Complaint volume
1025 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
1025 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Subaru Outback, grouped by component category.
Buyer interpretation
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
1025 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
The most common categories are electrical system, visibility/wiper, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Enriched records include 22 crash reports, 2 fire reports, 11 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage is available on 466 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 15,557 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
1,025 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| May 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WE WERE DRIVING SOUTH ON 275 BETWEEN 8MILE AND 7MILE IN MICHIGAN IN OUR 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK AND OUT OF NOWHERE WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A PISTOL BEING SHOT NEXT TO OUR EARS WENT OFF AND GLASS CAME POURING IN FROM THE SUNROOF. WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT OF NOWHERE. WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. WE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY TOLD US THAT WITHOUT EVERY SHARD OF GLASS FOR THEM TO INSPECT WE COULD NOT PROVE THAT IT WAS A DEFECT. HOWEVER LET ME MAKE A NOTE THERE WERE NOT CARS VERY CLOSE TO US, WE WEREN'T GOING UNDER A BRIDGE AND THERE WASN'T ANY ONE THROWING THINGS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER SUBARU BLAMED AN IMAGINARY PEBBLE THAT HIT THE TOP OF THE SUNROOF DEAD ON AND THAT IMAGINARY PEBBLE DID NOT END UP INSIDE OF OUR CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 46,000 |
| May 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AT THE BOTTOM/SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WITH NO SIGN OF IMPACT WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD A SMALL ROCK IMPACT NEAR THE LINE OF SIGHT CAMERAS THAT WAS EASILY REPAIRED BY SAFELIGHT WITH NO ISSUES WITH CRACKING. TODAY I CAME OUT OF THE GROCERY STORE TO FIND MY PARKED OUTBACK'S WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK FROM THE SAME PASSENGER SIDE POINT AS THE FIRST CRACK. THE CRACK WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE IS A VERY SMALL CHIP LOOKING IMPACT (SMALLER THAN THE POINT OF A BALL POINT PEN) APPROX 4" FROM THE LOWER CORNER PASSENGER SIDE. I DO NOT RECALL HEARING AN IMPACT AT ANY POINT. BEYOND NOT HEARING AN IMPACT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO WAY ON EARTH THAT A SAFESUBARU WINDSHIELD SHOULD CRACK SO DEEPLY AND SO LONG FROM A TINY IMPACT. I HAVE BEEN READING THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU DRIVERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE SUBARU PROTECT THEIR DRIVERS FROM DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS, AS THEY SEEM TO BE TAKING ZERO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HUGE SAFETY RISK THESE POORLY DESIGNED WINDSHIELDS ARE CAUSING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,500 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER | APX APR 25, 2021 NOTICED CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN AM WHEN STARTING CAR FOR WORK. CRACK WAS IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. NOTIFIED INSURANCE COMPANY, TOLD ME TO HAVE IT FIXED AT SAFELITE AUTO GLASS WO# 388826. ALSO NOTICED MY ACCESSORY POWER OUTLET WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL, (INSTRUMENT PANEL)CALLED DEALER, MADE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ALSO NOTICED MY | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,000 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE CAR REPEATEDLY DRAINS THE BATTERY FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON, LEAVING US STRANDED WITH A VEHICLE THAT CANNOT EVEN BE JUMPED TO START. THE BATTERY IS SO DEAD I CAN'T EVEN GET THE DOORS OPEN. IT HAS STRANDED ME AT HOME, AND VARIOUS TIMES WHEN I'VE BEEN OUT DOING ERRANDS. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU'RE A SINGLE WOMAN STRANDED SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK. I'VE HAD TO CALL SUBARU SERVICE TO JUMP THE CAR ONCE, HAVE JUMPED IT THREE TIMES MYSELF AT HOME, ONCE AT THE GROCERY STORE, AND HAVE HAD TO PLACE A TOTALLY DEAD BATTERY ON THE CHARGER AT HOME SIX TIMES. IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR TWICE TO THE DEALER IN SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA,AND THEY "FOUND NOTHING WRONG". BUT, NOW IT'S COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DEAD IN MY DRIVEWAY AGAIN, AFTER JUST DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY FOR TWO HOURS FOUR DAYS AGO. | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |
| May 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2019- CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE (STATIONARY) UNKNOWN ORIGIN 2/9/2020-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (MOVING ON HIGHWAY) UNKNOWN ORIGIN 2/15/2020- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (MOVING ON HIGHWAY) UNKNOWN ORIGIN 3/15/2020- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (MOVING ON HIGHWAY) UNKNOWN ORIGIN 3/24/2020- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (MOVING ON HIGHWAY) TOLD IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR 4/16/2021- CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE (MOVING ON HIGHWAY) HIT BY STONE 5/1/2021- CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE (HAD JUST PICKED UP CAR LESS THAN 24 HRS BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. HAD THE 4/16/21 CRACKED WINDSHIELD REPAIRED AND A REMOTE STARTER PUT IN) (MOVING ON HIGHWAY) UNKNOWN ORIGIN 5/1/2021- WHEN USING KEY INSTEAD OF BRAND NEW REMOTE STARTER (INSTALLED AND PURCHASED FROM SUBARU DEALERSHIP) THE CAR HORN RANDOMLY BEEPS 3-4 TIMES WHEN CAR IS STARTED WITH KEY (STATIONARY) UNKNOWN ORIGIN | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,500 |
| May 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | OUR SUBARU 2019 OUTBACK SUFFERED A CRACK DURING NORMAL USAGE ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 50 MPH. THE CRACK OCCURRED TWO DAYS AGO (ON 5/2/2021) AND HAS SINCE GROWN DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S VIBRATION DURING USE. THE VEHICLE QUALIFIES AS A MAKE AND MODEL UNDER RECALL BY SUBARU FOR WINDSHIELD DEFECTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,300 |
| May 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I'VE OWNED MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR <2 YEARS AND IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS I'VE HAD THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED TWICE DUE TO SMALL PEBBLES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHICH HAVE NEVER CRACKED ANY OF MY PREVIOUS WINDSHIELDS IN 16 YEARS OF EXTENSIVE DRIVING AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN OTHER CARS, I HAVE HAD MANY PEBBLES AND SMALL DEBRIS HIT MY WINDSHIELD WITH NOTHING MORE THAN A SMALL CHIP. WITH THE SUBARU OUTBACK, BOTH CRACKS BECAME LARGE FRACTURES, BLOCKING VISIBILITY. DUE TO THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM AND NECESSARY RECALIBRATION AFTER WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT, THE FIRST REPLACEMENT COST NEARLY $900. CURRENTLY, I AM DRIVING WITH THE SECOND CRACK BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT YET. THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED NOVEMBER 2020 AND APRIL 2021. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| May 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | BATTERY DRAINED AFTER 25,000 MILES | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY DRAIN. PURCHASED 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK IN NOVEMBER 2018. IN OCTOBER 2020 (23 MONTHS) IT FAILED TO START AFTER STAYING OVERNIGHT AT REST STOP IN MIDDLE OF LONG DRIVE. CHECKED BY DEALER AFTER TRIP --"BATTERY OK. NO PROBLEMS." OVER NEXT 5 MONTHS OF INFREQUENT SHORT TRIPS, OUTBACK FAILED TO START MULTIPLE TIMES. MEASURED CURRENT DRAIN WHEN VEHICLE OFF WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SUBARU ALLOWABLE (<70 MILLIAMPS) BUT ONLY AFTER 15-20 MINUTES AFTER EVERYTHING HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. CURRENT DRAIN DURING THE 15-20 MINUTES WAS AS HIGH AS 2 AMPS. ANY ACTIVITY (E.G., OPENING A DOOR, SETTING ALARM) RE-INITIATED THE 15-20 MINUTES OF HIGH CURRENT DRAIN. PHONED DEALER: ONLY SOLUTION (WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD) WAS REPLACEMENT WITH SAME OEM BATTERY. DECIDED TO REPLACE WITH MORE ROBUST, NON-SUBARU BATTERY, SINCE MY EXPERIENCE AND REPORTS OF OTHERS INDICATED OEM BATTERY WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE AMOUNT OF DRAIN. PURCHASED OPTIMA RED25 BATTERY FROM AUTO PARTS STORE ON 6 APRIL 2021 FOR $199.99. I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU NEEDS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE OF CURRENT DRAIN (PREFERABLY) AND/OR EQUIP THE OUTBACK WITH AN ADEQUATE BATTERY WITH MORE RESERVE POWER. SINCE MY ORIGINAL BATTERY FAILED UNDER WARRANTY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY EXPENSE OF $199.99. | Crash: No Fire: No | 29,650 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS MY BATTERY DIED AND REQUIRED EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER THE FIRST TIME, THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON IT, I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN THE NEW BATTERY HAS DIED TWICE. ONLINE SEARCHES RECENTLY HAVE REVEALED WIDE SPREAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SUBARU OUTBACK'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN REPEATED BATTERY FAILURE. AT THIS TIME THE ONLY OUTCOME FROM THIS HAS BEEN THE BATTERY FAILURE, BUT IF THERE ARE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS I'M CONCERNED THAT MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, LIKE A FIRE, COULD ARISE. FORTUNATELY EACH TIME THE BATTERY DIED THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AT HOME. THE CAR IS DRIVEN REGULARLY, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, FOR NOT LESS THAN THIRTY MINUTES, SO I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS, INDEED, A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING THE BATTERY TO NOT RECHARGE, OR CREATING A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT'S MOTHER OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON EXITING THE DRIVEWAY, HE NOTICED A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE LOWER, DRIVER'S SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD, WITHOUT INCIDENT OR IMPACT. AS THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE HORIZONTAL CRACK BEGAN TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING HIS VISION. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT YET REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | I PURCHASED A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK IN DECEMBER 2018 AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD THREE TIMES IN JUST OVER TWO YEARS (JUNE 2019, NOVEMBER 2020, APRIL 2021). I OWNED A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK AND A DESIGN FLAW AND IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON ITS OWN. NO IMPACT. RESEARCH SAYS THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS DEFECT. VEHICLE STATIONARY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Apr 2021 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL, FACING FORWARD ON HER INCLINED ICED DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER RIVERHEAD BAY SUBARU (1521 OLD COUNTRY RD, RIVERHEAD, NY 11901: (631) 727-4000) AND SHE WAS INFORMED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ICE AND THE NO USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,214. | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,214 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE ELECTRIC PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS GOING UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING....THINKING SOMETHING WAS STUCK IN THERE,, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND THERE WAS NOTHING BLOCKING IT BUT I FINALLY GOT IT SHUT.. THEN, LATER IN THE WEEK, AFTER HAVING THE REAR GATE OPEN FOR ABOUT 15 MINS. LOADING IT, THE CAR WAS DEAD. IT HAD TO BE JUMPED. ONCE RUNNING, THE BEEPER WOULD NOT STOP BEEPING IN THE REAR GATE. I COULD NOT OPEN THE REAR GATE, SO I HAD TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR A RESET. TODAY, AS GOT IN IT AND ONCE STARTED, THE ELECTRIC EYE WAS DISENGAGED ALONG WITH BST ON STARTUP. THE CAR IS GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON APRIL 21ST. | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY FAILED AND WILL NOT RECHARGE. HAD TO REPLACE IT. OUTBACK IS ONLY 27 MONTHS OLD. FAILED AFTER SHORT TRIP TO LIBRARY. HAD TO HAVE IT JUMPED TO GET HOME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | IN 2019THE BATTERY ON THE VEHICLE DRAINED WHILE ON A CAMPING TRIP TO THE DESERT, WHICH LEFT US STRANDED. WE GOT IT JUMPED AND DROVE HOME. SUBARU DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL NEW COMPUTER SOFTWARE TO FIX. IN 2021, WE TOOK CAR TO SUBARU FOR 36K CHECKUP. THEY SAID THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT BEING STRANED AGAIN IF WE GO TO REMOTE DESTINATIONS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | OUTBACK WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 1919. IN MID JANUARY OF 2020 I HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED TWICE. TOOK IT TO DEALER. THE VEHILCE MILAGE WAS UNDER 2000. THEY DID A "PARASITE" CHECK TO LOOK FOR ELECTRICLE LEAKS. FOUND NONE SUGGESTED I ATTACH A BATTERY TENDER IN WINTER. SO I DID. AS LONG AS I KEEP THE TENDER ATTACHED IN THE WINTER, THE VEHICLE STARTS- SO FAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT EXTERNAL CAUSE AS I WAS EXITING THE GARAGE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,524 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | CAR BATTERY OFTEN DIES - ESPECIALLY IF I OPEN THE DOOR EVEN FOR 5 MINUTES. IT OFTEN WON'T START AND THE REAR GATE OFTEN DOES NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. IT HAS EVEN OPENED ON ITS OWN. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAYS THE FACTORY BATTERY IS NOT ADEQUATE TO POWER THE CAR WITH ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THEY REPLACED ORIGINAL BATTERY BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. THE BATTERY TESTED WELL BELOW WHAT THE SUBARU MANUAL SAYS IT SHOULD. I AM THE FIRST OWNER (CAR WAS A DEALERSHIP LOANER) AND THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I GOT IT IN 2020. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | DEAD BATTERY EVEN WHEN I TAKE THE CAR OUT FOR SHORT DRIVES I READ IT'S CAUSES BY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT DRAINS THE BATTERY | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE 2 MONTHS, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON JAN. 12TH, 2021. ON APRIL 9TH, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THIS TIME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BUT DIDN'T GET HIT BY ANYTHING | Crash: No Fire: No | 24,327 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUSTIN SUBARU (8100 BURNET RD, AUSTIN, TX 78757, (512) 220-0930) TO BE DIAGNOSED. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A ROCK STRUCK AND CRACKED THE NEW WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,732. | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,732 |