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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
5,000 miles · Jan 12, 2020
Electrical System

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE MONTH, MY BATTERY HAS FULLY DRAINED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND IT ONLY HAS 5,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11298895

7,000 miles · Jan 11, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING HOME, ON A HIGHWAY, HAD A SMALL ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND WITH IN MINUTES MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE WAS CRACKED, NOW IT'S ALMOST THE END OF THE RIGHT SIDE.

NHTSA ODI #11298518

22,000 miles · Jan 8, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WINDSHIELD HAS SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN SEPTEMBER 2018. WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES TO DATE. EACH TIME DAMAGE APPEARS TO START NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS, THEN SPIDERS OUT. IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT ROAD DEBRIS OR ANY OTHER EXTERNAL FORCE CAUSED THE CRACKING. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT …

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WINDSHIELD HAS SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN SEPTEMBER 2018. WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES TO DATE. EACH TIME DAMAGE APPEARS TO START NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS, THEN SPIDERS OUT. IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT ROAD DEBRIS OR ANY OTHER EXTERNAL FORCE CAUSED THE CRACKING. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY SUBARU WITH A RE-DESIGNED PART. SENDING THE SAME WINDSHIELD OVER AND OVER DOES NOT FIX THE INHERENT PROBLEM. YOUR FORM DOES NOT ALLOW FOR MULTIPLE INCIDENCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM OVER TIME. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS. ARE YOU WORKING WITH SUBARU TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM?

NHTSA ODI #11297961

200 miles · Jan 7, 2020
Seats

2019 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED. PURCHASED JANUARY '19. CAR WAS LOCATED BY DEALER AT OTHER DEALERSHIP AND DELIVERED LATE AT NIGHT WITHOUT OWNERS HAVING ABILITY TO TEST DRIVE. WITHIN ONE WEEK OWNERS NOTICED SEAT ISSUE AND CONTACTED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. DRIVER SEAT SLOPE ISSUE: DRIVER SEAT BASE SLOPES FROM LEFT DOWN TO …

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2019 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED. PURCHASED JANUARY '19. CAR WAS LOCATED BY DEALER AT OTHER DEALERSHIP AND DELIVERED LATE AT NIGHT WITHOUT OWNERS HAVING ABILITY TO TEST DRIVE. WITHIN ONE WEEK OWNERS NOTICED SEAT ISSUE AND CONTACTED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. DRIVER SEAT SLOPE ISSUE: DRIVER SEAT BASE SLOPES FROM LEFT DOWN TO RIGHT APPROX. 3/4"-1". PROBLEM NOTICED IN FIRST MONTH AFTER DELIVERY AND SUBARU WAS NOTIFIED. AREA DEALERS, SUBARU CORPORATE AND FACTORY FIELD ENGINEER (FFE) REFUSE TO PROPERLY CONFRONT/ DIAGNOSE/ REPAIR THE ISSUE. OWNER SHOWED SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND MANAGER AT DEALER USING A 1 FT' BUBBLE LEVEL THAT THE ISSUE IS EVIDENT. ALL SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE ADMITTED TO OWNER THAT THEY SEE THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE FACTS IN THEIR SERVICE INVOICE STATEMENTS. SEAT SLOPE ISSUE CREATES AN UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT AS THE DRIVER HAS TO PUSH OFF OF CENTER CONSOLE WHILE LEFT HAND CORNERING AND LONG DISTANCE DRIVING IS NOT PERMISSIBLE AS IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE UNLESS DRIVER USES A TOWEL OR PILLOW TO LEVEL THE SEAT BASE. NORMAL OPERATION INVOLVES DRIVE RESTING ELBO FIRMLY INTO CENTER CONSOLE TO STAY UPRIGHT. OWNERS ARE CONCERNED DUE TO DRIVER ERGONOMICS AND ABILITY OF SAFETY RESTRAINS/AIRBAGS TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED IF IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION IF THE DRIVER IS NOT CENTERED OR POSITIONED PROPERLY IN THE CAR AS DESIGNED AND TESTED FOR IMPACTS. SUBARU CORP. SR. REP. SAYS SUBARU HAS NO PUBLISHED SPECIFICATIONS OR MEASUREMENTS FOR SUBARU SEATS FOR FFE TO COMPARE SEAT CONSTRUCTION/INSTALL OF MY VEHICLE TO. THE FFE PERFORMED CORPORATE/CUSTOMER INSPECTION USING A CELL PHONE IN A LEATHER CELL PHONE WALLET AND A BUBBLE LEVEL APPLICATION AS HIS REFERENCE FOR DENIAL OF CLAIM. I HAVE PICTURES OF PERSONAL INSPECTION WITH LEVELS AND MEASUREMENTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

NHTSA ODI #11297760

2,500 miles · Jan 7, 2020
Visibility/wiper

2019 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED PURCHASED 1-'19. 1ST. BREAK: 2-'19: WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED UNDER WIPERS AT THE WIPER DEFROSTER HEATER ELEMENT. WINDSHIELD WAS FROSTED IN AM, STARTED MOTOR AND DEFROSTERS TO WARM AND PREPARE CAR FOR DEPARTURE. WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY. MADE APPT.…

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2019 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED PURCHASED 1-'19. 1ST. BREAK: 2-'19: WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED UNDER WIPERS AT THE WIPER DEFROSTER HEATER ELEMENT. WINDSHIELD WAS FROSTED IN AM, STARTED MOTOR AND DEFROSTERS TO WARM AND PREPARE CAR FOR DEPARTURE. WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY. MADE APPT. WITH SUBARU, THEY DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY UNDER WARRANTY AND ADVISED TO HAVE INSURANCE REPLACE IT. WHILE WAITING FOR SECOND APPT. WITH A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP A SMALL PEBBLE IMPACTED UPPER RIGHT CORNER SO I JUST HAD INSURANCE COVER IT AS IT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH AT THIS POINT. (3/27/19 INSURANCE REPLACEMENT WITH ORIG. SUBARU WINDSHIELD- $500 DEDUCTIBLE, $225 EYESIGHT RECALIBRATION). 2ND BREAK: 6-'19: WHILE DRIVING 50MPH ON 2 LANE ROAD A GRAVEL TRUCK PASSING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION DROPPED A VERY SMALL PEBBLE THAT WOULD HAVE NOT BROKE WINDSHIELD ON MY TOYOTA OR MAZDA BASED ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS. SMALL PEBBLE IMPACTED WINDSHIELD IN UPPER LEFT CORNER AND IMMEDIATELY SPREAD ACROSS AND DOWN IN SEVERAL SPOTS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT (6/10/19 REPLACEMENT UNDER 20/20 GLASS WARRANTY). REQUIRED ADDITIONAL 3RD REPLACEMENT AS SUBARU SUPPLIED DEFECTIVE RUBBER STRIPPING FOR SECOND REPLACEMENT. NOW WINDSHIELD AREA CREATES ADDITIONAL WIND/ROAD NOISE AND NEW RATTLE IN DASH AS RESULT OF 3 REPLACEMENTS. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE WINDSHIELD FIRST BREAK HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT UPLOAD. CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED THEM. THEY SHOW THE 'BURN MARKS' AT THE HEATER ELEMENTS.

NHTSA ODI #11297753

8,880 miles · Jan 7, 2020
Visibility/wiper

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY GARAGE. THE NEXT DAY I CAME OUT AND THERE WAS A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. IT WAS COMPLETELY FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI #11297712

5,000 miles · Jan 6, 2020
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS IN FAIR WEATHER, A LARGE CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, STARTING AT THE BOTTOM NEAR THE WIPER, AND EXTENDING APPROXIMATELY 10-12 INCHES CURVING UP AND TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO APPARENT IMPACT OR NOISE PRIOR TO THE CRACK APPEARING. THE C…

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WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS IN FAIR WEATHER, A LARGE CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, STARTING AT THE BOTTOM NEAR THE WIPER, AND EXTENDING APPROXIMATELY 10-12 INCHES CURVING UP AND TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO APPARENT IMPACT OR NOISE PRIOR TO THE CRACK APPEARING. THE CRACK COMPROMISES SUBARU'S EYE-SIGHT SAFETY FEATURE AS WELL AS THE INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSHIELD IN GENERAL, CREATING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT(S). I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH AAA PENDING SERVICE WITH SUBARU WHICH IS SCHEDULED ON 01/13/20 (ATTACHED CONFIRMATION FROM AAA)

NHTSA ODI #11297467

23,000 miles · Jan 6, 2020
Visibility/wiper

I RAN SOME ERRANDS ONE EVENING AND PARKED MY CAR WITH A COMPLETELY CRACK FREE WINDSHIELD, AND WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY CAR, THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT TO CAUSE THE CRACK.

NHTSA ODI #11297449

1,500 miles · Jan 5, 2020
Visibility/wiper

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 8/22/2019 AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE SITTING OUTSIDE OF OUR CARPORT ON 10/27/2019. THE CRACK EXTENDS FROM THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE ACROSS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MIRROR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. FEELING THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE IT FEELS LIKE THE WINDSHIELD IS UNEVEN ON TOP LIKE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN STRESS ON…

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BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 8/22/2019 AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE SITTING OUTSIDE OF OUR CARPORT ON 10/27/2019. THE CRACK EXTENDS FROM THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE ACROSS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MIRROR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. FEELING THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE IT FEELS LIKE THE WINDSHIELD IS UNEVEN ON TOP LIKE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN STRESS ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11297192

9,000 miles · Jan 3, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY. DRIVER WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN.

NHTSA ODI #11296834

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.

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