2019 Subaru Outback Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two recurring frustrations: windshields that crack without any visible impact, and batteries that go flat, sometimes after only a day or two parked. Electrical complaints also cover a liftgate that opens on its own or stops responding, and an infotainment screen that flashes and drops navigation and audio. Most of these reports come at low mileage, and windshield cracks often first appear while the car sits parked.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks without a visible impact

   • 447 complaints (43%)
   • median 10,412 mi at 1.4 yrs old (276 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 38 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe cracks that begin at the lower edge of the glass, under the rearview mirror, or along the driver's side, with no chip or sign of a strike. Many say the crack was first noticed after the car had been parked overnight, sometimes on a cold night, and then spread across the windshield within hours or days. Dealers frequently attributed the damage to an outside impact and declined to cover replacement, and a few owners were told the glass on these cars is thinner than on earlier models. Several note that replacing the windshield also requires recalibration of the EyeSight driver-assist cameras. Reported from very low mileage up to about 44,000 miles, with many under 20,000 and several appearing after the car sat parked overnight.

   What to check: Look along the lower edge of the glass and around the mirror mount for cracks or previous repairs, and ask whether the windshield has been replaced and the driver-assist cameras recalibrated afterwards.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield crack that started from the bottom edge of windshield. I literally woke up to a crack that developed overnight after a regular cold night in reno nv. The crack continued growing since then. I have never own a vehicle that has cracked its windshield just because it is a cold night. Vehicle was parked overnight when crack developed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11406227, filed 2021-04, 16,202 miles

   “I was picking my son up from school when the crack started, as I sat in the parking lot it continued down and across the center of the windshield. There were no chips or dings to be found. I do believe it causes the forward crash indicator to trip sooner than it should.”

   NHTSA complaint #11386244, filed 2021-01, 22,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Battery drains and repeated no-starts

   • 293 complaints (28%)
   • median 11,974 mi at 2.2 yrs old (88 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the battery going flat after the car sits for a day or several days, after a series of short trips, or after the liftgate has been left open, leaving them needing a jump start. Some had the battery replaced once or twice within the first two years, and a few were told by the dealer that nothing was wrong or that the car should be kept on a battery tender. Others describe the battery warning light coming on and the vehicle still failing to start after a new battery was fitted. Mostly under 20,000 miles, often within the first year and a half of ownership and on cars driven only a few times a week.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the battery and charging system tested, and ask whether the battery has already been replaced and whether the car has shown a parasitic draw. Note how often the car was driven by the previous owner, since several reports involve cars used only a few times a week.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We purchased the car in july 2019. By may 2020 we had to replace the battery. By the end of january 2021 we had to replace the battery again. We took the car to the dealership and they state there is nothing wrong with the car. After owning the car for 19 months it only has 7,300 miles on it and has always been kept in the garage when not in use.”

   NHTSA complaint #11397017, filed 2021-02, 7,288 miles

   “We purchased our 2019 Subaru Outback brand new. We didn't have any problems until 1.5 years into the purchase. We have approx 8,800 miles on it and now every time we go to drive it, the battery is dead. Dealer has tested the battery twice and says it is fine and that we need to keep the car plugged in to a battery tender. Even though we drive it a few times a week, including on the highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11395815, filed 2021-02, 8,800 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Liftgate opens on its own or stops responding

   • 52 complaints (5%)
   • median 8,650 mi at 1.8 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the power liftgate opening by itself overnight in a locked garage, or refusing to open from the key fob, the dash switch or the handle at the rear. Several owners connect an open or unlatched hatch to a dead battery the next morning, and some needed the dealer to reset the liftgate before it worked again. A few also describe a passenger window that drops back down on the one-touch-up function or moves on its own while driving. Reported from a few hundred miles to about 30,000 miles, often after the hatch had been left open or the car sat overnight.

   What to check: Cycle the liftgate several times using the fob, the dash switch and the rear handle, confirm it latches fully, and ask whether the liftgate module has ever been reset or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2019 Subaru Outback battery has died multiple times on me. I previously had a 2017 Subaru Outback and had no issues at all with the battery. The first time the battery died, my neighbor was able to jump start the battery. It has happened 4 more times and had to contact Subaru roadside assistance to get my battery jumpstarted. It seems that the electrical problem is with the liftgate. A couple of times I've come out to start my car and the liftgate is up, battery is dead. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11384518, filed 2020-12, 10,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11412788, filed 2021-04, 19,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen flashing and audio dropouts

   • 62 complaints (6%)
   • median 13,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the infotainment screen flashing on and off, making abnormal noises, and losing navigation and Bluetooth, with one report of the backup camera going blank while the screen cycled. Some were told the audio or head unit needed replacement, and in several cases the part was on backorder so the repair was never completed. One owner also mentions the radio volume changing by itself. From delivery mileage up to about 43,000 miles, with several reports in the first few thousand miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Spend time with the screen on during a test drive, cycling radio, Bluetooth and navigation, and check that the backup camera holds a picture in reverse. Ask whether the head unit has been replaced or covered under any extended warranty on the unit.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Second time battery was drained. Alternator is ok. It is driven every week including highway miles. Dealership says there are no issues with the car. It had been parked in driveway 1 1/2 days. Previously had a problem with radio changing volume by it self and horn honking without touching the center of driving wheel.”

   NHTSA complaint #11362918, filed 2020-10, 13,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the display screen malfunctioned and flashed off and on. During the failure, the back-up camera became inoperable and created a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V935000 (Visibility). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11628838, filed 2024-12, 85,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel pump failure and engine stumble

   • 29 complaints (3%)
   • median 15,550 mi at 2.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the engine running rough, stumbling, or losing power at road speed and when pulling away from a stop, in some cases after the fuel pump had already been replaced under a recall campaign. Owners report the car stalling or hesitating to accelerate when entering traffic, and one had the vehicle towed and the fuel pump replaced. One owner was told their vehicle was not included in the fuel pump campaign. Most reports fall between roughly 9,000 and 16,000 miles, with the lowest around 9,000.

   Recall 21V587000Recall 20V218000

   What to check: Ask whether the low-pressure fuel pump recall has been completed on this vehicle, and watch for hesitation or a flat spot during a test drive, particularly when accelerating from a stop or merging.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle ran rough and then lost power while exiting I-55 in the chicago area. The vehicle was stalled on the side of the exit ramp, but I was able to restart it and exit the interstate. It seems like it is related to the ongoing fuel pump recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329652, filed 2020-06, 9,060 miles

   “Frequent problems with car starting due to run down battery. We have had battery related service calls from aaa on 7/29/19, 5/23/20, 6/4/20, 12/2/20, 1/23/21, and 2/10/21. Today (2/19/21) the car only started on the third attempt after pumping the gas a bit. We did not call aaa but made an appointment with the Subaru dealer. This will not be our first appointment with them. Previous appointments with dealer related to difficulty starting car were on 6/9/20 (when battery was replaced), 12/22/20, and 1/15/21. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11396927, filed 2021-02, 15,500 miles

Buying note. Ask for records showing whether the fuel pump recall work was done, whether the battery has already been replaced, and whether the windshield has been changed and its cameras recalibrated. A pre-purchase inspection with a battery and charging-system test and a scan for stored codes is worth the cost on this model year.

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.