YearToAvoid

2019 Subaru Outback Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 16 Outback years

The 2019 Subaru Outback ranks worst of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 1,034 NHTSA complaints. Visibility & Wipers (37%) and Electrical System (35%) dominate complaints, plus 3 recalls including two fuel pump campaigns. Verdict: Avoid, relative to other Outback years.

Complaints
1,034
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
24 / 2
Injuries / deaths
18 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
22.5 city / 29.5 hwy

Top 2019 Subaru Outback problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers386 (37%)
  2. Electrical System367 (35%)
  3. Other211 (20%)
  4. Engine64 (6%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras40 (4%)
  6. Steering36 (3%)
  7. Structure & Body34 (3%)
  8. Fuel System32 (3%)
  9. Brakes25 (2%)
  10. Lane Departure18 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended braking or acceleration events while parking at low speed, sometimes resulting in collisions.
  • Several complaints describe the adaptive cruise control or pre-collision brake system failing to slow the vehicle before a crash.
  • Owners report airbags not deploying during moderate-speed rear-end collisions despite occupant injuries.
  • Some drivers describe the engine seizing or the transmission lurching forward unexpectedly even with the brake pedal depressed.
  • A few owners noted the auto-braking system engaging unpredictably, including one case triggered by a deer in the road.
2019 Subaru Outback complaints: complaints filed per quarter882018 Q32019 Q42021 Q12022 Q22023 Q32024 Q42026 Q1
1253 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q1 (88).

2019 Subaru Outback recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V587000Jul 29, 2021Fuel System175,968 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    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.

  2. NHTSA 20V218000Apr 16, 2020Fuel System188,207 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    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.

  3. NHTSA 19V493000Jun 26, 2019Structure & Body2,107 vehicles

    Structure

    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.

2019 Subaru Outback fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22.5 MPG
Highway
29.5 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,625
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2019 compared with other Outback years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Avoid879174 !25
2018Avoid80811325
2019Avoid1001,034325
2020Avoid93897627.5
2021Good47296427.5

All Subaru Outback years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2019 Outback has the highest Complaint Index (100) of all 16 model years covered, with 1,034 complaints and 3 recalls, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other Outback years.
What are the biggest problem areas for the 2019 Subaru Outback?
Visibility & Wipers account for 37% of complaints and Electrical System for 35%, together making up most of the reported issues, with a median failure mileage around 11,000 to 12,500 miles.
Does the 2019 Subaru Outback have a fuel pump recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists two fuel pump recalls affecting the 2019 Outback, campaigns 21V587000 and 20V218000, both involving the low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank.
How does the 2019 Outback compare to other years?
The 2019 Outback ranks worst among 16 years with a Complaint Index of 100, compared to 2023 (0, Best) and 2014 (7, Best), which had far fewer reported problems.
Were there any crashes or injuries reported for the 2019 Outback?
NHTSA lists 24 crashes, 2 fires, and 18 injuries associated with 2019 Outback complaints, with no reported deaths.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.