Complaint volume
1030 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
2019 Subaru Outback Complaints
1030 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Subaru Outback, grouped by component category.
1030 Total complaints
23 Crash reports
2 Fire reports
12 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
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.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 23 crash reports, 2 fire reports, 12 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 468 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 15,653 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to electrical system, visibility/wiper, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2019 Subaru Outback?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2019 Subaru Outback
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2019 Subaru Outback complaints?
23 Crash
2 Fire
12 Injury
0 Fatality
23 Towed
8 Medical attention
What are the most common 2019 Subaru Outback complaint categories?
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 281
VISIBILITY/WIPER 271
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 126
VISIBILITY 55
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 27
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER 23
STEERING 22
ENGINE 14
STRUCTURE 14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11
1,030 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO TREES OR CARS NEARBY, MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE FOUND THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUES WITH SUBARU INVOLVING A LOST LAW SUIT IN 2018, AND A CURRENT 2019 LAW SUIT ON GOING. THERE ARE NEARLY 100 COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA.GOV, COUNTLESS ARTICLES, AND FORUMS FROM 2019 SUBARU OWNERS. IN ADDITION, MY REAR WINDSHIELD FLUID DOESN'T WORK. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRONIC ISSUES INCLUDING THE TOUCH SCREEN CONSTANTLY RESETTING, THE VOICE ACTIVATION TURNING ON BY SELF ITSELF, AND NOTIFICATION ALARMS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON (LIKE OBSTACLE IN ROAD WITH NOTHING THERE) JUST TO NAME A FEW. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM HELP WITH THE WINDSHIELD THEY WERE VERY RUDE AND DISMISSIVE, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO LISTEN TO ME OFTEN INTERRUPTING ME WHEN I SPOKE AND REFUSING TO HELP ME WITH MY ISSUES. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT SUBARU DIRECTLY SINCE THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF I NEED TO PURSUE A LEMON LAW CASE OR IF I CAN ACTUALLY BE HELPED AT ALL WITH THESE ISSUES. I AM A LONGTIME FAN OF SUBARU AND WAS GREATLY LOOKING FORWARD TO OWNING MY OWN FOR THE FIRST TIME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Oct 2019 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DESIGN OR MALFUNCTIONING OF TECHNOLOGY. THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADJUSTED SPEED. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET TO 45MPH AT WHICH POINT, THE VEHICLE SPEED UP AND CRASHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD. THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE. *JS | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. PARKED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE, NOTHING AROUND THE VEHICLE, CAME OUT AND NOTICED A CRACK FROM THE A POST INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY, ATTEMPTED TO CALL INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,500 |
| Oct 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | HAD MY NEW CAR FOR 2 MONTHS AND WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY, IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE TO PREPARE TO EXIT. HEARD A SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR, THEN NOTICED A VERY SMALL CRACK IN THE UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THOUGHT A ROCK WAS KICKED UP BY ANOTHER CAR BUT SAW NO OBJECTS AND THERE WERE FEW CARS DRIVING NEAR ME. IT SEEMED ODD AND UNSAFE THAT A WINDSHIELD COULD CRACK FROM LITTLE TO NO IMPACT. OVER THE NEXT DAY, THE SMALL CRACK EXPANDED TO ABOUT 12 INCHES. SPENT $847 TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND RE-CALIBRATE EYESIGHT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,500 |
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME, AND I HEARD A CLICK. I LOOKED AROUND AND NOTICED A 3' CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK HAS SINCE GROWN TO 24' | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,100 |
| Oct 2019 | STEERING | I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 40 MPH THE STEERING SEEMS TO "SLIP" AND PULL THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. AT THAT TIME THE STEERING WHEEL HAS ADDITIONAL PLAY MAKING AN IMMEDIATE CORRECTION IMPOSSIBLE. HIGHWAYS HAVE BEEN CLEAR HOWEVER I AM CONCERNED WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN ROADS ARE SLICK W INCLEMENT WEATHER. TOOK BACK TO DEALER; THEY ADJUSTED TOE RODS. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,100 |
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | EYESIGHT WINDSHIELD BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY IN LIGHT RAIN. NO KNOWN CAUSE. CRACK CONTINUED EXPANDING FOR 2 DAYS IN WARM, DRY WEATHER. HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED ON AN INSURANCE CLAIM WITH SAFELITE AND THEY ALSO CALIBRATED THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,185 |
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED NEAR THE TOP, BY THE DRIVER ASSIST CAMERA. UNKNOWN HOW IT OCCURRED. OWNER ASSUMED CAUSED BY ROCK SLUNG BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT CRACK WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL MANY DAYS LATER. INSURANCE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, BUT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP CHARGED $270 FOR EYESIGHT RE-CALIBRATION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,900 |
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A RAMP. THE CRACK IS AT THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,200 |
| Oct 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | OUR WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE IN ONE YEAR. THE SECOND CRACK OCCURRED SIX WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT OVERNIGHT WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE. IT EXTENDS THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ATTACHMENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,015 |
| Sep 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | FRONT WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED ON A PARKED VEHICLE FROM THE MID LEVEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SEARCHING ONLINE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER USERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM. HAVE JUST 6000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN JUST 5 MONTHS SINCE I BROUGHT THE NEW CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,500 |
| Sep 2019 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | A COUPLE DAYS AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD AND USING CRUISE @35MPH, THE CAR FOR NO REASON SUDDENLY STARTED BREAKING AS IF TO AVOID A COLLISION. NOTHING WAS IN FRONT OF ME, NOT EVEN AN ONCOMING CAR AT A DISTANCE. NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. MY RESPONSE WAS TO MANUALLY APPLY THE BRAKE AND THAT KICKED OUT CRUISE. I HAVEN'T HAD IT HAPPEN AGAIN. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN USING CRUISE AT LOW SPEEDS? IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS... | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,400 |
| Sep 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I GOT A BRAND NEW SUBARU 2019 SUV IN SECOND WEEK OF MAY 2019. CAR HAS AROUND 5500 MILES ON IT. WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK THAT I OBSERVED WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR NEXT MORNING. OVERNIGHT CAR WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVE WAY. THERE ARE NO TREES AND I DONT SEE ANY ROCKS HITTING. IT CRACKED OUT OF NO WHERE | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DRIVING DOWN NORMAL HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A CRACK FORMING. WINDSHIELD CRACKED NEAR WIPER FROM MAYBE SOME ROAD DUST HIT IT THAT IS COMMON ON ANY HIGHWAY. NEVER HAD SUCH A BIG CRACK FROM NORMAL ROAD DUST BEFORE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| Aug 2019 | STRUCTURE | THE REAR LIFTGATE ONLY HAS THE EXTERIOR ELECTRIC BUTTON TO OPEN LIFTGATE. A PANEL INSIDE THE GATE HAS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO GIVE ANYONE TRAPPED INSIDE A SAFE EXIT. THE PANEL REQUIRES A TOOL TO PRY IT OFF IN ORDER TO GET TO THE LATCH INSIDE. THE KEY REMOTE FOB WILL ONLY UNLOCK THE ELECTRIC SWITCH, NOT RELEASE THE LATCH. ANYONE TRAPPED INSIDE WOULD STILL NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE BACK OF THE CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2019 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | FIRST OIL CHANGE AT 5,850 MILES NO PROBLEM. AFTER SECOND OIL CHANGE AT 11,948 MILES, VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVABLE AS IT STUMBLES AND LOSES POWER BETWEEN 2,000-2,700 RPM. DEALER HAS REPEATED OIL CHANGE 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES AS THEY ARE NOT CERTAIN IF THEY MAY HAVE OVERFILLED THE ENGINE (KNOWN SUBARU ISSUE). THEY HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE EXHAUST, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AIR FILTER, INTAKE SYSTEM, AND TRANSMISSION, ALL TO NO AVAIL. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AND GROUNDING THE CABLES TO DISCHARGE ALL CAPACITORS PROVIDED TEMPORARY RELIEF, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED WITHIN 36 HOURS AND 200 MILES. NOW ENTERING 3 WEEKS AND 600 MILES OF TROUBLESHOOTING AND TEST DRIVING BY THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS STILL UNSAFE AND UNDRIVABLE, AS 2000-2700 RPM IS THE HEART OF THE POWER BAND THAT IS ALWAYS USED WHEN DRIVING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,948 |
| Aug 2019 | STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | PURCHASED VEHICLE IN MARCH 2019, SINCE OWNING VEHICLE MY MILES PER GALLON HAS BEEN OFF RANGING FROM 6 MILES TO 99 MILES PER GALLON AND THE SUBARU DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, YOU HAVE TO APPLY THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS A SOFT PEDAL AND A BURNT SMELL IN THE ENGINE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACK APPEARED ON WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ANY PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE AREA WHILE DRIVING. STARTED BELOW WINDSHIELD WIPER ON DRIVERSIDE AND CONTINUES FOR 24" ACROSS THE CENTER OF THE GLASS IN A CURVED 40 DEG ANGLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,600 |
| Aug 2019 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DROVE OVER A CURB. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS FLATTENED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED AFTER THE CLAIM BECOMES APPROVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SUBARU OF KINGS AUTOMALL (9536 KINGS AUTOMALL RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45249, (513) 583-9300) AND WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE TIRE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTERWARDS, THE DEALER WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,300. *DT *TR | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 4,300 |
| Aug 2019 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK EXPANDED IN HOT WEATHER. THE CONTACT CALLED LANCASTER COUNTY MOTORS SUBARU (1705 MANHEIM PIKE, LANCASTER, PA 717-569-4514), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. *TT*JB | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,000 |
| Aug 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUS CRACK UNDER WIPER DEICER CONNECTION VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Aug 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR, COMING DOWN FROM A MOUNTAIN RANGE AND JUST REACHED THE BOTTOM. I CROSSED A CATTLE GUARD AND MY SUNROOF SHATTERED. I DO NOT BELIEVE I ROCK HIT AS THE DEALERSHIP BELIEVES AS THEIR WAS NO ONE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND I WAS IN A REMOTE AREA OF ARIZONA. I BELIEVE THE SUNROOF SHATTERED FOR EITHER NO REASON OR POSSIBLY CHANGE IN ELEVATION AND TEMPERATURES. THIS IS NOT SAFE. LUCKILY MY SHIELD WAS CLOSED, BUT THE SOUND ALONE WAS STARTLING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | SUBSTANTIAL WINDSHIELD CRACK WITH NO VISIBLE PREVIOUS DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTDOORS AT APPROXIMATELY 2045 CENTRAL TIME ON 8/15/2019 FACING WEST. AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 CENTRAL TIME ON 8/16/2019 VEHICLE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL 7+ INCH CRACK DESCENDING FROM TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD DIRECTLY ABOVE AND DESCENDING VERTICALLY DOWN FROM NEAR THE DRIVER EYESIGHT CAMERA. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FOR GLASS WHICH IS MEANT TO PROTECT THE DRIVER AND PROVIDE A VIEW PORT FROM WHICH MOST SAFETY SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE OPERATE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,500 |
| Aug 2019 | AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | SLOWLY PULLING STRAIGHT INTO PARKING SPOT AT GROCERY STORE. APPLIED BRAKE WHEN CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL STEERING, BUT BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. STEERED CAR INTO EMPTY PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF ME THEN TURNED HARD RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING PARKED CARS IN ROW ACROSS. SUBARU HIT A PICK UP TRUCK THAT WAS REVERSING OUT OF A DIAGONAL PARKING SPOT. THE CAR DIDN'T STOP UPON IMPACT, INSTEAD BOTH RIGHT SIDE WHEELS CLIMBED UP THE SIDE OF TRUCK AT AN ANGLE. AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON IMPACT. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE ACCELERATION WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | 3,000 |
| Aug 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WE HAD OUR FIRST SPONTANEOUS CRACK ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING OUR OUTBACK IN NOVEMBER 2018. I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT HAPPENED BUT WE HAD NOT HAD ANY ROCKS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A CHIP (THEY USED A BALLPOINT PEN TO INSPECT AND I BELIEVE THEY CREATED A SMALL CHIP ALONG THE CRACK LINE) BUT THEY REPLACED IT FOR FREE. THE SECOND CRACK OCCURRED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE NEW WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND HEARD IT HAPPEN; THERE WAS NO APPARENT ROAD HAZARD THAT CAUSED THE CRACK.THIS TIME I DIDN'T ALLOW THEM TO INSPECT WITH A BALLPOINT PEN AND, SURE ENOUGH, THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS A SPONTANEOUS CRACK AND SUBARU REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD FOR US. THE THIRD CRACK JUST OCCURRED AND I BELIEVE IT IS ALSO A SPONTANEOUS CRACK THAT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT. THERE IS NO APPARENT CHIP. ALL OF THEM START IN THE BLACK AREA BELOW THE WIPERS. I WONDER IF THERE COULD BE A DEFECT IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR THAT CAUSES UNDUE STRESS ON THE WINDSHIELD. I WENT TO A LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS GET THEIR BALLPOINT PEN OUT. I WILL WAIT TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND WILL ALSO PURSUE ISSUE WITH SUBARU CUSTOMER RELATIONS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |