This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Subaru Outback powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Subaru Outback have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Outback | 34 |
| 2016 Outback | 45 |
| 2017 Outback | 42 |
| 2018 Outback | 14 |
| 2019 Outback (this page) | 14 |
| 2020 Outback | 45 |
| 2021 Outback | 10 |
| 2022 Outback | 14 |
| 2023 Outback | 4 |
1crash
1fire
1injury
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Powertrain Warranty coverage for the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) on the above listed models and model years from the original five (5) years or sixty thousand (60,000) miles (whichever comes first) to ten (10) years or one-hundred thousand (100,000) miles (whichever comes first).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which enhancement was implemented to prevent abnormal operations. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2019 Outbacks report powertrain troubles that run deep and often persist after repair. The cam carrier oil leak shows up frequently—dealers call it common and tell owners it can leak again after fixing. One owner faced a $4,500 repair at 50,700 miles; another had the dealer acknowledge fire risk if oil hits the hot exhaust. Excessive oil burning at one quart per 3,000 miles drains wallets and signals internal engine wear.
Transmission problems vary but span the board: sudden unintended reverse while in Drive on a steep road; stumbling and power loss between 2000–2700 RPM that made one vehicle undrivable after its second oil change despite four fresh oil changes and replacement of the exhaust, catalytic converter, air filter, intake, and transmission itself over three weeks; chain slippage that left another car parked for months; and one documented case of a vehicle stuck in first gear before catching fire and exploding.
Multiple owners report sudden uncontrolled acceleration despite hard braking—vehicles accelerating through stop signs with no way to stop them. One owner's adaptive cruise control disengage attempt triggered anti-lock brakes, a complete stop, and total transmission shutdown on the freeway. A carrier bearing squealed audibly starting around 10,000 miles; the dealer flagged it as headed for serious trouble. Battery drain issues led to three dead batteries on one vehicle by 80,000 miles, part of a class action lawsuit. A spontaneous windshield crack on the freeway and hesitant gear changes round out the picture.
Same Subaru Outback powertrain reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Cam carrier oil leak
Oil leakage from cam carrier assembly, confirmed as common issue by dealer. Risk of oil contact with exhaust manifold or hot surfaces creating fire hazard. Recurring after repair per dealer statement.
When: 50,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: visible oil leak; potential fire risk if oil contacts hot surfaces
Repairs/costs cited: Estimated $4,500; owner received $1,500 Subaru credit and completed repair. Dealer noted oil leak can recur after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru acknowledged as design flaw per owner; offered $1,500 credit (partial). Stated fire risk is low and at acceptable level.
Excessive oil consumption
Engine burning oil at rate of one quart per 3,000 miles, indicating internal engine wear or breach.
When: By 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: burns one quart oil every 3,000 miles
Repairs/costs cited: Oil cost $11 per quart; ongoing maintenance burden for owner
Power loss and stumbling between 2000–2700 RPM
Vehicle becomes undrivable with stumbling, power loss, and hesitation in the critical power band after second oil change. Dealer unable to isolate root cause despite replacement of exhaust, catalytic converter, air filter, intake, and transmission. Suspected overfilled oil condition per known Subaru issue, but multiple oil changes did not resolve.
When: 11,948 miles (after second oil change)
Symptoms owners cite: stumbles and loses power between 2000–2700 RPM; vehicle undrivable; temporary relief from battery disconnect but recurs within 36 hours
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed 4 oil changes, replaced exhaust, catalytic converter, air filter, intake system, and transmission over 3 weeks and 600 miles troubleshooting with no resolution
Unintended reverse while in Drive
Vehicle unexpectedly reversed gear while shifter was in Drive, causing loss of vehicle control on steep road. Vehicle drove onto curb and struck poles.
When: 55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: unintended reverse while in Drive; loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to body shop; not diagnosed or repaired at time of report
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and case filed
Sudden acceleration
Multiple incidents of uncontrolled acceleration despite brake pedal engagement. Vehicle fails to stop and accelerates through stop signs, creating pedestrian and traffic hazards. First incident December 2021; multiple recurrences as of January 2022.
When: December 2021 and January 2022
Symptoms owners cite: sudden uncontrolled acceleration; brake pedal does not stop vehicle; vehicle accelerates through stop signs
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer appointment scheduled; no inspections or diagnosis completed at time of report
Unintended vehicle rollback on incline while parked
Parked vehicle on iced driveway rolled downhill without emergency brake engaged. Dealer attributed to ice and lack of emergency brake use rather than mechanical failure.
When: 26,214 miles
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle rolled downhill while parked on incline
Repairs/costs cited: Towed to Riverhead Bay Subaru; dealer attributed to user error
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed; dealer concluded user did not engage emergency brake
Brake system malfunction on freeway
Light tap of brake to disengage adaptive cruise control triggered anti-lock brake engagement and complete vehicle stop. After stopping, transmission disengaged completely and vehicle would not move. Vehicle disabled on freeway.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: anti-lock brakes engage on light brake tap; transmission completely disengages; vehicle immobilized on freeway
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle disabled on freeway; Highway Patrol pushed vehicle to safety
Transmission chain slippage
Transmission experiencing internal chain slippage rendering vehicle unsafe. Dealer unable to provide root cause; vehicle immobilized for months.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: transmission chain slips; wheels do not turn properly; vehicle unsafe to drive
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle has not been driven in months due to unsafe condition
Transmission failure with fire
Vehicle stuck in first gear followed by fire outbreak between engine and transmission. Vehicle fully engulfed and destroyed.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle stuck in first gear; fire between engine and transmission; complete vehicle destruction
Repairs/costs cited: Total loss; vehicle fully engulfed and destroyed
Chronic battery drain
Three battery failures due to unknown parasitic drain while vehicle is off, part of larger recall action against Subaru.
When: By 80,000 miles (part of class action)
Symptoms owners cite: battery repeatedly goes dead while parked
Repairs/costs cited: Three replacement batteries; $11 per quart oil also noted by owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action lawsuit filed against Subaru regarding battery drain issue
Front axle seal leak after replacement
Right front axle seal began leaking immediately after axle replacement. Owner charged for seal replacement despite axle having just been replaced.
When: After axle replacement
Symptoms owners cite: axle seal leaks after axle replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Owner charged for seal replacement; attributed to mechanic incompetence by owner
Windshield spontaneous cracking
Windshield cracked spontaneously while driving on freeway interchange with no visible impact point and no traffic ahead to send projectiles.
When: December 9, 2020 on freeway
Symptoms owners cite: sudden loud crack sound; large windshield crack with no visible cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner received recall notice for windshield issue
Transmission hesitation and sputtering
Engine sputters and transmission fails to engage gears smoothly, causing delay in acceleration and potentially dangerous lack of power when needed.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: engine sputters; transmission does not change gears smoothly; delayed acceleration; dangerous lack of acceleration on demand
Carrier bearing noise
High-pitched squealing or whining noise from carrier bearing, occurring between 20–50 MPH. Dealer characterized as annoyance now but noted will cause more serious issues eventually.
When: 10,000–11,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: high-pitched squealing/whining noise; noise starts around 20–30 MPH and fades above 50 MPH
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified as carrier bearing; characterized as annoyance with eventual serious consequences
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2019 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 27,432 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Subaru/Outback.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.