2020 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 899 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 19 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerMar 22, 2024
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.
Campaign 24V227000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)Jul 8, 2022
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-22. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-955.
Campaign 22V485000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)Dec 9, 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
Campaign 21V955000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpJul 29, 2021
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.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V587000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, display functionDec 10, 2020
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with "high" grade and "mid" grade multimedia navigation. The August 2020 over-the-air software update may have timed out without completing the installation, corrupting the data, and causing the rearview display to shutoff intermittently. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software and, if necessary, replace the Cockpit Control Module, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-20.
Campaign 20V766000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, pedals and linkagesSep 18, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Outback and Legacy vehicles. The brake pedal mounting bracket may have a missing or insufficiently tightened bolt.
A missing or loose bolt may cause the brake pedal mounting area to deform over time, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal mounting bracket hardware and replace the hardware or brake pedal assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUL-97.
Campaign 19V664000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
259 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Nov 28, 2020
I PICKED UP MY CAR , DRIVE IT HOME (227 MILES) ON 11/24/2020. THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK. WE CHARGED THE BATTERY, SHOWED FULLY CHARGED BUT WOULD NOT START. JUMP STARTED IT, DROVE IT 10 MILES ( ON OK FROM SUBARU SALESMAN) THE ENTIRE TIME IT SHOWED ENGINE LIGHT ON AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ON ( THE BRAKE HAS BEEN RELEASED) AND THE SAFETY OPTIONS WERE DISABLED. THIS MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. SO FAR, THE INLY RESPONSE FROM THE SALESMAN AND SERVICE DEPT IS THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. I WAS PROMISED THEY WOULD RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND CALL US, SO FAR HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM.
Electrical system, Nov 28, 2020
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM REPLACED CONTROLLING COMPUTER ON APRIL 17, 2020 AND ON JULY 16, 2020 AN UPDATE WAS PERFORMED DUE TO SYSTEM GOING BLACK
Electrical system, Nov 27, 2020
VEHICLE PURCHASED IN MARCH. HAVE BEEN DRIVING LESS DUE TO COVID. LAST TRIP WAS OCTOBER 15TH FOR 6 MONTH BABY APPOINTMENT. FOUND THAT CAR WOULDN'T START AND ELECTRONICS NOT WORKING ON NOVEMBER 26TH. SUSPECT DEAD BATTERY AND READ ONLINE ABOUT OUTBACK ELECTRONIC ISSUES.
Electrical system, Nov 27, 2020
CAR WON'T START. FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS AT 4000 MILES. CHANGED POSITION OF SHIFT LEVER TO N AND P UNTIL ABLE TO GET STARTED. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE BATTERY CHECKED BUT THEY SAID IT WAS OK. NOW AT 6000 MILES COMPLETELY DEAD IN GARAGE. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS. HAVING IT TOWED TO DEALER.
Electrical system, Nov 25, 2020
MY 2020 OUTBACK WHICH IS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD HAD THE BATTERY DRAIN ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. BOTH TIMES I HAD TO JUMP THE CAR IN ORDER FOR IT TO START. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS. IF I DRIVE THE CAR EVERY DAY, THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT AND THEY SAID 'WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO, I DID NOT MAKE THE CAR'. THIS IS A TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE PROBLEM. WHAT GOOD IS A BRAND NEW CAR THAT CANNOT SIT THREE DAYS WITHOUT A JUMP START.
Electrical system, Nov 24, 2020
WE PURCHASED OUR NEW 2020 OUTBACK LESS THAN A MONTH AGO AND HAVE HAD THE BATTERY DIE 4 SEPARATE TIMES ALREADY. I HAVE HAD TO JUMP START TO REVIVE. WE'VE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE ANY PROBLEM AND NOTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED YET.
Electrical system, Nov 22, 2020
I BOUGHT MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 300 MILES AND CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE 4000 MILES IN IT AND MY CAR WON'T START I EVEN GOT IT SERVICED 2 WEEKS AGO. IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AS USUAL FOR A NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY IT WOULDN'T START.
Electrical system, Structure, Nov 16, 2020
WHILE INTERACTING WITH THE REAR OF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, I HAD ACCIDENTLY TRIGGERED THE "HANDS-FREE POWER REAR GATE" FEATURE AND THE GATE BEGAN TO OPEN. RATHER THAN WAIT FOR THE TAIL GATE TO FULLY OPEN, I GENTLY PUSHED THE REAR TAIL GATE AGAINST THE AUTOMATIC OPENING BACK INTO THE CLOSED POSITION. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR BEEPED AT ME THREE TIMES AND THE REAR TAIL GATE WOULD NO LONGER LATCH ITSELF CLOSED, EVEN WHEN CLOSED MANUALLY. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE TAIL GATE UNSECURED, IT WOULD OPEN ITSELF WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE THE LATCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND HOLD IT CLOSED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2020
I BOUGHT A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK XT IN MARCH. IT WAS THE LAST SPECIAL ORDER FROM AUTO NATION BEFORE THEY SHUT DOWN FOR COVID. I DROVE IT VERY LITTLE AS WE WERE BASICALLY HOME BOUND AND THEN FOR SHOPPING, GOLF AND MEETINGS. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER AND I HAVE UNDER TWO THOUSAND MILES DRIVEN. THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD ON SEPTEMBER 17TH AND NOW AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 10TH. IT DIED BOTH TIMES INSIDE MY GARAGE AND THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR WAS THE ONLY THING TO OPEN. IT DID JUMP AND WORK IN BETWEEN THOSE DATES. I AM NOW READING ABOUT ALL THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS AND BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE OUTBACK. SUBARU SUGGESTED THAT I NEEDED TO DRIVE MY CAR EVERY DAY TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING. THAT IS A LUDICROUS IDEA AND SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. I HAVE A CVT 2.4 ENGINE WITH A TURBO. EVERY TIME THE BATTERY DIES ALL THE LOADED INFORMATION LIKE BLUETOOTH, ETC. IS ALSO GONE.
Electrical system, Nov 10, 2020
NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD. ONLY 2300 MILES ON VEHICLE. CAR WAS LAST DRIVEN ON SUNDAY. WOULD NOT START ON TUESDAY EVENING. ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DEAD.
Electrical system, Nov 10, 2020
MY CAR BATTERY HAS DIED THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY THE SECOND DAY BUT BATTERY DIED AGAIN OVERNIGHT.
Electrical system, Oct 26, 2020
BATTERY FAILED WITHIN 1 MONTH OF NEW CAR PURCHASE. TECHNICIAN INITIALLY SAID IT WAS DUE TO REAR DOME LIGHT BEING LEFT ON (DID NOT THINK THIS WAS THE CASE). AFTER REPEATEDLY RETURNING TO THE CAR IN THE MORNINGS TO FIND DRAINED BATTERY, HAD TO PURCHASE BACK UP JUMPING DEVICE TO ENSURE I'D BE ABLE TO USE VEHICLE DAILY. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 MORE TIMES (WITHIN WEEKS OF THE INITIAL PROBLEM) AFTER NEEDING TO JUMP THE CAR TO START IT. NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND BATTERY WAS DEEMED TO BE "OK" PER THEIR TEST. THEN ONE MORNING WHILE STARTING THE CAR, THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED ALL TO FLASH, AN AUDIBLE CLICKING NOISE AND HATCH MOTOR COULD BE HEARD TRYING TO OPEN AND REMAINED STUCK IN THAT MODE UNTIL THE BATTERY DIED (CAR NEVER STARTED). CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR 3RD TIME IN A MONTH AND BATTERY WAS DEEMED "TO BE DEFECTIVE" FROM THE FACTORY AND WAS REPLACED IN THIS 2 MONTH OLD CAR. NO OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED TO EXPLAIN WHAT REPEATEDLY DRAINED THE BATTERY.
Electrical system, Oct 20, 2020
BATTER IS DEAD AFTER 10 MONTHS, 7500 MILES. SEEMS AS IF THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT IS PULLING POWER OFF OF THE BATTERY WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. I'VE GONE OUT TO THE CAR 5 TIMES NOW OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO A DEAD BATTERY. PROGRESSIVELY IT'S GOTTEN WORSE WITH TWO OF THE TIMES BEING JUST THIS WEEK. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I'M READING ABOUT PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS AS WELL. SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE AN ELECTRICAL BUG THAT THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSING YEAR OVER YEAR.
Electrical system, Oct 12, 2020
BATTERY WAS REPLACED AFTER 5,549 MILES. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 4-5 DAYS PRIOR TO 07/08/2020 AND NEED TO BE JUMPED DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS AGAIN PARKED FOR 4-5 DAYS PRIOR TO 10/09/2020 AGAIN THE BATTERY WAS DEAD & WAS UNABLE TO USE FOB TO UNLOCK CAR ETC, JUMPED STARTED CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT PROBLEM
Electrical system, Oct 12, 2020
I JUST PURCHASED A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD AND WHILE DRIVING THE ENTIRE INFOCENTER WENT BLANK, AND ALL SAFETY FEATURES WAS DISENGAGED. THE SCREEN REMAINED BLANK FOR APPROX 10 SECONDS BEFORE REBOOTING. I CALLED SUABRU AMERICA AND WAS INFORMNED THAT THERE IS A CLITCH IN THE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO FIX UNSUCCESSFULLY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR DUE TO ITS SAFETY FEATURES. SHOULDN'T I HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THIS POTENTIAL COMPUTER CRASH THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS, WHICH INCLUDES MY 85 YEAR OLD MOTHER?
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Oct 11, 2020
CAR WINDSHIELD HAD ICE OBSCURING PART OF THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM ON STARTUP. WARNING INDICATORS LIT UP INFORMING ME THAT THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM WAS DISABLED. CONCURRENT WITH THIS FAULT, THE FAILURE OF THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO RELEASE THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE SNOW.
Electrical system, Oct 11, 2020
THE BATTERY IS NEARLY ALWAYS DEAD AT STARTUP AND I HAVE TO JUMP IT WITH A BATTERY STARTER. THE DEALER HAD SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, YET I HAVE TO JUMP THE CAR IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOTS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 5300 MILES ON IT, AS WE DON'T DRIVE THAT MUCH.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 9, 2020
I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH MY BATTERY DYING. IT STARTED SLOWLY, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, I DIDN'T DRIVE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WHEN THE SERVICE GUY CAME OUT TO JUMP IT, HE SAID THAT I SHOULD CAN DRIVE IT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. I'VE BEEN DOING THAT AND I'D ONLY OCCASIONALLY HAD TO JUMP IT. NOW WITH 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND UNDER 6,000 MILES, I HAVE TO JUMP IT EVERY DAY. WHEN I TOOK IT IN, DEALERSHIP SAID BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE FINE. IF BATTERY IS FINE, MUST BE ELECTRICAL. EITHER WAY, VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS DEFECT IN MY NEW CAR.
Electrical system, Oct 7, 2020
CAR IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND ALL DAY. WENT TO START CAR AND BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON.
Electrical system, Sep 29, 2020
I WAS DRIVING TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A LOW BATTERY. I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, AND THE AUTO STOP-START SYSTEM SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART. I WAS LEFT WITH NO POWER, IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION, WITH CARS AND TRUCKS HAVING TO SWERVE AROUND ME. I RECEIVED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO JUMP-START THE VEHICLE AND THEY DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE BATTERY HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND WILL BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WE DON'T YET KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE BATTERY FAILURE.
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 21, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED OUT OF PARK INTO GEAR, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOORS LOCKED WHILE THE REAR HATCH UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE REAR HATCH UNLOCKED THE DOME LIGHT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. W&L SUBARU (535 POINT TOWNSHIP DR, NORTHUMBERLAND, PA 17857 (570) 473-3432) WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE REAR HATCH MECHANISM WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,900. Consumer stated Subaru would purchase the vehicle because of all the electrical problems.
Electrical system, Sep 14, 2020
VEHICLE DIES AND HAS TO BE JUMPED EVERY TIME WE START IT. HAS BEEN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE 3/2020, AND HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.
Electrical system, Sep 9, 2020
MY OUTBACK WAS 2 MONTHS OLD WITH ~7900 MILES ON IT WHEN IT FAILED TO START DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. I HAD LAST DRIVEN THE CAR 2 DAYS PRIOR. I ATTEMPTED TO JUMP WITH MY OTHER CAR & COULD NOT. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS ABLE TO JUMP START THE CAR. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SAID IT WAS HIS 20TH SUBARU OF THE DAY! GIVEN THE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AND THE ONGOING ISSUES OF UNDERSIZED BATTERIES, I ELECTED TO INSTALL A LARGER BATTERY IN THE CAR.
Electrical system, Sep 3, 2020, crash
I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY THREE MONTHS, AND THE ENGINE HAS FAILED TO START >5 TIMES, WHILE STATIONARY. I HAVE HAD TO GET SEVERAL JUMP STARTS, AND THE BATTERY WILL RUN AGAIN FOR A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS BEFORE SEEMING TO DIE AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTOSHOP AND THEY SAID THE BATTERY SEEMED FINE TO THEM, BUT THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE FAILURES WITH STARTING THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD SAFETY FEATURES DYSFUNCTION WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND ONE OF THEM LED TO AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED A FEW TIMES, AND LOST HOURS FROM MY JOB.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 29, 2020
I HAVE OWNED MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR ONLY 2 MONTHS. MY CAR WILL NOW NOT START. AFTER JUMPING THE VEHICLE/ CHARGING THE BATTERY, IT WILL START AGAIN AND THEN SHUT BACK OFF. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT IS CAUSING MY BATTERY TO DRAIN VERY RAPIDLY. CHANGING THE BATTERY DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FIXING THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE IS THE ONLY SOLUTION. SUBARU HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH OUTBACKS AND ASCENTS FROM 2017 TO 2020 AND NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL.