2019 Subaru Legacy Safety Report
2019 SUBARU LEGACY Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2019 Subaru Legacy
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2019 Subaru Legacy. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (118) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 3 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Visibility/Wiper | Compare visibility/wiper issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Subaru Legacy with 30 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2016 | Check the 2016 Subaru Legacy before buying across this generation. |
Subaru Legacy Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Subaru Legacy years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Subaru Legacy | 119 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Subaru Legacy | 111 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Subaru Legacy | 30 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Subaru Legacy | 118 | 2 | Use as a comparable safety baseline. |
| 2022 Subaru Legacy | 30 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Subaru Legacy | 143 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2019 Subaru Legacy Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2019 Subaru Legacy, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Visibility/Wiper
46 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyElectrical System
26 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other
10 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyElectrical System,Unknown Or Other
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyFuel/Propulsion System
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Subaru onlyEngine
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2019 Subaru Legacy
Reliability Score
The 2019 Subaru Legacy receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2019 Subaru Legacy
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2019 Subaru Legacy
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2019 Subaru Legacy:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump Subaru is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles due to potential fuel pump issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Battery Drain Multiple reports of constant battery issues, including parasitic battery drain, leading to frequent battery replacements. |
High | Common | 10k-100k miles |
| Entertainment System Failure Issues with the entertainment system, including delamination and touchscreen failure, have been reported. |
Medium | Common | 50k-85k miles |
| Structural Issues Spot welds have been noted as a structural concern in certain 2019 Legacy and Outback vehicles. |
Medium | Common | 50k-100k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2019 Subaru Legacy:
Battery issues, including constant drain and frequent replacements, are a common problem.
Issues with the infotainment system, such as delamination and touchscreen failure, are reported.
Fuel pump problems are a recurring issue, particularly in the 30k-60k mileage range.
Spot welds are noted as a structural concern in certain 2019 Legacy and Outback vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2019 Subaru Legacy
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2019 Subaru Legacy by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Consequence: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-20.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the reduced strength of the vehicle body may increase the risk of injury.
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. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUH-93.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2019 Subaru Legacy
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2019 Subaru Legacy with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes.
Unintended acceleration, on 2 occasions. First occasion, car was in DRIVE waiting at a traffic stop and the engine radically increased it's RPM from idle to over 6000 RPM, remaining there. Braking control maintained the automobile's position. Shifting the car into neutral caused RPM to increase further. The car was shut off, restarted, and seemed to function normally. On the second occasion, whi...
I am reporting a safety issue with my 2019 Subaru Legacy that hesitates and nearly stalls when accelerating from a stop and is now undriveable due to stalling and shaking. I bought the car new from AutoNation Subaru Carlsbad in 2019. It has about 65,000 miles and I have driven it less than 2,000 miles since its last dealer visit in August 2025. Since around August 2025, the car has intermittently...
Constant battery issues. I've replaced the car battery 3 times and the car seems to be suffering from "parasitic battery drain". It took a long time to diagnose the issue and I've been to the Rye Subaru dealership 2 times already and they are still trying to fix the issue. This is my daughters car and I'm constantly waiting for a phone call to have the car jump started. She works the night sh...
My vehicle light is on keeps saying oil at temp as well as other lights are currently turn on. I took it to subaru location was informed my transmission was bad. But the car drives well just have a bunch of lights.
CVT failed at 85,000 miles. It started slipping and squealing and had to be replaced by the dealership. The car was never driven rough, in mountainous terrain, etc. Very disappointing.
The entertainment system got bubbles and stopped working only after 50,000 miles.
The navigation screen has delaminated and no longer works. You can see where there are layers of screen that are discolored and has a matte finish underneath and the entire screen is erratic and works only 10% of the time. I cannot answer calls through the car any longer and I have to try to navigate long trips from my phone as this function of the car is down. It's a serious problem and ...
My husband was driving on [XXX] and the hood of the Subaru flew up, cracking the entire windshield, damaging the exterior of the roof and interior of the roof, the whole hood and frame where the hood meets the car. The car was driven but escorted by local PD to body shop. Less than 48 hrs before the incident, the car was at Paul Miller Subaru for a routine oil change. They were the last people to...
If the car is not driven every day the battery dies due to a parasitic draw. Subaru knows there is a problem with the DCM from these years but refuses to correct the issues which there are 3 that are known. Dcm constantly searches for 3g network that is no longer killing the battery, Subaru changed the recommended cold cranking amperage of the battery well after manufacture, and won't test without...
Parasitic Battery Drain due to DCM fuse problem
Parasitic drain on battery leaves the car dead and unable to start with out a jump. Battery is only six months old. Replaced old battery because of this same issue.
Main infotainment display delamination, this causes a safety concerns, as the screen can become irresponsive, and even black out during reverse making the backup camera, nonfunctioning. The other safety issue at risk is that because of the delamination it causes "ghost-clicking" on the screen, and makes the screen irresponsive, veering the drivers attention away from the road, potentially causing...
The Starlink screen becomes uncontrollable and begins changing screens on its own making driving very distracting and losing all control of vital functions such as radio, gps and phone. I have no control over it. I have video of the incident but cannot figure out how to upload it. I k low previous year models were recalled for the same situation and I believe there is a class action lawsuit.
Infotainment system touchscreen failed and it became unstable. Bluetooth connected to phone failed, gos failed Yes Yes No
On the beginning of a trip the screen, Infotainment system started jumping, and shaking. We had been using the system for guidance while driving in unfamiliar area. The screen then started randomly selecting buttons while we were still trying to use directions from the screen. Then it called a contact on my contact list 8-9 times, and I had to keep hanging up in order so it would stop. Final...
The radio/ starlink system begins changing screens on its own thus losing all control of critical functions such as phone and gps. There appears to be marks behind the glass of the screen which are not able to be cleaned. There are recalls for this issue on the 2018 Subaru Legacy and there needs to be one for the 2019 Subaru Legacy and other affected Subaru models.
Radio is delaminating and causing random calls and radio changes while driving. Serious safety issue. Subaru covered a portion of the replacement but entire cost should be covered due to it being an obvious manufacturer defect.
Battery dies over and over again. I drive every day, I never leave lights on, and I am having to purchase a battery over and over again.
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 ...
We had to replace the car’s original windshield due to a stone hitting it on the highway- just bad luck and something that happens from time to time. Since then, we’ve had TWO replacement windshields spontaneously crack without any impacts in the span of 3 weeks. Subaru has a major problem. These windshields are not supposed to be disposable, and no one has time or money enough to replace winds...
Showing 20 of 118 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2019 Subaru Legacy
Has the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY been recalled?
Yes, the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY have?
The 2019 SUBARU LEGACY has 118 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 2 involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY?
The 2019 SUBARU LEGACY received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY involve visibility/wiper (46 complaints), electrical system (26 complaints), unknown or other (10 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system,unknown or other, fuel/propulsion system, engine.
How many crash reports does the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY have?
There are 2 crash reports associated with the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY out of 118 total complaints (1.7% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY out of 118 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY.
How many injuries are reported for the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY.
Should I buy a 2019 SUBARU LEGACY?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY is acceptable with caveats. It has 118 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY?
The components with the most failures on the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY are: 1. VISIBILITY/WIPER (46 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (26 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (10 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5 complaints), 5. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (4 complaints). VISIBILITY/WIPER is the single most-reported problem area with 46 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2019 SUBARU LEGACY?
Be aware of potential battery drain and fuel system issues, and consider the structural concerns noted in certain models. The 2019 SUBARU LEGACY has 118 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY?
The 2019 SUBARU LEGACY receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 118 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 3 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump and Battery Drain.
What are the known issues with the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY?
Known issues with the 2019 SUBARU LEGACY include: Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump, Battery Drain, Entertainment System Failure, Structural Issues. These are based on patterns found across 118 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2019 Subaru Legacy?
Yes, there are recalls for fuel pump issues and structural concerns.
What are the common battery issues with the 2019 Subaru Legacy?
Constant battery drain and frequent replacements are common.
Are there any known issues with the fuel system?
Fuel pump problems are a recurring issue, particularly in the 30k-60k mileage range.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential battery drain and fuel system issues, and consider the structural concerns noted in certain models.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2019 Subaru Legacy
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2019 Subaru Legacy. The data includes 118 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 2 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2019 Subaru Legacy an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16