Problems · by component
2019 Subaru Outback forward collision avoidance problems
36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Outback cite forward collision avoidance, 3% of all 1,036 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
36
3% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
What owners say about the forward collision avoidance
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“While turning left from left turn lane, eyesight failed to detect oncoming traffic resulting in right front side impact. No warning, no braking action. This is an advertised safety system supposedly designed to prevent this type of accident. In addition, passenger side airbag deployed (no passenger in the passenger seat) but driver side airbag did not deploy. Newton's third law of motion says both should deploy. Significant injury occurred to the driver as a result.”
“I was driving my 2019 Subaru Outback North on [XXX] just North of Alanson, Michigan on [XXX] when it applied the brakes and made a noise similar to driving on the rumble strip. There were no vehicles in front of me. Scary and now I am nervous driving this car.”
“Parasitic drain cause by the CAN system, which causes the battery to randomly die, batter has been replaced, alternator and starter have been tested. When the battery has low voltage this also shuts down the cars safety features like forward Collision and cruise control. The head unit in the car is also malfunctioning, causing it randomly turn on and off while driving, button s being pressed on their own which is a huge distraction while driving. Subaru has not been willing to assist.”
“While driving in the fast lane on Interstate 5 at a speed of approximately 70MPH, with cruise control on, during clear dry conditions, my automatic emergency brake system engaged and made my vehicle come to an abrupt and complete stop in the fast lane. I lost complete control of my vehicle. I was unable to steer or accelerate. Once I stopped, I was able to use my accelerator, but very quickly my vehicle abruptly stopped again and I could not steer it. After I stopped for the second time, I was then able to then accelerate slowly and pull off the freeway into the wide left shoulder. When I turned the car off and then back on again to get out of danger, I disengaged the cruise control, and I was able to get back on the freeway and out of the fast lane. It was a clear day, no clouds, no shadows, no birds, no vehicles right in front of me or next to me. There was NO warning lamp or alarms prior to the braking. There was no debris or excessive dirt on my windshield. My husband and I were certainly in danger of being rear ended at a high speed, but miraculously, the vehicles behind us were able to stop and/or pull into the left shoulder to avoid a collision. Not only…”
“Windshield cracked spontaneously while parked, March 29, 2024. Temperature was approx 28°F. This was the second time in 11 months this has happened. Safelite technician said it was caused by faulty windshield heater. The first one I paid for the replacement, the second one was under warranty from Safelite. But was told if it happened again they would not be responsible.”
“The infotainment system in my 2019 Subaru Outback glitched/ stops working randomly. I have a video of the touchscreen glitching and making selections betweens apps by itself. Also, I've started having random alerts pop up on the dash, such as: " obstacle ahead" when there is not an obstacle ahead or "roads may be icy" when it is 60 degrees outside. I reported it to Subaru, which they advised me to take it to Crown Subaru to have them take a look at it and they can submit a claim. I took it to the Crown Subaru & when I told them the problem, the lady that helped me stated, " yeah, this is common, I know exactly what your talking about." She then called another employee and told him she needed a quote for a infotainment center that was delaminating and was making selections on it's own. A week later I received a call from Subaru stating they would pay $500 of the bill as a one time goodwill gesture. The quote from Crown Subaru was for $900.”
Showing 6 of 36 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.