10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,078 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2019 Subaru Outback seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2019 Subaru Outback Owner Comments

problem #9

Jan 162024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After driving 5 miles or so, the Air Bag indicator light goes on. After stopping for 10 minutes for shopping, etc., Y starting the car again the light is out until I drive a few more miles & then the light comes on again. This started last week when it was very cold here. Today, it was in the 50s & the same thing happened. I have not contacted the dealer yet because of the inconsistency. I have to search the internet more to see if others are having the same problem.

- Irwin, PA, USA

problem #8

Jan 162023

Outback

  • miles
SRS Safety Issue: 2019 Subaru OUTBACK Limited purchased New on Jun 2019 from Austin Subaru in Texas. NO Accident or minor collision AT ALL. SRS warning light illuminate since Jan 2023, three and half years after purchase. No other warning light illuminate before. Front Passenger Seat SRS malfunction and falsely detect present or absent of passenger. The on/off status even alters during the vehicle operations. The airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied. Such safety issue greatly increasing the risk of injury or potential death to the front passenger in case of accident. Repair hx: On March, 2023 Vehicle has been brought up to Brandon Tomes Subaru for diagnosis and service provider recommended to replace front passenger seat sensor. This issue has been informed Subaru American. Inc for safety concerns and requesting repair cost coverage. The case has been procrastinated till April and cost is not fully covered. After brought the vehicle to a local Auto-Repair shop to replace the Sensor and completed the calibration by an Subaru Technician, the SRS still persists. I am keeping working on repairing and expecting more cost. Strongly recommended RECALL for 2019 Subaru Outback SRS safety Issue. Similar recalled before 2015-18MY Forester: Occupant Detection Wiring Harness Inspection.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #7

Dec 232022

Outback

  • miles
I own a 2019 Subaru Outback Touring. This is the second Subaru Outback I have owned. In Aug of 2022, my windshield cracked out of nowhere. The crack came up from the center and spread out across the windshield. I had it replaced at the Subaru dealership in which I bought the car. Everything seemed fine until 12/23/22, when we got some heavy rain and I get in my car only to see water steadily dripping inside via the vehicle the left A-pillar on the front drivers side. I return to the dealer where it turns out that there was a problem with the brand new factory-brand windshield that was replaced in August, and it had been slowly leaking water into my car over those 4 months, resulting in massive damage to the airbag system, electrical system, among other things. These damages came to over $10,500. The water had gathered under my carpets and padding and started growing mold. All of this needed to be replaced. This was the third time I had to replace a windshield on the two Subarus that I have owned. Due to this, I have been without a vehicle for over 60 days now. It has caused me incredible stress, time out of work, and money. I am a caretaker for my paraplegic father who has also suffered due to my being without a vehicle to care for him, run errands, and food shop for him. Throughout my research, I have come to learn that this is a known problem in the Subaru brand vehicles yet they choose to ignore it and do nothing about it. I am not comfortable driving my car any longer, which still has electrical issues and unfortunately, I am losing trust in Subaru as a brand. It is unfortunate that they will not address this and fix this issue because I believe it is damaging their reputation. I have not been left in a good position here, with a junked car that is only 3 years old, 40k miles, and that I owe $15,000 on still, and I now need to find a new vehicle.

- Johnston, RI, USA

problem #6

Jan 282023

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The air bag warning light has come on multiple times and I have received notice from Subaru StarLink to have the vehicle serviced. Upon taking the vehicle to multiple dealers I was advised that there is no problem detected. The vehicle was last checked out at Reedman Toll Subaru on January 17, 2023 and no problems were found. The vehicle was previously checked out at Glanzmann Subaru and again no problems were found. On January 28, 2023 the air bag light came on and I received a StarLink notification. I reported the incident to Subaru and they are looking into the possible cause.

- Jenkintown, PA, USA

problem #5

Jan 162023

Outback

  • miles
2019 Outback 2.5 Limited purchased new Feb 2019. Driving car with no passengers when Airbag Warning Light and Red Exclamation light came on along with warning message to consult owners manual. Manual says the airbag system is turned off when these lights come on and take car to authorized repair center. Found pulling passenger seat belt out all the way would turn off the lights but then they would turn back on a short time later. Dealer found all harnesses where properly plugged in and no wiring damage. Dealer said vehicle needed a new front passenger occupant detection seat frame as a result of the malfunction. Service advisor stated they have seen several cars with the same fault and that our Outback was not under a manufactures recall for this problem. Dealer was well aware other Subaru models have recalls for this problem. Service advisor recommended contacting NHSTA over this problem since when the airbag system shuts down occupant safety is severely compromised if an accident were to occur. Total cost of repair was $1,922.07

- Lake Stevens, WA, USA

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problem #4

Nov 202020

Outback

  • 9,000 miles
The contact owned a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, when another vehicle rear ended his vehicle and the engine seized. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated his wife (seated at the front passenger seat) sustained 2 fractured ribs, 2 fractured vibrates and had surgery on her both lungs. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The insurance deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was towed to tow lot. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

- Jewett, NY, USA

problem #3

Jul 292020

Outback

  • 5,700 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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. My concerns are 1) should the airbags have deployed and 2) should the driver's headrest have detached from the seat? if the driver's contact info is needed, please let me know.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 312019

Outback

  • 10,000 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 Subaru, Nissan truck), my assumption is the phone, charger or combination of the two. Happens when I plug the phone in, within a few minutes, I'm usually in motion. Doesn't matter city, highway, turning, etc. This has been happening regularly for some time.

- Portland, CT, USA

problem #1

Aug 132019

Outback

  • 3,000 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. The acceleration was uncontrollable and I am afraid to drive the car.

- Houston, TX, USA

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