← New search

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
6,000 miles · Jun 21, 2019
Visibility/wiper

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED AT MY HOUSE WHEN I REALIZED THE BACK WINDSHIELD WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. IT WAS STILL IN PLACE BECAUSE OF THE TEMPERED GLASS. I OPENED THE DOOR TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE CAR AND THE WINDSHIELD FELL APART INTO MY CAR AND ON THE GROUND. UNDER 7000 MILES ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11221826

3,225 miles · Jun 21, 2019
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

RECENTLY PURCHASED 2019 SUBARU FROM A SIMILAR 2017. CRUISE CONTROL SPEED SETTINGS HAVE CHANGED WHICH NOW REQUIRE YOU TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD TO WATCH FOR SPEED SETTINGS TO CHANGE. ON THE 2017 AND ALL OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED, TO INCREASE YOUR SPEED SETTING BY ONE MPH, YOU PUSH ONCE AND RELEASE. TO INCREASE BY 5 MPH,…

Read full complaint

RECENTLY PURCHASED 2019 SUBARU FROM A SIMILAR 2017. CRUISE CONTROL SPEED SETTINGS HAVE CHANGED WHICH NOW REQUIRE YOU TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD TO WATCH FOR SPEED SETTINGS TO CHANGE. ON THE 2017 AND ALL OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED, TO INCREASE YOUR SPEED SETTING BY ONE MPH, YOU PUSH ONCE AND RELEASE. TO INCREASE BY 5 MPH, PUSH AND HOLD UNTIL IT SENSES THE INCREASE. NOW.... A QUICK PUSH OF THE BUTTON RESULTS IN A 5 MPH INCREASE WHILE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE BUTTON AND WATCH THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR AS IT SLOWLY INCREASES YOUR SETTING 1 MPH AT A TIME. THIS IS DANGEROUS SINCE YOUR EYES ARE NO LONGER ON THE ROAD BUT ON THE DASH AREA. EVERYTHING ELSE I OWN, THERMOSTATS, KEYBOARDS, TV REMOTES....ALL MOVE UP OR DOWN ONE DEGREEE OR CHANNEL AT A TIME UNLESS YOU HOLD THE KEY PRESS LONGER, THEN YOU GET A FASTER REPEAT. I FEEL THAT TAKING MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO WATCH MY SPEED SELECTION CHANGE IS AKIN TO TEXTING. DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE NEW VEHICLE RESPONDS BY SAYING.... "THINGS CHANGE, GET USED TO IT". I FIND THIS SITUATIION UNACCEPTABLE!

NHTSA ODI #11221813

60 miles · Jun 9, 2019
Steering

STEERING WOBBLES VEERS IN AND OUT OF LANE AT RANDOM! BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS THAT IT FEELS LIKE 'ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING' FEELS LIKE I AM LOSING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING! NEEDS A TOTAL RECALL. ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN!

NHTSA ODI #11218799

200 miles · Jun 6, 2019
Electrical System

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE RADIO UNIT FROZE MAKING THE BACKUP SCREEN INOPERABLE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR WITH 200 MILES ON IT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD UNIT. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE UNIT WORKING, HOPEFULLY UNTIL THE NEW HEAD UNIT ARRIVES, BY PHYSICALLY DISCONNECTING THE CAR BATTER…

Read full complaint

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE RADIO UNIT FROZE MAKING THE BACKUP SCREEN INOPERABLE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR WITH 200 MILES ON IT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD UNIT. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE UNIT WORKING, HOPEFULLY UNTIL THE NEW HEAD UNIT ARRIVES, BY PHYSICALLY DISCONNECTING THE CAR BATTERY. UPON RESEARCH, IT TURNS OUT THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE PROBLEM FOR SUBARU. HAD I KNOWN, I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AND WORRY I WILL BE LEFT WITH A CRIPPLED CAR WITH NO WARRANTY OR REDRESS. SINCE A BACK UP CAMERA IS A REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURE UNDER FEDERAL LAW, SUBARU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL THESE DEFECTIVE CARS UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED, THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY, AND A FULL RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED. JUST GOOGLE 'SUBARU HEAD UNIT FAILURE.' HOW MUCH MORE INFORMATION DOES NHTSA NEED BEFORE IT ACTS? DOES A CHILD NEED TO BE KILLED IN A BACK UP ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE BACK UP CAMERA BEFORE APPROPRIATE ACTION IS TAKEN? IT IS CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT TO ALLOW THESE CARS TO CONTINUE TO BE SOLD UNTIL SUBARU HAS PROVEN THAT THEY HAV FIXED THE PROBLEM!

NHTSA ODI #11218229

5,000 miles · Jun 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK IN MID-JANUARY 2019. IN MARCH (03/12/2019) A SMALL ROCK HIT THE DRIVERS EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN A LARGE CRACK. I WORKED IT THROUGH MY INSURANCE AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED BY A THIRD-PARTY INSTALLER WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP. AT THE TIME, I HAD ONLY…

Read full complaint

I TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK IN MID-JANUARY 2019. IN MARCH (03/12/2019) A SMALL ROCK HIT THE DRIVERS EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN A LARGE CRACK. I WORKED IT THROUGH MY INSURANCE AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED BY A THIRD-PARTY INSTALLER WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP. AT THE TIME, I HAD ONLY 2K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IN MAY (05/09/2019), A SMALL ROCK HIT THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD AND THERE IS NOW A LARGE CRACK. THE WINDSHIELD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 5K MILES ON IT. I'VE HAD TWO (2) BROKEN WINDSHIELDS BEFORE I HAVE EVEN HAD MY FIRST OIL CHANGE. MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. I DROVE IT FOR 12 YEARS AND 235K MILES AND NEVER HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN HIT BY COUNTLESS ROCKS AND HAD NUMEROUS CHIPS. TWO WINDSHIELDS IN THREE MONTHS SUGGESTS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MODERN GLASS THAT IS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE SUBARU EYESIGHT SYSTEM. I WROTE AND ASKED SUBARU TO REPLACE THE SECOND WINDSHIELD AS A WARRANTY ITEM BUT THEY DECLINED. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING ON PAVED HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ODI #11218164

6,000 miles · Jun 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper

MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED BELOW THE WIPER.IT STARTED DEAD CENTER AND CRACK SPREAD RAPIDLY.RESEARCH SHOWS OTHER SUBARU OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. SUBARU WILL NOT ADMIT TO A DEFECT. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. NO VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT OF ME

NHTSA ODI #11218133

1,100 miles · Jun 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WE WERE DRIVING OUR SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 1100 MILES ON IT ON THE HIGHWAY ON SUNDAY MAY 26, 2019 - THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AND NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF US. WE NOTICED A CRACK IN OUR WINDSHIELD AND AT FIRST DID NOT THINK IT WAS A CRACK. WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION WE LOOKED AT THE WINDSHIELD - ONLY TO FIND WHAT WAS A 4 INCH C…

Read full complaint

WE WERE DRIVING OUR SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 1100 MILES ON IT ON THE HIGHWAY ON SUNDAY MAY 26, 2019 - THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AND NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF US. WE NOTICED A CRACK IN OUR WINDSHIELD AND AT FIRST DID NOT THINK IT WAS A CRACK. WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION WE LOOKED AT THE WINDSHIELD - ONLY TO FIND WHAT WAS A 4 INCH CRACK. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT JUST CRACKED. THE CRACK STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE WIPER BLADE (AS OTHERS HAVE STATED ALSO) AT THE PRESENT TIME THE CRACK IS ABOUT 18 INCHES AND HAS GONE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE DRIVER SIDE AND HAS TAKEN A TURN NOW BACK TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. KNOW THAT OTHERS HAVE VOICED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUBARU OUTBACK FROM 2019 AS WELL AS EARLIER YEARS OF THE MODEL. FEEL AS THOUGH SUBARU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11218016

2,179 miles · May 27, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHEN I DRIVE MY NEW 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH EYESIGHT (ONE MONTH OLD) ON HIGHWAY, A TRUCK RUNS OVER ROCKS AND THEY HITS MY WINDSHIELD. THEN THE WINDSHIELD HAS CHIPS AND CRACKS. THE CRACKS GROW LARGER THAN A DOLLAR BILL IN FEW MINUTES AND ONE CRACK IS LARGER THAN 22 INCHES IN FEW HOURS. IT SEEMS TO ME THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT WEL…

Read full complaint

WHEN I DRIVE MY NEW 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH EYESIGHT (ONE MONTH OLD) ON HIGHWAY, A TRUCK RUNS OVER ROCKS AND THEY HITS MY WINDSHIELD. THEN THE WINDSHIELD HAS CHIPS AND CRACKS. THE CRACKS GROW LARGER THAN A DOLLAR BILL IN FEW MINUTES AND ONE CRACK IS LARGER THAN 22 INCHES IN FEW HOURS. IT SEEMS TO ME THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT WELL MADE AND DOES NOT HAVE GOOD QUALITY. IT IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ODI #11210195

3,600 miles · May 10, 2019
Steering

BEGINNING IN MARCH OF 2019, I BEGAN NOTICING THAT THE STEERING FELT "WOBBLY" ABOVE 40 MPH, AS IF THE CAR HIT A PATCH OF ICE OR WAS STRUCK BY A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND. DRIVING FEELS VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS OUR THIRD SUBARU OUTBACK, GOING BACK TO 1998, SO WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH DRIVING THIS CAR (OR AT LEAST OLDER MODEL YEARS). FURTHER, BY…

Read full complaint

BEGINNING IN MARCH OF 2019, I BEGAN NOTICING THAT THE STEERING FELT "WOBBLY" ABOVE 40 MPH, AS IF THE CAR HIT A PATCH OF ICE OR WAS STRUCK BY A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND. DRIVING FEELS VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS OUR THIRD SUBARU OUTBACK, GOING BACK TO 1998, SO WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH DRIVING THIS CAR (OR AT LEAST OLDER MODEL YEARS). FURTHER, BY TURNING OFF THE NEW "LANE DEPARTURE SWITCH" THIS PROBLEM IS MINIMIZED. WE JUST MOVED FROM FLORIDA TO CONNECTICUT AND I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO DRIVING THIS CAR IN THE WINTER. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT!!!

NHTSA ODI #11206750

12,000 miles · May 3, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I HAD PARKED TRY 2019 OUTBACK FOR WORK ON A PUBLIC STREET. WHEN I GOT IN AFTER WORK AND CLOSED MY DOOR, THE REAR GLASS SHATTERED AND ABOUT 1/4 OF IT FELL INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. I INSPECTED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND THE OUTSIDE AREA WHERE IT WAS PARKED, LOOKING FOR SOME SIGN THAT MAYBE SOMEONE HAD TRIED TO BREAK IN OR VANDAL…

Read full complaint

I HAD PARKED TRY 2019 OUTBACK FOR WORK ON A PUBLIC STREET. WHEN I GOT IN AFTER WORK AND CLOSED MY DOOR, THE REAR GLASS SHATTERED AND ABOUT 1/4 OF IT FELL INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. I INSPECTED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND THE OUTSIDE AREA WHERE IT WAS PARKED, LOOKING FOR SOME SIGN THAT MAYBE SOMEONE HAD TRIED TO BREAK IN OR VANDALIZED IT. I FOUND NO SIGN. I THEN PUSHED MORE OF THE SHATTERED GLASS INSIDE MY CAR TO IMPROVE THE REAR VISIBILITY, AND DROVE TO A GLASS REPAIR STORE.

NHTSA ODI #11205477

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