There are 19 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2019 Subaru Outbackin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I was driving on I-95 South in Georgia on Thursday, 18 December at approximately 9:00 pm in my 2019 Subaru Outback (6 cylinder engine). There was good visiblity and dry road conditions. I did not have the cruise control on. I was traveling at 75 mph and wanted to pass a truck. As I increased my speed to 78 mph to pass the truck, the Subaru began to accelerate to 85 mph and my rpms went up to 4000. The car continued to accelerate. I checked the cruise control and it was in fact off. I felt with my foot to make sure the accelerator was not stuck and it was not. I pushed hard on the brakes to counter the acceleration and after about 1 minute the car became controllable again. I drove the rest of my trip going 70 mph and did not have a further incident that evening. Because of the traffic ahead of me, this acceleration caused me great concern for myself and the passenger in the car. I have not had this problem before and have not reported it to my Subaru dealer yet. No one else has examined the car since this incident yesterday. I did not receive any warning lights or dashboard messages prior to the incident.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while reversing into a parking spot and depressing the brake pedal, the engine revved and the vehicle seemed to attempt to accelerate unintendedly. The contact maintained the brake pedal depressed. The contact stated that the failure occurred while at a complete stop at the stop sign and while driving over a speed bump. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
While turning into a parking spot my wife had foot on the brake and vehicle accelerated over parking bumpers and into a fence and ultimately was stopped by a combination of a tree and the fence car drove through. This collision prevented her from crossing pedestrian sidewalk and continuing into Southbound traffic lane of state hwy. This incident put not only my wife at risk but also potentially any pedestrians or southbound vehicles. There were no system failures or warnings prior to my wife's arrival to her appointment. As mentioned this occurred within an approximate 5 second time frame. It is unknown as to what if any warnings occurred prior to/during the crash as my wife was pushing the brake to park when the sudden acceleration occurred. The braking system seems to have failed along with the sudden acceleration. The Automatic Braking System didn't engage, nor did the parking collision system. All our other Subaru's (including this vehicle have the collision warning and automatic braking systems) The dealership did not try to replicate the incident but all warning systems appear to be functioning correctly at this time. Following the accident I first reported the incident to my dealership where I purchased the vehicle. The initial damage estimate is forthcoming but Subaru tech indicated it will be may thousands of dollars to repair. I will follow-up next with Subaru's National Customer Care (per conversation with dealer) At the dealership (Southern Oregon Subaru) I had a safety/drive-ability inspection performed. Vehicle was given a clearance to drive, but obviously my wife refuses to drive it. Subsequent to the accident, we learned there are over 200 similar reports to NHTSA for this exact issue. We will also submit claim to insurance provider USAA.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated she avoided crashing into another vehicle however, the vehicle struck the curb before coming to a stop. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side tire was damaged and became flattened. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the tire was replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 47,122. The VIN was unavailable.
Purchased a low mileage, 2019 Subaru Outback Limited, had 16,407 miles on vehicle, had accident damage reported by CARFAX. At 27,383 miles an oil leak in valve cover gasket was discovered, Subaru fixed leak under warranty, engine removed. Upon driving the vehicle home following repairs, the car lunged forward through the garage door, into the garage, and damaged vehicle and garage interior as I approached the garage. Sudden acceleration occurred. Vehicle taken on flag bed to Subaru shop for repairs and investigation of incident by Subaru of America. Insurance company provided damage/repair estimate.
I had a driver-side mirror damaged in a small crash. The wiring harness for the mirror was pulled from its location. The mirror was replaced, and the wiring harness was not to my knowledge. Since that repair, the vehicled dynamic cruise control, called Eyesight has failed more than 50 times. I have had the vehicle at the dealer 2 times. They concluded yesterday the unit checked out. I drove it for 5 minutes, and it failed again. I believe it could be related to them not replacing the wiring harness. They believe it may be related to a new windshield, which I find it hard to believe. They recalibrated the Eyesight with the non-OEM windshield. Subaru technicians believe it is related to the non-OEM windshield, and I am having a brand new windshield replaced with the OEM windshield. Which I also believe is inferior because of cracks in my orginal windshield.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while pulling into her residential garage at 3 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated while the contact had her foot depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle hit the back wall of the garage, the hood crumpled back to the radiator, which was punctured, and the front bumper was creased and dented. Additionally, the passenger-side front door was unable to be opened. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while at a complete stop with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle independently accelerated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000.
I experienced sudden and unintended acceleration as I sat outside my garage idling with my foot on the brake waiting for the garage door to open. My car accelerated forward through my garage door and into the garage. It swept aside a refrigerator, freezer and a 700 pound safe that was bolted to the concrete floor. It finally stopped upon pushing several things against one of the I beams that hold the steel building up. The car also tore out the I beam support the side of the garage door upon entering. The tires continued to rotate until I turned off the engine.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARALLEL PARKING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A POWER POLE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE LURGED FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO REPORTED INJURIES, FIRE, OR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE SIDE PANEL, BUMPER AND LIGHTS WERE DAMAGED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
STOP AT A LIGHT SOME TIMES WHEN THE GREEN LIGHT COME ON AN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT MOVE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE AND NOT ONLY AT RED LIGHTS SOME TIMES WHEN FOLLOWING VEHICLES MY VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AND WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLE MOVE MY ACCELERATE BY HIMSELF
AS I WAS REVERSING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY RIDING THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE AND WOULDN'T STOP. THE RESULT WAS I HIT A TREE. I AM THANKFUL IT WAS NOT A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER PERSON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND IDLING, THE RPM'S REVVED UP AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. OPEN ROAD SUBARU (2685 US-22, UNION, NJ 07083, (908) 686-6160) WAS CONTACTED AND WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THERE WAS ALWAYS ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES, NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED WHEN NEEDED. SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE AGENTS AND THEY MENTIONED EVERYTHING IS GOOD. BUT I HAD EXPERIENCED THE SPEED ISSUE IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR
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
2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DESIGN OR MALFUNCTIONING OF TECHNOLOGY. THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADJUSTED SPEED. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET TO 45MPH AT WHICH POINT, THE VEHICLE SPEED UP AND CRASHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD. THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE. *JS
A COUPLE DAYS AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD AND USING CRUISE @35MPH, THE CAR FOR NO REASON SUDDENLY STARTED BREAKING AS IF TO AVOID A COLLISION. NOTHING WAS IN FRONT OF ME, NOT EVEN AN ONCOMING CAR AT A DISTANCE. NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. MY RESPONSE WAS TO MANUALLY APPLY THE BRAKE AND THAT KICKED OUT CRUISE. I HAVEN'T HAD IT HAPPEN AGAIN. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN USING CRUISE AT LOW SPEEDS? IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DROVE OVER A CURB. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS FLATTENED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED AFTER THE CLAIM BECOMES APPROVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SUBARU OF KINGS AUTOMALL (9536 KINGS AUTOMALL RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45249, (513) 583-9300) AND WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE TIRE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTERWARDS, THE DEALER WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,300. *DT *TR
I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EYESIGHT DRIVER ASSIST IF THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE THE CAR SET AT 3 CAR LENGTHS & USE CRUISE ALWAYS. ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN CRUISE IS SET TO 70 - WITH OR WITHOUT FOLLOWING ANOTHER CAR - I WILL LOOK DOWN AND I FIND MYSELF GOING 85 MILES AN HOUR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. OTHER PROBLEM IS THE SAFETY FEATURE OF STAYING IN ONE'S LANE. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO HOLD ONTO A STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE LIKE I DO NOW. IT OVER-CORRECTS AND I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN THROWN INTO ANOTHER LANE. THIS IS MOST DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE GETTING THE CAR AND HAVE REPORTED IT AND HAVE BEEN BLOWN OFF BY SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AS WELL AS A LOCAL SUBARU REPAIR SHOP
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026