The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 398 of 1,036 complaints (38%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (10) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 816 in 2018 to 1,036 in 2019.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,036
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,200–$2,850
- Combined MPG
- 22–28
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | vs. 2019 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,200–2,850 | 2,200–2,850 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–28 | 22–28 | 26–29 | 26–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–25 / 27–32 | 20–25 / 27–32 | 23–26 / 30–33 | 23–26 / 30–33 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 320–398 | 320–398 | 308–343 | 308–343 | |
| Complaints filed | 816 | 1,036 | 906 | 299 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 27 | 24 | 19 | 9 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 19 | 18 | 4 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2019 Subaru Outback have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2019 Subaru Outback?
Visibility & Lighting: 398 of 1,036 NHTSA complaints (38%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2019 Subaru Outback get?
EPA rates it 22–28 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2019 Subaru Outback?
EPA estimates $2,200–$2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,200 (low) | 320 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 398 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 40 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 364 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 25 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 14 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 69 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 34 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 398 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 211 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
- Consequence
- 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.
STRUCTURE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.