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, Lane departure, Back over prevention, Apr 12, 2021
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE PROBLEM THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH MY CAR. THE CAR'S CCM WOULD OCCASIONALLY FREEZE; SAY APPLE CARPLAY IS UNAVAILABLE AND RESTART; THE CCM WOULD GO BLANK, BUT STILL BACKLIT; OR JUST FREEZE ATTEMPT TO RESTART, BUT NOT TURN BACK ON RENDERING ITEMS IN THE CAR USELESS, LIKE VOICE CONTROL AND JUST EVERYTHING!! SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG AND I JUST HAVE A GRIEVANCE. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S THE CASE, WHEN THERE'S VIDEO EVIDENCE. I HAVE A LOANER CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AND TURNED OFF THE DISPLAY (I DIDN'T KNOW THAT COULD BE DONE), BUT THE VOICE CONTROL WORKED IN THE LOANER THAT WAS NOT HAVING A PROBLEM AS OPPOSED TO MINE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS WRITTEN IN WITH THAT COMPLAINT. OF NOTE, I'VE BEEN GOING INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE OCTOBER 2020, AND I'VE ONLY OWNED THE CAR SINCE JUL 2020. I HAD IT CHECKED IN VIRGINIA AND OKLAHOMA CITY. I RECEIVED A LOANER CAR ON THURSDAY, 8 APR 2020, FOR THE PROBLEM ONLY AFTER I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A TEXT STATING THAT THE CAR WAS READY, BUT NO RESPONSE AS TO WHAT WAS DONE. AGAIN, I RECEIVED THE 'SOFTWARE IS UP TO DATE'. BE AWARE THAT WHEN THE SCREEN GOES BLANK, YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANYTHING, NOT EVEN VOICE CONTROL. I DID TEST THAT WHILE MY CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING A D ALSO DISPLAYING THAT EYESIGHT AND REAR ASSIST BRAKING WERE ALSO NOT FUNCTIONAL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE I WAS UTILIZING NAVIGATION SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING AT THE TIME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME DURING NAVIGATION THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. ALTHOUGH I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE FROM THE CAR VIA TEXT ON EASTER SUNDAY, THE MY SUBARU APP SENT AN 'ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONAL' FOR 30 DAYS, BUT I JUST HAD ERRORS A FEW DAYS PRIOR. IT'S LIKE THE HEALTH REPORT IS ONLY FOR THAT MOMENT IN TIME AND NOT REALLY FOR 30 DAYS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 12, 2021
ON 3 OCCASIONS THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, RADIO WORKED, BUT NO STARTER OR ENGINE NOISE. SUBARU SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR OR BATTERY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON SUBARU PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Apr 11, 2021
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY TO IT NOT STARTING. THE CAR WAS SOLD TO US WITH A BAD BATTERY AND MISSING PARTS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR LATER OUR TRANSMISSION BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHEN NO ROCKS OR ANYTHING HAS HIT IT.
Other or unspecified, Mar 19, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THE NEAREST CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS APPEARED TO BE A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY, IN FRONT OF ME. I NEVER SAW ANYTHING BOUNCING IN FRONT OF ME/TOWARDS ME. IT LITERALLY SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE SHOT AT THE CAR. THE INTERIOR SHADE WAS CLOSED. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROX. 75 DEGREES. OCCURRED AT 7:17PM. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF ANYTHING HITTING THE GLASS, IT JUST SHATTERED.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. I HAD COMPLAINED TO THE THE DEALER. THEY WON'T HELP ME AND SAID IT IS ROCK CHIP. IT WAS IN THE PARKING MODE WHEN IT START TO CRACK ITSELF.
Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. ONE MORNING AS I WAS GETTING IN THE VEHICLE AND I NOTICED A CRACK HAD APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDING UP AND TO THE CENTER ABOUT A FOOT.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Feb 14, 2021
WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK, THAT I THOUGHT WAS WEIRD AS I DIDN'T HEAR A ROCK, BUT A CRACK. I SAW THAT 2020 SUBARU OUTBACKS HAD A LAWSUIT FOR DEFECT. I FOUND OUT WEEKS AFTER I MADE AN INSURANCE CLAIM TO HAVE MY WINDSHIELD FIXED. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jan 30, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON AS IT WAS SITTING IN THE GARAGE
Other or unspecified, Jan 28, 2021
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED IN A SAFE LOCATION (DRIVEWAY).
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jan 27, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE GARAGE WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY. NOTHING PHYSICALLY DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE ON MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK AS WELL. I SEE THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN PLACE AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET ADDED AS THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.
Other or unspecified, Jan 21, 2021
SUBARU SHOWS A RECALL, YOU DON'T. FROM SUBARU SITE: HTTPS://WWW.SUBARU.COM/VEHICLE-RECALLS.HTML/VIN=[XXX] ----- YEAR: 2020 VEHICLE: OUTBACK MODEL: LIMITED XT TYPE: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION| SERVICE CAMPAIGN: WRI20| NHTSA CAMPAIGN: N/A CP1 SOFTWARE UPGRADE OPEN INCOMPLETE DECEMBER 11, 2020 SCHEDULE SERVICES DESCRIPTION IN THE INTEREST OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SUBARU) IS INITIATING A SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR CERTAIN 2020-2021 MODEL YEAR LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES TO UPDATE THE COCKPIT CONTROL MODULE (CCM) SOFTWARE TO THE LATEST VERSION. SAFETY RISK THIS CONDITION IS NOT SAFETY RELATED. REMEDY SUBARU RETAILERS WILL REPROGRAM THE CCM SOFTWARE ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Other or unspecified, Jan 4, 2021
I/WE WERE DRIVING WEST ON RIVER DRIVE, IN DAVENPORT IOWA, AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. LATER IN THE TRIP IT CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. NOTHING HAS EVER HIT THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE IT TO CRACK. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2021
IT IS NOT ABOUT AN ACCIDENT. I DISCOVERED A CRACK ON THE SIDE OF THE REAR RIGHT TIRE. IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE TIRE SINCE I DIDN'T DROVE ON ANY OBSTACLE. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR BLOW, LOOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE, ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR DEADLY ACCIDENT.
Other or unspecified, Dec 30, 2020
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO IMPACT, JUST CRACKED AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD (ABOUT 10MPH).
Other or unspecified, Dec 10, 2020
ACCORDING TO WISCONSIN'S LEMON LAW, THE VEHICLE THAT I OWN MEETS WI'S LEMON: * I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR(ONLY 4 MILES WERE IN IT) * FROM DAY 2 (AFTER PURCHASING), THE CARPLAY MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING ISSUE AND NEVER SOLVED. DEFECT WITHIN A YEAR AND THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. * DEALER FAILED 5 TIMES TO FIX THE SAME ISSUE. I PAID 50K FOR THE VEHICLE NOVEMBER, 2019 WHICH IS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY YET THE PROBLEM IS NOT BEING RECTIFIED. OVER A YEAR LONG BATTLE, I AM STUCK WITH BROKEN CAR. SERVICE MANAGER FROM THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SUPPORT FROM CORP WHICH LED SOFTWARE UPDATE DOES NOT WORK. A FEW TIMES, I ALMOST RARE ENDED THE FRONT OF CAR DUE TO CARPLAY MALFUNCTION. WOULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS?
Other or unspecified, Dec 8, 2020
I BELIEVE THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY. I DROVE TO GET COFFEE THIS MORNING. IN THE PARKING LOT I NOTICED A 10 INCH CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT HADN'T BEEN THERE BEFORE. TO MY KNOWLEDGE NOTHING HAS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK WASN'T THERE YESTERDAY. THERE WAS SNOW IN THE CAR THIS MORNING. I'M WONDERING IF TURNING THE INTERIOR HEATER HAD ANYTHING FUN DO WITH IT. IT'S CURRENTLY 32 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THERE ISN'T A MARK IN THE WINDSHIELD EXCEPT FOR THE CATCH WHICH SEEMS TO ORIGINATE AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE ISN'T A ROCK MARK OR ANYTHING ELSE. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR A A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT A REASON. CAR PARKED AT NIGHT. NEXT MORNING WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF AN IMPACT
Other or unspecified, Nov 28, 2020
PURCHASED VEHICLE DEC 2019. HAD FIRST WINDSHIELD REPLACED AT OUR COST ON APRIL 29, 2020. HAD CHIP IN THIS WINDSHIELD FIXED AT OUR COST ON JULY 9. 2020. IN OCTOBER 2020, REPLACED WINDSHIELD CRACKED STARTING ON DRIVER'S SIDE FOR NO REASON WHILE ON A MAIN HIGHWAY
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2020
HAD A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHEN A LIGHT TURNED GREEN. CHIP TURNED INTO A CRACK BY THE NEXT MORNING AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS CRACK SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD HORIZONTALLY.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 21, 2020
SPONTANEOUS CRACKING OF WINDSHIELD WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. STARTED AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD APPROX. MIDWAY. APPROX. 9 INCHES IN LENGTH VERTICALLY THEN CRACK WENT TO PASSENGER SIDE APPROX. 5 INCHES.
Other or unspecified, Nov 13, 2020
EXCESSIVE CRACKING OF WINDSHIELD. CAR IS TWO MONTHS OLD AND WOKE UP ONE MORNING TO AN EIGHT INCH CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE MIDDLE. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK WAS HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD.
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.
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACK. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3500 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE A WINDSHIELD CRACK WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE!! I GOT IN THE CAR AND NOTICED BY THE DRIVER SIDE AN UPSIDE DOWN "L".
Other or unspecified, Oct 30, 2020
WE PURCHASED OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK IN OCTOBER 2019 AND WITHIN A A FEW MONTHS (FEB 2020) WE CAME BACK TO OUR PARKED CAR WITH A CRACKED STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD THAT STARTED FROM THE WIPERS. WE GOT OUR WINDSHIELD REPLACED, FAST FORWARD TO OCTOBER 2020 AND WE'RE REPLACING OUR WINDSHIELD AGAIN FROM DRIVING ON A ROLL RODE. THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF DEFECT ON THESE WINDSHIELDS. WE CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ON THESE NEW CARS.
Other or unspecified, Oct 15, 2020
SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK WHILE DRIVING