2019 Subaru Outback Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,036 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 7,350miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the air bags of the 2019 Subaru Outback, 1% of the 1,036 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 7,350 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My daughter was driving with my granddaughter and was hit from the rear, totaling my 2019 Subaru Outback. Both my daughter and granddaughter reported hitting the dashboard or the windshield. None of the airbags deployed and the driver's headrest ended up on the driver's lap. At the time of the accident, the front auto was about to start forward or had started forward when the signal light had just turned green.. The police report is attached, with a letter from the meridian, idaho police department. …”
NHTSA complaint #11343356, filed 2020-08, 5,700 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11244551, filed 2019-08, 3,000 miles“Airbag warning light comes on when charging samsung galaxy note 9 phone with staples charger plugged into 12v socket. This is not only happening in my Subaru. I rented a 2019 nissan pick up and the exact same thing happened. The questions that I have are: are the airbags still functional when the warning light comes on. Is it an issue with the samsung galaxy note 9. Is it an issue with a quick charger plugged into the 12v socket. Since it happened on 3 cars (2 different subarus, nissan truck), my assumption is the phone, charger or combination of the two. …”
NHTSA complaint #11277360, filed 2019-10, 10,000 miles“According to my Subaru service technician the Occupant detection control module is faulty on my car. Research has found that this is a known problem with 2020-2022 Subaru outbacks that is under recall. I believe the recall should be extended to include the 2019 year model because a faulty occupant detection module means that the air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash which is a serious safety concern.”
NHTSA complaint #11652831, filed 2025-04“I was involved in a car crash where another car crashed into me at an angle and hit the driver side door and part of the front and the wheel air bag not deploy. The side air bags did. I was going 30, this other car was going 40-50 mph.”
NHTSA complaint #11706222, filed 2025-12Related service bulletins
- 11005609Jul 15, 2024This announcement provides information on Takata Recall Escalated Towing Program.
- 10237254May 8, 2023This bulletin announces availability of the one-time use mounting clip and spacer clip for the air bag curtain module.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 6% |
| 2024 | 6 | 6% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 6 | 1% |
| 2021 | 16 | 5% |
| 2020 | 18 | 2% |
| 2019 | 13 | 1% |
| 2018 | 8 | 1% |
| 2017 | 16 | 2% |
| 2016 | 10 | 2% |
| 2015 | 14 | 3% |
| 2014 | 38 | 18% |
| 2013 | 42 | 14% |
| 2012 | 39 | 13% |
| 2011 | 73 | 11% |
| 2010 | 44 | 12% |
| 2009 | 30 | 28% |
| 2008 | 104 | 46% |
| 2007 | 47 | 36% |
| 2006 | 40 | 14% |
| 2005 | 38 | 14% |
| 2004 | 25 | 28% |
| 2003 | 19 | 20% |
| 2002 | 5 | 4% |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% |
| 2000 | 5 | 2% |
| 1999 | 7 | 6% |
| 1998 | 11 | 9% |
| 1997 | 2 | 3% |
| 1996 | 8 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2019 Subaru Outback
387 complaintsElectrical system
364 complaintsOther or unknown
205 complaintsEngine
39 complaintsForward collision avoidance
36 complaintsSteering
36 complaintsFuel system
32 complaintsBody and structure
27 complaintsVehicle speed control
26 complaintsBrakes
22 complaintsLane departure
18 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2019 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology