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: other or unspecified
152 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2022
This is my fourth cracked windshield in less than 2 years! I’ve never cracked a windshield in ANY other car I’ve owned in the last 20 years! The windshields do not seem to be strong enough to accommodate the flex of the frame of the vehicle. I hear the car flex over rough roads or speed bumps. I’m assuming the torsion of the vehicle is weakening the glass, and any minor impact will cause the windshield to crack. I haven’t been abusing the car at all, this time around I parked the car, came back 3 hours later and the windshield was cracked, I assume from the speed bumps on the way into the park. I was calm at first, but now am outraged! I cannot afford a new windshield every six months, especially at $1,000 a piece! Please help!
Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Jun 19, 2022
I was driving in a residential neighborhood at low speed, about 20 mph. I slowed down because I needed to park at the curb, and also I was approaching a large speed bump. This was one of the wide, flat ones. I pulled over to the right curb a couple of car lengths before the speed bump, preparing to park. I went over the bump, accelerating a tiny bit to get over the bump. I was going maybe 10 miles an hour. As I came down off the bump, or shortly after that, the accelerator pedal moved down away from my foot. I felt the pedal move down and away so that my foot was no longer touching it. At the same time, the engine speed surged (I heard it rev), and the car lurched forward for a second or two. I put my foot on the brake and also saw the obstacle detection on the instrument panel and saw the red lights and heard the beeping, and the car stopped moving. I don’t know whether I braked first or the car did. I was still about 2 car lengths away from a parked car in front of me when my vehicle stopped. I took my vehicle to a dealership the next day. They performed diagnostics but were unable to find anything wrong with it.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 11, 2022
1.car accelerated on its own—very scary. (Took the car to Cochran Subaru of Monroeville, but they said nothing was found wrong.) 2. The very next day, the real door would not latch and car would not lock. I reported these two issues to 1-800-SUBARU3. My case # is: 220610-163479 3. we did a “software” update bc we received a recall notice—it was completed at Cochran Subaru of Monroeville sometime in the fall of 2021, in March of 2022 while on vacation in Fla, the radio BLARED on its own, then stopped working altogether for a week or so—then just started working again.
Other or unspecified, May 18, 2022
I am on second battery for my 2020 Outback and it now won't hold a charge. It drains overnight / without use. I can assure you that I am not leaving any lights on.
Other or unspecified, May 6, 2022
The moon roof glass exploded and shattered while driving the car on a highway under the speed limit. The car is available for inspection though a repair has been initiated. Multiple pictures and a video were taken. If the inside shade cover had not been closed, shattered glass fragments would have cut the driver and passengers possibly impeding the driver’s vision and causing a crash. The problem shattered moon roof was confirmed by the dealer and a repair shop. No one would confirm what caused the moon roof glass to explode.The dealer’s service department and the repair shop inspected the problem. There was no warning. The glass just exploded with a very loud bang like a gun went off inside or near the care.
Other or unspecified, Back over prevention, Apr 30, 2022
That main concern I have is the windshield. My windshield has been replaced once already and it seems no matter what speed or road we are traveling if anything hits the windshield it cracks. I am not talking a chip or little crack either I am talking tiny rock 45 mph crack halfway through the entire windshield. It can’t be that safe of safety glass if a pea gravel smashes it at 45mph. First time it happened we were traveling through a blizzard at 30 mph rock crack the entire windshield….. the Subaru windshield is super expensive and can only be put in at specific places.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 10, 2022, fire
3 weeks ago the all of the warning lights came on. Had vehicle towed to dealership. Could not find out what was wrong. Saw there was a lot of carbon build up which was unusual since there is only 26,000 miles on vehicle. After a week a dealership a cleaning took it home. Went back the next day. They inspected and stated it was the spark plugs and needed new fuel injectors. Had replaced. Everything still covered. Picked vehicle up finally after 17 days of it being there. When picking it up the paper work stated the vehicle had cylinder 1 misfires 30-45 times in a 3 hour period. But was assured the vehicle was repaired and fully inspected and 100% safe. Within 24hrs of driving the vehicle. The next morning we drove to school and with after the second light we smelled smoothing rolled windows down and but was sure if it was us. Then had slowed down to turn at the next light to turn to pull over but didn’t get that opportunity before a boom and smoke and flame came and i rushed out of the car and took immediate action and got my 4 year old out of her car seat. Before the whole car was up in flames. I have heard that similar vehicles had similar issues but have had other repairs to deal with it.There was no lights that came on in the vehicle to warn us that something was wrong so thought the smell was from outside. Insurance and the auto maker are inspecting but i had to alert the automaker the dealership wasn’t going to. They stated that the insurance and automaker will just compare notes.
Other or unspecified, Mar 17, 2022
Windshield crack from a rock chip expanded across entire windshield. Another rock chip 5 months later caused another 8” crack.
Other or unspecified, Mar 1, 2022
Our windshield has easily chipped and cracked repeatedly. We are having our windshield replaced for the 3rd time since November 2021, and it is March 1, 2023, this does not include the two times we have had chips repaired. Each time was due to a small piece of gravel or rock hitting our windshield while driving. Twice was at 20 MPH passing someone at the same speed. Anything that hits our windshield causes a crack or fracture. It is more expensive because we have the eye assist package. We are terrified of something larger hitting our windshield and potentially going directly through it injuring someone in the car.
Other or unspecified, Feb 27, 2022
Windshield cracked while parked in a line waiting to go through a carwash. Nothing was above the car that could have dropped on the windshield to cause it to crack. I heard a "crack" looked up and could see the crack starting from the edge of the driver's side window - within minutes it was approx 8 - 10 long. Thankfully no safety for me or others but depending upon where the crack was it could (and if it keeps growing will) impair visibility for driving. Not inspected - this occured less than 1 hour ago. No warning sign that it was going to happen. This is my 2nd windshield on this car that just randomly cracked. Last time it started middle of the window, bottom under the hood of the car and went straight up.
Other or unspecified, Feb 24, 2022
In the last 11 months, we have had to replace the front windshield four times due to significant cracks that occurred after a rock hit the windshield (3 times) and one time following a hailstone hit. The cracks do not show up immediately, but about two hours after the incident. The "Eyesight" safety features don't work when this happens. Our driving is in town or on a freeway. We DO NOT do off-road driving or driving on gravel/dirt roads. The windshields have been replaced with Subaru factory windshields and re-calibrated each time. The auto glass repair shop we use believes this cracking problem is a design issue as the glass is steeply angled and the thickness of the glass is thinner. This is our fourth Subaru and we have never had this issue. In the past, a rock hit would just bounce off the windshield or leave a small "star burst" nick that could be filled. I emailed Subaru of America and asked them what, if anything, they were doing to address this issue. I have not received a response to my email, sent over a week ago.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2022
Windshield was hit by two rocks leaving dime sized stars at the base of the windshield. They were low and not in sightline. Have had many cars with same damage on windshield with no issues and driven for years without any change in the glass. When I got home I parked car in garage. The next afternoon when I looked at the windshield, the small stars had cracked in 4 different directions, to a size larger than a basketball. Now I'm forced to replace a windshield that on any other car would be fine.
Other or unspecified, Feb 21, 2022
Windshield has cracked on 3 separate occasions while parked. Happened in 2 parking lots and my driveway.
Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2022
Front windshield crackle sound (like breaking glass) when temperature drops below 20 degrees. Constant sound.
Other or unspecified, Feb 15, 2022
Windshield has cracked 4 times in 21 months, at least 3 times this did not appear to impact related. The crack quickly spreads along the entire width of windshield over a 2-3 day period. We have replaced 3 times, each time through Subaru Clearlake dealership.
Other or unspecified, Feb 11, 2022
Windshield cracked while using the defroster. This is a 2020 Outback. I had the same problem on a 2019 Outback that went through 3 windshields in less than a year. These windshields are defective.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Feb 7, 2022
Within 2 months of purchase 2020 Outback the car's Infotainment center has continually malfunctioned including times when the car's backup camera is displayed while the car is in drive and moving forward. Eye-sight constantly disabled as well is infotainment center constantly blacking out and then resetting itself while car is in motion. Constant beepind telling driver to look at road - all especially in inclement weather. Car is unsafe. I have multiple videos showing this but they are too big to upload here.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Jan 30, 2022
my subaru has 12,ooo miles on it and in the past week has died on me. When you try to start the car and depress the brake, the brake locks and you cannot push it anymore, in addition, the battery does not turn over. On the first occasion, we tried to jump start the car but the battery read as normal activity and the car would not start after that. The car just started up for no apparent reason the following day. thankfully we were at home when this happened and we have a 2nd car. The second time, same thing with the brake when we tried to start car and no turnover with the battery but and the car still will not start on the following day but this time it looks like the battery has died. Taking it in to Subaru dealership where supposedly the have never heard of these problems before!
Other or unspecified, Jan 21, 2022
Windshield: Mid December noticed crack along right lateral side of windshield when car parked in garage. No preceding incident noted. Garage temp 40 degrees. Had windshield replaced with original Subaru replacement windshield at Safelite on 12/31/21. On 1/20/22, while driving 60 mph on highway, 33 degrees, snowing, wipers and defroster on, heard noise like a rock hitting windshield, and noticed a crack from the bottom/ middle of the windshield. There were no cars within 300 feet of my car so I doubt a rock was kicked up to hit my windshield. I believe windshield is defective. Will have it replaced again. Although this repair is covered by my insurance, repeat claims like this will cause insurance rates to go up for all consumers.
Other or unspecified, Jan 3, 2022
Battery issue: 2020 Subaru Outback When I purchased the vehicle in April 2020 I drove it for 3 Months then the battery died. The Dealer told me it was a faulty battery and then replaced it. (Battery #2) For the last year and a half I've been experiencing Problems starting/Navigation & Display Screen not working correctly. Three days ago guess what happened? My Battery died again....Called the Dealer and they told me to bring it right down and they'll look at it. They charged the battery and said you're good to go! I told them that is not the answer because as soon as I leave the battery is going to die again! They looked at me and said OK we'll put it on the big diagnostic machine and sure enough it came back with a need a new battery report! So they replaced it! (Battery #3). On the way home from the dealership I turned to my wife and said this car is not safe. It's like driving a moving time bomb. You'll never know when it's going to die again. That's when I decided to look it up and there it was "Subaru Battery law suit". Could you please help me? [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 18, 2021
Battery drains when car sits idle for more than a week. No lights were accidentally left on. Had to jump start the car four times in less than a week. Subaru dealership attempted to tell me the battery was fine but the service advisor noted it was starting up sluggishly. Service did a full charge. Subaru's own website recommends driving the car at least a couple times a month, which is what I've done, but the battery still drains within two weeks. The Subaru dealership further told me that the battery has a memory and "learned" my driving habits (I purchased the car prior to the pandemic) and that is why the battery is not keeping a charge since I'm not driving it as often as they think I should. They also told me that I should disconnect the battery if I have to leave the car at an airport, for example if I go on vacation. That is absurd. The service advisor further told me that the warranty would likely not cover the battery replacement because they believe I'm not driving the car enough. I am concerned that the battery not holding a strong and sufficient charge will cause the car to not be able to restart at a traffic stop if I have not remembered to disengage the fuel-saving feature. While I carry a jump starting kit, I would need to get out in the road and try to hurriedly jump the car. There are several reports online with a parasitic drain where the computer does not go into a sleep mode when the car is off.
Other or unspecified, Dec 8, 2021
Windshield cracked. No reason for the issue
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Dec 6, 2021
windshield cracks for no reason
Other or unspecified, Dec 4, 2021
Windshield has cracked in same area as those Subaru windscreens in the class action suit just settled.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 1, 2021
Returned to vehicle and battery was dead. While at work, received notification through Subaru app that alarm was triggered. Same thing happened last week. Tailgate was making clicking sound like it was trying to open. Once battery was jumped, the tailgate continued clicking. Researched online and found that this is a known issue for Subaru Outback and Ascent vehicles of certain years.