YearToAvoid

2019 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 64 engine complaints for the 2019 Subaru Outback, 6% of its 1,034 total complaints. Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration at low speed, often while parking or idling, with a median failure mileage of 9,300. No related recall is listed for this issue.

Engine complaints
64
6% of 1,034
Crashes reported
12
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
9,300 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while slowly parking, backing out of a driveway, or idling with a foot on the brake.
  • Several describe the vehicle surging forward into a garage, wall, or parked object even though the brake pedal was fully depressed.
  • Some report the engine seizing after a rear-end collision, with no warning light before the failure.
  • One owner reported an oil leak at the valve cover gasket that required engine removal, followed later by a sudden lunge through a garage door after repair.
  • A separate report describes the car getting stuck in first gear followed by a fire starting between the engine and transmission.

When 2019 Subaru Outback engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 11, 2019, latest May 7, 2026.

2019 Subaru Outback engine complaints: complaints filed per month5Jan 2019Feb 2020Dec 2020Jan 2022Oct 2022Jan 2024Mar 2025Apr 2026
64 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2019 to May 2026; peak May 2020 (5).

Engine recalls for the 2019 Subaru Outback

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Outback model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201077 (22%)
  2. 2011113 (17%)
  3. 201259 (20%)
  4. 201388 (30%)
  5. 201449 (24%)
  6. 201574 (15%)
  7. 201674 (12%)
  8. 201769 (8%)
  9. 201857 (7%)
  10. 201964 (6%)
  11. 202061 (7%)
  12. 202137 (13%)
  13. 202226 (6%)
  14. 20233 (3%)
  15. 202410 (10%)
  16. 20258 (10%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2019 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 64 engine complaints for the 2019 Outback, which is 6% of the 1,034 total complaints filed for that model year.
What is the main engine problem reported on the 2019 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds, such as while parking or idling, sometimes resulting in crashes.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Subaru Outback engine issue?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category.
At what mileage do these engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 9,300 miles.
Did the engine complaints lead to crashes or injuries?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 12 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries associated with the 64 engine complaints for this model year.

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.