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2019 Subaru Outback problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
7%
72 of 1,034 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2019 Subaru Outback. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 7% of relevant complaints.

Better than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2019 Subaru Outback have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 72 of 1,034 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Outback concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (7%). For comparison, the 2018 scores 10% and the 2020 scores 11%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
72
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
1,034
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
24 crashes · 18 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM363 · 35%
VISIBILITY/WIPER326 · 32%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER204 · 20%
VISIBILITY63 · 6%
ENGINE39 · 4%
STEERING36 · 3%

The years either side

2010
52%
148 of 360
2011
62%
288 of 652
2012
62%
146 of 292
2013
49%
122 of 297
2014
41%
67 of 208
2015
18%
89 of 509
2016
16%
99 of 642
2017
11%
97 of 917
2018
10%
82 of 812
2019
7%
72 of 1,034
2020
11%
98 of 899
2021
13%
36 of 296
2022
9%
40 of 464
2023
9%
7 of 89

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 Subaru Outback

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN09/12/20251 INJURED
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20-25 MPH, the vehicle started reversing unintendedly while the gear shifter was in drive(D). The contact stated that the vehicle reversed on a steep road, drove onto a curb, and onto the poles that were lying down, and the vehi…

One of 72 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Subaru Outback?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Subaru Outback involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump21V587000 · Jul 2021

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.

Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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…

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump20V218000 · Apr 2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.

Risk: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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…

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
structure19V493000 · Jun 2019
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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2019 Subaru Outback? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2019 Subaru Outback

Does the 2019 Subaru Outback have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 72 of 1,034 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Outback concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (7%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Subaru Outback?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Subaru Outback involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 21V587000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 20V218000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Subaru Outback years are better?

The 2019 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Subaru Outback years we track (7%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2019 Subaru Outback?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Subaru Outback shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.