2019 Subaru Forester vs 2019 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2019 Subaru Forester | 2019 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 833 | 1,033 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 568 | 422 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 37 | 24 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 29 | 22–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 9,200 mi | 11,750 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Forester | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 370 | 326 |
| Electrical System | 134 | 363 |
| Engine | 106 | 39 |
| Visibility | 38 | 63 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 43 | 36 |
| Power Train | 38 | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 26 |
| Structure | 25 | 27 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 67 | 0 |
| Stalling | 49 | 55 |
| Battery drain | 19 | 103 |
| Hesitation / surging | 15 | 6 |
| Loss of power | 9 | 0 |
| Overheating | 9 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 41 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 5 |
2019 Subaru Forester
2019 Subaru Outback
Compare all Subaru Forester vs Subaru Outback years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.