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2019 Subaru Outback Interior & seats Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Interior & seats reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Nov 26, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 1,032 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2019 Subaru Outback submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming interior

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Nov 26, 2023

The hood popped open at 35 mph causing loss of sight. I was in traffic and luckily was able to pull the car off the road. I am taking it to the dealer as soon as I can get an appointment. There were no warning lights or messages prior. I will secure the hood with something before I drive it to the dealer. If I had been driving on the Interstate I am sure the hood would have smashed into windshield. I consider this a very dangerous problem.

NHTSA ID
11556840
Incident
Nov 25, 2023
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 13, 2023
1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while she was reaching inside the trunk, the trunk gate independently closed. The contact mentioned that the security sensor did not function which caused the failure. The contact sustained injuries on her right knee, right hip, right shoulder, right glutinous, and right shoulder and was seeking medical attention. The contact called the local dealer and independent mechanic and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ID
11516856
Incident
Apr 9, 2023
Mileage
30,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jan 25, 2023

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

NHTSA ID
11503643
Incident
Jan 16, 2023
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 30, 2022

The drivers' seat mounting frame began to fail. This was noticeable because of a squeaking/creaking sound from the seat. The authorized dealer I went to confirmed this was the problem and there is a technical service bulletin from Subaru indicating this is a problem component. Because my car was only a few months out of warranty, I had to pay nearly $1,000 to have this part replaced. I believe driver's seat mounting components are an essential part of the safety of the vehicle but Subaru has not recalled this part which is known by them to fail prematurely.

NHTSA ID
11487192
Incident
Jun 1, 2022
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 22, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the garage, she was unable to open the door with the key fob. The contact stated that she was able to open the front driver’s side door with the key manually. The contact stated she was unable to start the vehicle. The contact's boyfriend attempted to jump start the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,097.

NHTSA ID
11485796
Incident
Sep 21, 2022
Mileage
27,097 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jan 28, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the battery was inadvertently drained, and the vehicle would not start. After recharging the battery, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who indicated that the battery was not faulty. The battery was recharged but the rear hatch door would not open while pressing the open button on both the key fobs, the driver’s side seat panel button, or while attempting to use the hatch button at the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that the only way to open the rear hatch door was by using the emergency release inside the hatch space. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000

NHTSA ID
11449216
Incident
Nov 1, 2021
Mileage
30,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 3, 2021

Driver side seat is sounding like a weak and used bed. I have read on multiple Subaru sites that this has been happening since 2018 on various Subaru vehicles. It's apparently a weld that is weak. This makes it a safety hazard. Due to the fact that Subaru has known about this issue for a year and stilled installed these seats on a 2019 vehicle demonstrates that Subaru has poor quality checks. I asked for a replacement but was quoted over 2k for the replacement. This is just wrong and Subaru needs to replace these seats. If a weld is weak, think what will happen during an accident with that seat.

NHTSA ID
11419477
Incident
May 29, 2020
AirbagsBody & structureInterior & seats
Filed Aug 4, 2020
Crash reported2 injuries reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11343356
Incident
Jul 29, 2020
Mileage
5,700 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 7, 2020

2019 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED. PURCHASED JANUARY '19. CAR WAS LOCATED BY DEALER AT OTHER DEALERSHIP AND DELIVERED LATE AT NIGHT WITHOUT OWNERS HAVING ABILITY TO TEST DRIVE. WITHIN ONE WEEK OWNERS NOTICED SEAT ISSUE AND CONTACTED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. DRIVER SEAT SLOPE ISSUE: DRIVER SEAT BASE SLOPES FROM LEFT DOWN TO RIGHT APPROX. 3/4"-1". PROBLEM NOTICED IN FIRST MONTH AFTER DELIVERY AND SUBARU WAS NOTIFIED. AREA DEALERS, SUBARU CORPORATE AND FACTORY FIELD ENGINEER (FFE) REFUSE TO PROPERLY CONFRONT/ DIAGNOSE/ REPAIR THE ISSUE. OWNER SHOWED SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND MANAGER AT DEALER USING A 1 FT' BUBBLE LEVEL THAT THE ISSUE IS EVIDENT. ALL SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE ADMITTED TO OWNER THAT THEY SEE THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE FACTS IN THEIR SERVICE INVOICE STATEMENTS. SEAT SLOPE ISSUE CREATES AN UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT AS THE DRIVER HAS TO PUSH OFF OF CENTER CONSOLE WHILE LEFT HAND CORNERING AND LONG DISTANCE DRIVING IS NOT PERMISSIBLE AS IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE UNLESS DRIVER USES A TOWEL OR PILLOW TO LEVEL THE SEAT BASE. NORMAL OPERATION INVOLVES DRIVE RESTING ELBO FIRMLY INTO CENTER CONSOLE TO STAY UPRIGHT. OWNERS ARE CONCERNED DUE TO DRIVER ERGONOMICS AND ABILITY OF SAFETY RESTRAINS/AIRBAGS TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED IF IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION IF THE DRIVER IS NOT CENTERED OR POSITIONED PROPERLY IN THE CAR AS DESIGNED AND TESTED FOR IMPACTS. SUBARU CORP. SR. REP. SAYS SUBARU HAS NO PUBLISHED SPECIFICATIONS OR MEASUREMENTS FOR SUBARU SEATS FOR FFE TO COMPARE SEAT CONSTRUCTION/INSTALL OF MY VEHICLE TO. THE FFE PERFORMED CORPORATE/CUSTOMER INSPECTION USING A CELL PHONE IN A LEATHER CELL PHONE WALLET AND A BUBBLE LEVEL APPLICATION AS HIS REFERENCE FOR DENIAL OF CLAIM. I HAVE PICTURES OF PERSONAL INSPECTION WITH LEVELS AND MEASUREMENTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

NHTSA ID
11297760
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Mileage
200 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .