← 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
25,000 miles · May 3, 2021
Visibility/wiper

I'VE OWNED MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR <2 YEARS AND IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS I'VE HAD THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED TWICE DUE TO SMALL PEBBLES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHICH HAVE NEVER CRACKED ANY OF MY PREVIOUS WINDSHIELDS IN 16 YEARS OF EXTENSIVE DRIVING AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN OTHER CARS, I HAVE HAD MANY PEBBLES AND SMALL …

Read full complaint

I'VE OWNED MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR <2 YEARS AND IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS I'VE HAD THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED TWICE DUE TO SMALL PEBBLES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHICH HAVE NEVER CRACKED ANY OF MY PREVIOUS WINDSHIELDS IN 16 YEARS OF EXTENSIVE DRIVING AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN OTHER CARS, I HAVE HAD MANY PEBBLES AND SMALL DEBRIS HIT MY WINDSHIELD WITH NOTHING MORE THAN A SMALL CHIP. WITH THE SUBARU OUTBACK, BOTH CRACKS BECAME LARGE FRACTURES, BLOCKING VISIBILITY. DUE TO THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM AND NECESSARY RECALIBRATION AFTER WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT, THE FIRST REPLACEMENT COST NEARLY $900. CURRENTLY, I AM DRIVING WITH THE SECOND CRACK BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT YET. THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED NOVEMBER 2020 AND APRIL 2021.

NHTSA ODI #11414944

25,000 miles · May 2, 2021
Forward Collision Avoidance

BATTERY DRAINED AFTER 25,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11414857

29,650 miles · May 1, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY DRAIN. PURCHASED 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK IN NOVEMBER 2018. IN OCTOBER 2020 (23 MONTHS) IT FAILED TO START AFTER STAYING OVERNIGHT AT REST STOP IN MIDDLE OF LONG DRIVE. CHECKED BY DEALER AFTER TRIP --"BATTERY OK. NO PROBLEMS." OVER NEXT 5 MONTHS OF INFREQUENT SHORT TRIPS, OUTBACK FAILED TO START MULTIPLE TIMES. MEASURED CURR…

Read full complaint

BATTERY DRAIN. PURCHASED 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK IN NOVEMBER 2018. IN OCTOBER 2020 (23 MONTHS) IT FAILED TO START AFTER STAYING OVERNIGHT AT REST STOP IN MIDDLE OF LONG DRIVE. CHECKED BY DEALER AFTER TRIP --"BATTERY OK. NO PROBLEMS." OVER NEXT 5 MONTHS OF INFREQUENT SHORT TRIPS, OUTBACK FAILED TO START MULTIPLE TIMES. MEASURED CURRENT DRAIN WHEN VEHICLE OFF WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SUBARU ALLOWABLE (<70 MILLIAMPS) BUT ONLY AFTER 15-20 MINUTES AFTER EVERYTHING HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. CURRENT DRAIN DURING THE 15-20 MINUTES WAS AS HIGH AS 2 AMPS. ANY ACTIVITY (E.G., OPENING A DOOR, SETTING ALARM) RE-INITIATED THE 15-20 MINUTES OF HIGH CURRENT DRAIN. PHONED DEALER: ONLY SOLUTION (WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD) WAS REPLACEMENT WITH SAME OEM BATTERY. DECIDED TO REPLACE WITH MORE ROBUST, NON-SUBARU BATTERY, SINCE MY EXPERIENCE AND REPORTS OF OTHERS INDICATED OEM BATTERY WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE AMOUNT OF DRAIN. PURCHASED OPTIMA RED25 BATTERY FROM AUTO PARTS STORE ON 6 APRIL 2021 FOR $199.99. I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU NEEDS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE OF CURRENT DRAIN (PREFERABLY) AND/OR EQUIP THE OUTBACK WITH AN ADEQUATE BATTERY WITH MORE RESERVE POWER. SINCE MY ORIGINAL BATTERY FAILED UNDER WARRANTY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY EXPENSE OF $199.99.

NHTSA ODI #11414729

6,000 miles · Apr 24, 2021
Electrical System

THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS MY BATTERY DIED AND REQUIRED EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER THE FIRST TIME, THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON IT, I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN THE NEW BATTERY HAS DIED TWICE. ONLINE SEARCHES RECENTLY HAVE REVEALED WIDE SPREAD PROBLEMS WITH T…

Read full complaint

THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS MY BATTERY DIED AND REQUIRED EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER THE FIRST TIME, THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON IT, I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN THE NEW BATTERY HAS DIED TWICE. ONLINE SEARCHES RECENTLY HAVE REVEALED WIDE SPREAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SUBARU OUTBACK'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN REPEATED BATTERY FAILURE. AT THIS TIME THE ONLY OUTCOME FROM THIS HAS BEEN THE BATTERY FAILURE, BUT IF THERE ARE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS I'M CONCERNED THAT MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, LIKE A FIRE, COULD ARISE. FORTUNATELY EACH TIME THE BATTERY DIED THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AT HOME. THE CAR IS DRIVEN REGULARLY, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, FOR NOT LESS THAN THIRTY MINUTES, SO I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS, INDEED, A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING THE BATTERY TO NOT RECHARGE, OR CREATING A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLE.

NHTSA ODI #11413683

15,000 miles · Apr 22, 2021
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT'S MOTHER OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON EXITING THE DRIVEWAY, HE NOTICED A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE LOWER, DRIVER'S SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD, WITHOUT INCIDENT OR IMPACT. AS THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE HORIZONTAL CRACK BEGAN TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING HIS VISION…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT'S MOTHER OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON EXITING THE DRIVEWAY, HE NOTICED A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE LOWER, DRIVER'S SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD, WITHOUT INCIDENT OR IMPACT. AS THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE HORIZONTAL CRACK BEGAN TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING HIS VISION. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT YET REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #11413386

10,000 miles · Apr 22, 2021
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

I PURCHASED A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK IN DECEMBER 2018 AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD THREE TIMES IN JUST OVER TWO YEARS (JUNE 2019, NOVEMBER 2020, APRIL 2021). I OWNED A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK AND A DESIGN FLAW AND IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11413356

28,000 miles · Apr 21, 2021
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON ITS OWN. NO IMPACT. RESEARCH SAYS THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS DEFECT. VEHICLE STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI #11413146

26,214 miles · Apr 20, 2021
Power TrainService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL, FACING FORWARD ON HER INCLINED ICED DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER RIVERHEAD BAY SUBARU…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL, FACING FORWARD ON HER INCLINED ICED DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER RIVERHEAD BAY SUBARU (1521 OLD COUNTRY RD, RIVERHEAD, NY 11901: (631) 727-4000) AND SHE WAS INFORMED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ICE AND THE NO USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,214.

NHTSA ODI #11412986

28,000 miles · Apr 19, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY FAILED AND WILL NOT RECHARGE. HAD TO REPLACE IT. OUTBACK IS ONLY 27 MONTHS OLD. FAILED AFTER SHORT TRIP TO LIBRARY. HAD TO HAVE IT JUMPED TO GET HOME.

NHTSA ODI #11412859

19,000 miles · Apr 19, 2021
Electrical System

THE ELECTRIC PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS GOING UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING....THINKING SOMETHING WAS STUCK IN THERE,, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND THERE WAS NOTHING BLOCKING IT BUT I FINALLY GOT IT SHUT.. THEN, LATER IN THE WEEK, AFTER HAVING THE REAR GATE OPEN FOR ABOUT 15 MINS. LOADING IT, THE CAR WAS DEAD. IT HAD …

Read full complaint

THE ELECTRIC PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS GOING UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING....THINKING SOMETHING WAS STUCK IN THERE,, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND THERE WAS NOTHING BLOCKING IT BUT I FINALLY GOT IT SHUT.. THEN, LATER IN THE WEEK, AFTER HAVING THE REAR GATE OPEN FOR ABOUT 15 MINS. LOADING IT, THE CAR WAS DEAD. IT HAD TO BE JUMPED. ONCE RUNNING, THE BEEPER WOULD NOT STOP BEEPING IN THE REAR GATE. I COULD NOT OPEN THE REAR GATE, SO I HAD TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR A RESET. TODAY, AS GOT IN IT AND ONCE STARTED, THE ELECTRIC EYE WAS DISENGAGED ALONG WITH BST ON STARTUP. THE CAR IS GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON APRIL 21ST.

NHTSA ODI #11412788

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