2019 Subaru Outback Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2019 Subaru Outback. Part of Generation 5 — 2015–2019.

20182020
Complaints
1,277
per 10K Sold
70.5
US Sales
181,178
Crashes
48
Fires
3
Injuries
34
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2019 Subaru Outback Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1352 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:16,704 mi
Crash-related:1
#2326 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

Avg mileage:11,503 mi
#359 complaints

Visibility:Windshield

Avg mileage:28,834 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2019 Subaru Outback.

Electrical Faults
352
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
16,704
Wipers & Visibility
326
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
11,503
Visibility:Windshield
59
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
28,834
Engine Problems
37
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
14,801
Steering Defects
35
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
4,286
Body Structure
27
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
6,007
Unintended Acceleration
23
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
10,915
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
21
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
17,232
Fuel System
21
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
9,166
Brakes
20
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
13,261
Transmission / Drivetrain
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
27,432
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
14
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
19,125
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
6,925
Headlight/Taillight Failures
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,338
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,618
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
25,167
Lane Departure: Warning
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,516
Gasoline Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
33,417
Suspension Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
13,900
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
5,794
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
2,950
Lane Departure: Assist
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Infotainment:Bluetooth/Wifi
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2019 Subaru Outback. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2019 Subaru Outback

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~366,282 vehicles.

21V587000Fuel Pump
~175,968 affected

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.

20V218000Fuel Pump
~188,207 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.

19V493000Structure
~2,107 affected

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.

Other Subaru Outback Years

2019 Subaru Outback — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2019 Subaru Outback reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2019 Subaru Outback has 1,277 NHTSA complaints, 48 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 352 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2019 Subaru Outback?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (352 complaints, avg 16,704 mi); Wipers & Visibility (326 complaints, avg 11,503 mi); Visibility:Windshield (59 complaints, avg 28,834 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2019 Subaru Outback?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 14,964 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2019 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Subaru Outback include 48 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 34 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2019 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 366,282 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2019 Subaru Outback?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2019 Subaru Outback shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Subaru Outback reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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