2019 Subaru Impreza Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Impreza most often write about windshields that crack, sometimes while the car is parked and without any visible impact, and about headlights that are too dim at night, many of those complaints filed after a headlight recall notice arrived. A smaller but recurring group covers batteries that go flat and leave the car unable to start.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks without visible impact

   • 53 complaints (27%)
   • median 9,922 mi at 1.6 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2024

   Owners describe windshields developing long cracks from the lower edge, near the mirror mount, or from a corner, often with no chip or impact mark found. Many say the car had been parked overnight or for several days when the crack appeared, and that it spread quickly across the glass. Several report repeat replacements, and some say the dealer declined to cover it under warranty, describing it as not a stress crack or as outside warranty. Mostly reported under 15,000 miles, often on a parked vehicle and in the first year or two of ownership.

   What to check: Inspect the windshield for chips and old repairs, and ask whether it has ever been replaced and how many times. Also verify that the EyeSight driver-assist system was recalibrated if the glass was replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield cracked spontaneously. Was driving down a smooth open road at 40mph and heard the sound of a crack. I look to my passenger side and a long crack was there. The crack itself starts from the bottom of the glass and makes its way up and across. Again, driving down an open road so there was no other vehicle in front of me to kick up debris.”

   NHTSA complaint #11243542, filed 2019-08, 525 miles

   “Windshield spontaneously cracked. I was pulling out of driveway and stopped to plug in my phone when the windshield popped and cracked. There was no flying debris that hit the windshield then or previously. We took to dealership for assessment because we felt it was a stress crack, but they said it wasn't and they wouldn't replace it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11221895, filed 2019-06, 6,100 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights too dim at night

   • 48 complaints (25%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2024

   Owners say the low beams give poor illumination of the road at night, and a few describe the headlights dimming as the car slows and brightening again at a stop. Some report the dealer could not duplicate the problem or called it normal operation; others were told a software update was needed. Many mention that a headlight recall notice had arrived but the repair part was not yet available. Reported across a wide mileage range, most commonly between about 5,000 and 50,000 miles, and noticed while driving at night.

   Recall 22V624000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 22V624000 has been completed and check for any headlight-related software update. Drive the car at night on an unlit road before buying to judge the beam pattern and brightness yourself.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to drive at night. The contact stated that the headlights were pointed downward. The contact stated that other drivers were flashing their headlights at her while she was driving. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11562310, filed 2023-12, 30,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11594096, filed 2024-06, 5 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery drains and will not start

   • 10 complaints (5%)
   • median 10,090 mi at 2.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the car failing to start after sitting for a few days, sometimes in otherwise normal conditions, and needing a jump start. Several report repeated battery replacements, and some say the dealer simply replaced the battery again without looking into why it kept going flat. One owner also mentions the infotainment screen acting abnormally after a jump start. Mostly reported in the first few years of ownership, often after the car sat for several days to a week.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask how often, and how recently, the battery was replaced, and whether any parasitic-draw testing was done. A battery load test and a check for current draw with the ignition off are reasonable steps before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After having the car 10 months battery kept dying. Subaru replaced the first battery with a new one exactly one year ago. That battery just died on feb 8 after not being driven for 3 days. I needed to get it jump started. Subaru will not acknowledge this and told me to get a second opinion. This is a safety issue not a medical condition.”

   NHTSA complaint #11395794, filed 2021-02, 5,680 miles

   “Ii bought this car new in 2019. I have had 8 times which I would be out somewhere and the car would not start. I lived in fort worth and aaa would come. At no time has Subaru addressed this issue of why it will not start. I had to take it to cleo bay in killen on saturday the 10th because I was at lunch in brownwood and when I tried to start it it would not. I had to get it jumped and then the screen for the maps and radio acted like it was on drugs. So I drove and left it with cleo bay Subaru. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11408077, filed 2021-04, 14,500 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel pump failure and stalling

   • 16 complaints (8%)
   • median 14,500 mi at 2.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the engine stopping while driving and the car having to be towed, with a dealer diagnosis of a failed low-pressure fuel pump. One owner reports the car was stopped on the street at low mileage and that the replacement part took weeks to arrive. A related recall covers the low-pressure fuel pump. Reported at low mileage, in a few cases under 3,000 miles.

   Recall 21V587000Recall 20V218000

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether the fuel pump recalls 20V218000 and 21V587000 were completed for this vehicle, and confirm the service record shows the pump replacement if it applies.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Since purchasing my vehicle in january of 2019 I have had to have the battery replaced 4 times, each time the car has not been sitting for more than a week, not been exposed to extreme temperatures, not been left with a light on or a door open. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th times this happened I requested that the vehicle be examined to determine whether there was an issue other than the battery at play, Subaru has never taken that inquiry seriously and simply replaced the battery only for it to die a few months later.”

   NHTSA complaint #11407930, filed 2021-04, 22,000 miles

   “Car stopped running while driving down the street. Automobile was towed to dealer yesterday (9-11-19). Dealer, called today (9-12-19) said problem is a bad fuel pump and may take up to a month to get the ordered part delivered and installed. New vehicle purchased april, 2019 a little less than 2800 miles on odometer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11255104, filed 2019-09, 2,750 miles

Buying note. Ask for the recall completion history, check the windshield for chips or prior replacements, and test the headlights at night. Also ask about battery replacement history and any starting problems after the car has sat.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.