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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
19,000 miles · May 31, 2020
Visibility/wiper

SECOND SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN 18 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11326673

17,567 miles · May 28, 2020
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

IN JANUARY, 2020, MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. IT DID START WITH A JUMP BUT HAD A DEAD BATTERY THE NEXT TIME I WANTED TO USE IT. I HAD THE OUTBACK TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER OVER 100 MILES AWAY. THEY OFFERED NO HELP, TELLING ME THE PROBLEM WAS BATTERY DRAINAGE FROM THE REMOTE STARTER I HA…

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IN JANUARY, 2020, MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. IT DID START WITH A JUMP BUT HAD A DEAD BATTERY THE NEXT TIME I WANTED TO USE IT. I HAD THE OUTBACK TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER OVER 100 MILES AWAY. THEY OFFERED NO HELP, TELLING ME THE PROBLEM WAS BATTERY DRAINAGE FROM THE REMOTE STARTER I HAD INSTALLED. SO, I DROVE HOME AND THEN ANOTHER 100 MILES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO HAVE THE STARTER CHECKED. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THE REMOTE STARTER WAS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE RANGE.I MANAGED TO GET THROUGH THE WINTER WITH A BATTERY MAINTAINER. THE OUTBACK WAS FINE ONCE THE WEATHER WARMED UP THIS SPRING. THEN IN MAY, 2020, I AGAIN HAD PROBLEMS. THE HATCH DID NOT OPEN, MADE CLICKING NOISES, AND BEEPED WHEN I WOULD DRIVE THE OUTBACK. THIS PROBLEM AFTER HAVING TO JUMP START THE OUTBACK BECAUSE THE BATTERY WOULD AGAIN BE DEAD. NOT FUN, WHEN I WOULD HAVE TO CALL FOR HELP TO GET HOME FROM GROCERY SHOPPING. MY FRIEND SUGGESTED BUYING A NEW BATTERY WITH MORE CRANKING POWER, WHICH I DID. NOW, THE OUTBACK IS WORKING FINE. WILL IT LAST??? THEN WHEN CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA TO SEE IF I COULD GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE BATTERY, THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY OUTBACK DUE TO FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326297

4 miles · May 27, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL COOLANT ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN MULTIPLE TIMES TO CROSS CREEK SUBARU LOCATED AT 497 N. MCPHERSON CHURCH RD, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303, (910) 356-8830, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL COOLANT ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN MULTIPLE TIMES TO CROSS CREEK SUBARU LOCATED AT 497 N. MCPHERSON CHURCH RD, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303, (910) 356-8830, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4.

NHTSA ODI #11326207

8,000 miles · May 27, 2020
Visibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM THE MID-CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE PARKED. THE CRACK BEGAN IN OCTOBER, 2019, LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT CAUSING DAMAGE AND THE CRACK BEGAN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326102

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2020
EngineService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED. THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11325037

800 miles · May 18, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION (CITY DRIVING) IT ACCELERATED WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WAS A SHOCK BUT I CONTINUED APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATION WOULD STOP. IT HAPPENED 3 OF 4 TIMES DURING THE INITIAL 5 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR. BOUG…

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

NHTSA ODI #11324967

10,200 miles · May 18, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT SIGNIFICANT REASON. THIS WAS NOTICED IN THE MORNING UPON GETTING IN THE VEHICLE AND STARTING TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324936

7,800 miles · May 17, 2020
Engine

CAR SOMETIMES ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. I HAVE TO USE PEDAL SHIFTERS TO REDUCE THE SPEED. ALSO NOTICED THAT IT TAKES LONGER TO BRAKE SOMETIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11324870

3,585 miles · May 16, 2020
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

THERE WAS ALWAYS ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES, NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED WHEN NEEDED. SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE AGENTS AND THEY MENTIONED EVERYTHING IS GOOD. BUT I HAD EXPERIENCED THE SPEED ISSUE IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324826

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2020
Visibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD BROKE WITHOUT HAVING ANYTHING EVER HIT IT. CAME OUT TO CAR ONE MORNING AND THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ACROSS WINDSHIELD STARTING FROM THE BASE CENTER OF THE WINDOW. AT THIS POINT I HAD OWNED THE CAR LESS THEN 6 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324670

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