GOING APPROX 45 MPH - DANGEROUS. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE STEERING. MY 1998 AND 2016 OUTBACKS DRIVE AND CORNERED EXCELLENT RLY - THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2019 HAS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS STEERING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11228764

6,933 miles · Jun 30, 2019
Steering

THE STEERING SEEMS TO FLOAT. YOU LOSE ROAD FEEL AND THE STEERING SEEMS TO CATCH. THERE IS ALSO A SINGLE BEEP HEARD WHEN THIS OCCURS.

NHTSA ODI #11228523

8,500 miles · Jun 25, 2019
Visibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER LESS THAN A MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. IT STARTED FROM THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE BELOW THE WIPER ON THE HEATING ELEMENT. IT MANIFESTED ONE MORNING BEFORE I LEFT FOR WORK IN LATE MAY. MY DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE IT, CLAIMING IT WAS A ROCK, THOUGH THERE ARE NO CHIPS OR SPIDERING. IT'S A SINGLE LONG CR…

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THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER LESS THAN A MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. IT STARTED FROM THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE BELOW THE WIPER ON THE HEATING ELEMENT. IT MANIFESTED ONE MORNING BEFORE I LEFT FOR WORK IN LATE MAY. MY DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE IT, CLAIMING IT WAS A ROCK, THOUGH THERE ARE NO CHIPS OR SPIDERING. IT'S A SINGLE LONG CRACK THAT WINDS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN I ASKED THEM HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN A ROCK WITHOUT A POINT OF IMPACT, THE RESPONSE FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS "ROCKS CAN DO FUNNY THINGS." MY 2016 IMPREZA HAD ITS WINDSHIELD REPLACED WITH THIS EXACT TYPE OF CRACK UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11222557

754 miles · Jun 22, 2019
Steering

BASED UPON THE SUBARU REVIEW IN THE CONSUMER REPORTS APRIL AUTO ISSUE, I PURCHASED A 2019 OUTBACK. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. IT HAS ABOUT THIRTY DEGREES OF PLAY. IT TAKES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I …

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BASED UPON THE SUBARU REVIEW IN THE CONSUMER REPORTS APRIL AUTO ISSUE, I PURCHASED A 2019 OUTBACK. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. IT HAS ABOUT THIRTY DEGREES OF PLAY. IT TAKES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I JUST HAD TO GET USED TO DRIVING WITH THE SUBARU 'EYE SIGHT'. DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IS STRESSFUL TO SAY THE LEAST. ON A TRIP TO TAMPA ON I-275 I ALMOST SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11221871

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