2019 Subaru Outback Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,286 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2019 Subaru Outback, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Visibility & wipers leads the reports, typically around 12,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2019 Subaru Outback sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1996–1999, 2001–2004, 2007, 2009.
Avoid
Where 2019 sits among all Outback years
What owners report
“Windshield suddenly cracked while driving down i-17 at no time did i hear/see a rock strike the windshield.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Outback
“Continued drain on the battery when the vehicle is shut off. Battery dead and had to be replaced. Vehicle was approximately 1.5 years old.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Outback
“My windshield cracked as I was driving,a pop type noise. The cracks are at the bottom area in the middle of the windshield in a T slight Y shape.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Outback
“Spontaneous crack of the front windshield, unsafe to drive for fear of collapse into car or during a collision.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Outback
“Vehicle battery continues to fail due to unusual electrical activity, requires a jump to start.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Outback
“Loose control of the steering wheel when driving faster than 50 mph on highway, or turning on curves. The steering wheel tends to wander that the driver does not have the control of the steering wheel. The driver feels unsafe.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Outback
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 525 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 12,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 5,900 and 23,375 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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.
Fix: 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 of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Fix: 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 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.
Fix: 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…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2019 Subaru Outback reliable?
The 2019 Subaru Outback drew 1,286 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2019 Subaru Outback problems?
The top reported problems for the 2019 Subaru Outback are visibility & wipers (390 complaints), electrical (376), and other (214).
At what mileage do 2019 Subaru Outback problems show up?
Owners most often report 2019 Subaru Outback problems around 12,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 5,900 and 23,375 miles.
Does the 2019 Subaru Outback have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2019 Subaru Outback. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.