2019 Subaru Legacy Problems & Complaints

Use caution1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Legacy at the same age

Owners have filed 123 complaints about the 2019 Subaru Legacy with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 1.7× as many as a typical Legacy model year at the same age — above average, so look closely at the problem areas below before you buy. The most reported problem area is the windows, wipers & sunroof (51 complaints, typically around 7,000 miles). 3 recalls cover this model year.

123complaints
3recalls
2crashes
1fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2019 Subaru Legacy problems

  • 5141%
  • Electrical system~1,000 miles
    3528%
  • Other / not specified~4,000 miles
    2016%
  • Driver assistance
    65%
  • Engine & cooling~15,000 miles
    65%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    54%
  • Speed control & acceleration~0 miles
    43%
  • Steering~2,000 miles
    32%
  • Wheels & tires~10,000 miles
    22%
  • Brakes
    22%
  • Body & structure~3,000 miles
    11%
  • Stability & traction control~9,000 miles
    11%
  • Seat belts~1,000 miles
    11%
  • Seats
    11%
  • Locks & latches
    11%
  • Transmission & drivetrain
    11%

Share of the 123 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Subaru Legacy complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’2518212313911494947754604918487336565150167906653160147119117123121313410176
Owner complaints per model year, Subaru Legacy. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Legacy years: 2023, 2025, 2021. Years to avoid: 2015, 2016, 2011, 2020, 2019. Compare all years →

2019 Subaru Legacy recalls (3)

Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump

NHTSA recall 21V-587 · Jul 29, 2021 · 175,968 vehicles

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.

Remedy: 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.

Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump

NHTSA recall 20V-218 · Apr 16, 2020 · 188,207 vehicles

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

Remedy: 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.

Structure

NHTSA recall 19V-493 · Jun 26, 2019 · 2,107 vehicles

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 body strength.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and repair or repurchase the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019.

What 2019 Subaru Legacy owners say

Windows, wipers & sunroof all 51 →

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the front windshield cracked without impact. The windshield was replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Windshield · 50,000 miles · Jul 2021

UNKNOWN. A very small pebble flew up from the road onto the lower passenger's side windshield, creating a small chip, approximately 2 mm, in the glass. Within 10 minutes, the glass started to hairline crack leftward by about 4 inches. I parked the car and checked a few hours later, and the crack was deeper and over a foot in length. It continued to grow with the car was parked, and was about 18 inches when I left work several hours later. I marked the end point of the crack on the inside glass when I arrived home to see if the crack would stabilize in size. The car was parked overnight and the crack has continued to grow in length and appears deeper this morning. What should have been a small chip, that would have been easy to repair, has become a major crack in the glass, one that continues to grow and is obscuring visibility as a result. …

Feb 2024

Electrical system all 35 →

Touch screen driver information system has random display and audible warnings. Audio and navigation display cannot be controlled and does random radio channels and map displays. The screen developed bubbles under the front panel that appears to activate the touch sensor for the display. This condition is very distracting to the driver and might cause unsafe vehicle operation. The display changing and beeping during driving causes an unsafe situation. It also impacts the ability to use and see the rear view camera as the display is distorted due to the delamination/bubbles. This problem was identified by many Subaru Legacy and Outback owners in 2018 which led to a recall and warranty extension for repairs. The radio/nav display is manufactured by Harmon. It was widely reported in 2019 and the problem persists. …

Sep 2023

Infotainment system screen began bubbling. Then it started randomly selection icons by itself. Then it got to the point where it is unusable and constantly is making selections on its own. I can't even make selections if I want to. Whole screen is effected. Subaru of America is aware and my dealer first denied knowing it was an issue but later admitted to me they have gotten several complaints of the same. Dealer ordered a replacement over a year ago and I have still not gotten a replacement because they keep telling me it is back ordered and that they put a rush on it. Still nothing in over a year. This problem also causes the battery to drain while parked. I had to put a brand new battery in and it still drains. A year or so after that, Subaru sent out a notice that they will reimburse for that issue. I don't have any paperwork left from my replacement costs. …

Jun 2023

Driver assistance

Vehicle was using the self driving feature of the Subaru Eyesight system. With the system engaged, the vehicle is supposed to accelerate and apply brakes accordingly as to keep a distance from the vehicle in front. Today, that system failed. The vehicle, with the Eyesight system engaged, accelerated right into the vehicle in front. There was no warning. The vehicle will be go for repair on 12/5/23. I have used the Eyesight system since purchasing the vehicle in 2019 with no issues, except for today. Luckily, I was driving at a very low speed but this safety concern can cause catastrophic injuries if it is not fixed.

Automatic emergency braking · Nov 2023 · crash

Vehicle is equipped with Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist which includes reverse automatic braking. Vehicle was reversing towards a parked vehicle on the street and the RAB feature failed to apply the brakes and the vehicle collided with the parked vehicle. I am extremely disappointed that the safety system in this car failed to work as advertised/expected resulting in damages to both cars.

Automatic emergency braking · Apr 2024 · crash

2019 Subaru Legacy engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.5L 4-cylCVTAWD25 / 34 / 29
3.6L 6-cylCVTAWD20 / 28 / 23

EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Subaru Legacy a good car?

Based on 123 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Legacy rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Legacy at the same age. It is one of the Legacy years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Subaru Legacy?

The windows, wipers & sunroof — 51 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield. Next are the electrical system (35) and driver assistance (6).

How many recalls does the 2019 Subaru Legacy have?

There are 3 recalls for the 2019 Subaru Legacy, the most recent from July 29, 2021 (fuel pump). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Legacy?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2025 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2016, 2011, 2020 and 2019. See the full Subaru Legacy years comparison.

At what mileage do 2019 Subaru Legacy problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 6,000 miles; 93% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.