Mine's a CPO and it doesn't look like that...

 

Yep. A new bracket won’t fix it. I remember another post where someone had the bumper replaced, same thing.

some cars also have a larger gap above the passenger headlight to hood.
doors that don’t fit flush
rear gate that is hard to align evenly

something Subaru needs to work on.

 

Unfortunately, it's a Subaru and not a Lexus.
youtube - Lexus Ball Bearing Commercial

 

Couldn’t give me a Lexus. So, for me fortunately it’s not a Lexus.

 

I'd make sure that the bumper cover is properly latched on. There are several points in which the bumper "clicks" into place. Either it's not properly latched or there has been damage. I stupidly hit a snow pile this past winter which broke one of those latches so the edge of my bumper cover is not flush. The bracket on the car that holds that part of the bumper broke off.

 

It was in the body shop today to replace the brackets. The end result is only marginally better.

 

You would have to tweak the fender just right. There should be some kind of reinforcement bracket welded or bolted to the fender where it's fastened to the body structure near the headlight. That's what needs to be carefully bent, by trial and error. I have a similar problem on my Mazda that I fixed myself after hitting a deer. The fender didn't need to be replaced, but there is a gap. I just didn't have enough time to do it. Both bumper and headlight need to be removed.

 

Yes, my 2019 Limited, bought new off the delivery truck, looks similar (never hit or pushed). And... I don't care. If that's the worst thing wrong with your car, you are lucky.

 

Well, it’s only been a week so…

 

I had this "issue" also, and it only got worse after stuffing the lip of my front bumper multiple times.

I made the issue a moot point by replacing the front bumper cover entirely with an aftermarket aluminum job. Now, it's even worse! 😅 Probably not the route you want to go...

Panel gap is a very common & persistent problem amongst all automakers, and generally only the higher-tier manufacturers tend to obsess over making it look perfect. Ferdinand Piesch of the Volkswagen group was notorious for obsessing over panel gaps being consistent. Generally, unless the gaps are consistent from the factory, it can be very difficult for even a skilled body shop to straighten them out.

 

I am at the point of living with it.

 

I'd just try to live with it. It's really not that bad. There is a manufacturer that's certainly worse.

 

That’s pretty bad. When I compare my 2009 Mazda MX5 to the Outback, you can really see the differences in construction. Nearly perfect body lines.

I guess I will spend more time on the golf course than washing the Outback. Other than this, we love the car. It is teaching me to be a better driver!😂

We took our neighbors out to dinner in the OB and he said he noticed how quiet the ride was. When he got back into his Hyundai Santa Fe, he was astounded about the road noise. Now, he’s trying to figure out where all that noise is coming from.

 

FWIW the panel gaps are better and more consistent on our 20 than on our 19, so Subaru is improving. Our 19 had misalignments on the front fender and rear hatch that were “typical” and couldn’t be fixed.

 

I was a bit taken aback when the body shop manager said it was a manufacturer defect.

 

Here's a quick technique I personally witnessed on my 2008 for properly aligning clipped-in body panels, one of which was the front bumper cover:

Front bumper not snapped in?

I searched and couldn't find an answer to exactly what I was looking for, hence I'm asking. I've also found some good videos online but nothing that shows the part I'm curious about up close. I washed my '18 OB that I've had for a bit over a month this weekend and noticed that the drivers side...

www.subaruoutback.org

 

I saw that thread. I think part of the issue with mine is that the bumper cover is not aligned with the edge of the fender causing stress on the tabs. There is no gap at one side and the other is close to 3/16”. This is on both sides.

 

I have the same issue on a 2015 Outback. I might try to tackle this myself if someone could point be to a video or tech illustration(s) detailing removing headlights and bumper cover.

 

I have the same issue. When I bought mine it had been in a minor fender bender and wasn't repaired. So the tabs on the corners where the bumper cover attaches to the fender were broken, as well as protruding from under the headlights. They were misaligned just like yours are in the picture. The dealership paid to have a new bumper cover put on along with new headlight brackets, and they're still misaligned. I learned to just live with it.

 

I'd bet a good body shop could fix that gap for a reasonable price. The bumper cover is easy to remove and reattach.