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2019 Subaru Outback problems

The most common problem on the 2019 Subaru Outback is windows, wipers and visibility, typically around 11,000 miles. It has 3.5 times the complaints of a typical Outback model year.

Year to avoid3.5x the typical complaints
Year score
29/100
Owner complaints
1,036
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
441
Worst area
Visibility
Fuel economy
22-28mpg
Typical repair
$960

The worst 2019 Subaru Outback problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2019 Subaru Outback

Windshield crack 317Battery drain 149Won't start 54Wipers 38Backup camera 24Fuel pump 22Sudden acceleration 14Adaptive cruise 12Screen failure 11Key fob 11Lane assist 9Stalling 8Sunroof shattered 8Airbag light 6No deployment 6Pulling 6Collision warning 5

Recalls 3

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pumpReported July 29, 2021 · 175,968 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 21V587000 · Recall details

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pumpReported April 16, 2020 · 188,207 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Risk
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.

Recall number 20V218000 · Recall details

StructureReported June 26, 2019 · 2,107 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 19V493000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2019 Subaru Outback

Technical service bulletins for the 2019 Subaru Outback 441

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 441 bulletins for the 2019 Subaru Outback

2019 Subaru Outback fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.5L 4‑cylAWD253228
3.6L 6‑cylAWD202722

What 2019 Subaru Outback owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 10, 2026 · Transmission · CT

Subaru Outback 2019 - Transmission CVT and Clutch failed at 6 years 103,000 miles. Transmission Slipped while driving (safety issues) and also clutch lurched/jumped (safety issue) when shifting eg reverse to drive. Common issue for 2010-2018 in manufacturers TSB. My car is 2019, and this was not included per dealer, cost $8000 for rebuilt transmission form Dealer. Subaru claimed no responsibility as normal wear despite car properly maintained.

Filed Oct 1, 2026 · Electrical · 156,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The battery was replaced, but the failure persisted the following day. The contact associated the failure with the Data Communication Module. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by email. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.

Filed Sep 24, 2026 · Steering · NY

Subaru has a tsb for a steering rack pinion rattle noise problem front end rattle, Subaru refused to repair it

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Electrical · SC

The Starlink infotainment touchscreen in my 2019 Subaru Outback Touring has progressively failed. Visible bubbles have formed under the glass, consistent with screen delamination. The screen registers phantom inputs on its own without being touched ("ghost touch"), changing settings, and interrupting functions while the vehicle is being driven. The touchscreen has now become completely unresponsive to actual touch input. Because the head unit controls and displays the backup camera, this failure interferes with the rear visibility display when reversing, creating a safety concern. The ghost inputs also present a driver distraction while the vehicle is in motion. I first documented this problem and presented the vehicle for service at a dealership in April 2025, maybe even prior, and I have dated video documentation showing the progression of the failure since then. The condition has worsened over time regardless of weather, though symptoms intensify with heat and sun exposure. The failure also disables hands-free operation, including Bluetooth phone connectivity, voice commands, and navigation control. Functions designed to be operated hands-free while driving now cannot be used at all, which encourages manual phone handling for navigation and calls - defeating the vehicle's built-in distraction-prevention systems. I am aware this failure pattern (delamination, ghost touch, and unresponsiveness in Starlink units) is widely reported by other owners of 2019–2023 Subaru vehicles. No warning preceded the failure, and the vehicle has not resolved with restarts. Current mileage approximately 134,XXX. Failure began at approximately 60,XXX miles ~ November 2024.

Filed Aug 12, 2026 · Brakes, Fuel system · RI · crash

My complaint/safety issue is that while I was in my 2019 Subaru Outback, I experienced Unintentional acceleration. While waiting for the large chain-link fence at my storage unit to open, the Outback raced into the gate! I had one foot on the brake waiting for the gate, then I stomped the pedal with both feet, and I held that position while the car smashed through the gate. This happened in July of 2021. I don't recall if I shut the car off or if it just finally came to a stop. I was terrified to drive it for fear of it happening again, but this time hitting a person in a crosswalk! I did take the car to Subaru, and they said that they would go through it thoroughly. After one month, they said that there were no issues with the car and that my carpet must have caused the acceleration. I reminded them that my car had floor mats that clicked into place! It was a nightmare. Even big wigs from Headquarters called me to explain this was a one-time thing and mentioned the floor mats again! I hope no more people are injured by the corrupt managers.

Filed Aug 3, 2026 · Visibility · 40,250 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH the front windshield cracked approximately 6 inches from the heat sensor, no warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted however the vehicle was not diagnosed as the contact was advised that the vehicles VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,250.

Filed Jul 20, 2026 · FL

Driver controls for windows do not work for front windows .. Can not put windows down. Therefore if window on passenger side or driver side gets foggy, can not lower to see out Dealer has stated that there is dirt in window. Not dirt , bad window motor per my experience. This has been occurring for about 2/3 years.

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · WV

The touch screen monitor which controls the audio system, navigation, phone, and other car systems has delaminated. It turns on and off, makes phone calls, switches car systems like the audio, and turns off navigation. At best, it is a very annoying distraction. At worst, it is a safety issue when the screen is making emergency phone calls, canceling navigation, or turning on and off constantly and beeping and causing distraction to the driver. It is possible to turn the entire screen off, but it then randomly comes back on. A safety recall has been issued for 2018 but not 2019 Subaru Outbacks. I strongly urge you to consider a safety recall for the 2019 Subaru Outback as the very common screen delamination is widely known and causing issues for many Subaru drivers. The issue began in the summer of 2025 and has continued to be an issue, and is getting worse.

Filed Jul 3, 2026 · Fuel system · CA

Car wouldn't start in parking lot, 40k miles. I never took the car in to the dealer and received a notice about a fuel pump replacement/recall/repair. I diagnosed this problem myself. The VIN lookup on subarus website says that the problem was addressed/repaired when it clearly was not and I never received any paperwork or verbal statement from subaru saying they performed that work when I went in for an oil change or to repair the battery problem. The battery still drains extremely fast as well. So neither the battery charging work, or the ***supposed and unverified*** fuel pump work have been done on this car. Not good. Also - the original subaru el cajon dealership closed and then reopened with "new ownership" as a subaru dealership. This all appears extremely crooked.

Filed Jun 24, 2026 · Electrical · FL

Vehicle battery continues to drain. Since I have owned the vehicle, it has had 4 batteries. It has had 2 batteries within the last year and half. Installed another battery a 2 weeks ago, vehicle was completely dead after a week of not driving. The last 3 batteries were all purchased (or warranty replaced, new. All forums are pointing to DCM for other years. Yet, 2019's have the same issue, and I haven't received any service bulletin regarding such issues. I presume they need to have a certain number of complaints before action is taken.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 2019 Subaru Outback before you buy

Compare the 2019 Subaru Outback

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Other model years

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Questions about the 2019 Subaru Outback

Is the 2019 Subaru Outback reliable?

Owners have filed 1,036 complaints about the 2019 Subaru Outback, 3.5 times a typical Outback model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.

What is the 2019 Subaru Outback year score?

The 2019 Subaru Outback scores 29 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Subaru Outback: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Subaru Outback?

Windows, wipers and visibility, with 387 complaints, typically around 11,000 miles. Next is electrical (364).

How many recalls does the 2019 Subaru Outback have?

3 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline and structure.

What gas mileage does the 2019 Subaru Outback get?

Official estimates for the 2019 Subaru Outback range from 22 to 28 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 4-cyl, AWD) gets 25 city and 32 highway.

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