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
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, 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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 8, 2020
THE LEFT-MOST DASH VENT RATTLES INTERMITTENTLY, MOST OFTEN ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. VEHICLE PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2019, AND RATTLE STARTED IN APRIL 2020. MY LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE VENT, BUT THE RATTLE CONTINUES AND APPEARS TO COME FROM BEHIND THE VENT. BECAUSE IT'S INTERMITTENT AND CAN'T BE REPRODUCED ON DEMAND I'VE THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED IT WITH AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDINGS. ESCALATING WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA TO GET IT RESOLVED.
Other or unspecified, Sep 30, 2020
MY 2020 SUBARU IS 9 MONTHS OLD AND THIS WILL BE THE 2ND WINDSHIELD I WILL BE REPLACING IN THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS IN MOTION BUT NOT STRUCK BY DEBRIS. THE SECOND TIME THERE WAS DEBRIS THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CRACK MOVED QUICKLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT STOPPING. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ABOUT THE FAULTY WINDSHIELDS WITH MANY SUBARU OWNERS INVOLVED AND RECENTLY THE SUIT WAS DISMISSED BY THE COURT. I UNDERSTAND OUTBACKS AND FORESTERS HAVE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS GOING BACK AS FAR AS 2016 AND SUBARU HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE WINDSHIELD IS THINNER THAN MOST TO ACCOMMODATE THE SENSORS. THE COST TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD IS $900+ EACH TIME DUE TO THE NEED FOR ONLY A SUBARU WINDSHIELD AND THE CALIBRATION OF THE SENSORS NEEDED.
Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACK
Other or unspecified, Sep 15, 2020, crash
OWNER DROVE ON TO A PARKING LOT. VEHICLE LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION FUNCTION SENSED A WHITE LINE ON THE PAVEMENT. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TURN LEFT, ACCELERATION AN UNCONTROLLABLE FASHION. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB PROCEEDING INTO HEAVY SHRUBS WHICH DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. THE SHRUBS STOPPED THE VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Sep 6, 2020
CLASSIC SUBARU WEAK WINDSHIELD GLASS ISSUE. WHILE TRAVELING ON A SMALL SIDE STREET ABOUT 40MPH, SOMETHING THAT WAS INAUDIBLE HIT MY FRONT GLASS LAST NIGHT WHILE GOING TO THE STORE. WE SAW WHAT APPEARED TO BE A VERY SMALL CHIP. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE STORE THE SMALL CHIP TURNED INTO A STREAKING SPIDERWEB JUST FROM HITTING PAVEMENT DIVISIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 600 MILES ON IT. THE SUBARU SALESMEN WERE VERY PUSHY ABOUT BUYING THEIR DING, DENT, GLASS PROTECTION STATING THAT THEY KNOW THE GLASS IS ABOUT 900 DOLLARS TO FIX. I THINK THEY KNOW THE GLASS IS WEAK. NOW I AM OUT THE COSTS OF A WINDSHIELD PLUS THE TINT TO HAVE IT RE-TINTED. SO WE ARE TALKING WELL OVER 1K IF I HAVE THE DEALERSHIP INSTALL THE GLASS AND RE-CALIBRATE THE EYESIGHT PROGRAM TO THE WINDSHIELD.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ALONG ROUTE 81 SOUTH OF CARLISLE PA. AN AUDIBLE POP WAS HEARD. I NOTED NOTHING AT THE TIME. LATER IN THE DAY, THIS 2 FOOT CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. I DON'T BELIEVE THE CRACK IS THE RESULT OF AN OBJECT AS THERE IS NO APPARENT POINT OF IMPACT AND ONLY THE THE VERY SMALL AREA ADJOINING THE FRAME IS AT ALL DISTURBED ASIDE FROM THE OBVIOUS CLEAN CRACK.
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2020
JULY 2, 2020: THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED SEEMINGLY WITHOUT CAUSE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. AFTER STOPPING, IT APPEARED TO HAVE A TINY CHIP NEAR THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND A CRACK ABOUT 3 FEET LONG EXTENDING FROM IT. THIS WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON JULY 8, 2020. JULY 19, 2020: THE NEW WINDSHIELD RECEIVED A TINY ROCK CHIP WHILE DRIVING. THE ROCK CHIP WAS LESS THAN 1 INCH IN SIZE SO A REPAIR WAS TO BE ATTEMPTED. THE REPAIR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AS THE ROCK CHIP IMMEDIATELY SPREAD WHEN SUCTION WAS APPLIED TO THE SURFACE.
Other or unspecified, Jul 4, 2020
WE PURCHASED A 2020 OUTBACK LIMITED 4/28/2020. THE SALESMAN, [XXX], DELIVERED THE CAR TO OUR HOME ON 5/1/2020. THE SECOND TIME WE DROVE THE VEHICLE, 5/6/2020, A CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AS WE WERE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. (MY HUSBAND IS AN ATK AMPUTEE AND WANTED TO PRACTICE DRIVING THE CAR WITH HIS PROSTHETIC LEG BEFORE DRIVING 30+ MILES TO A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT.) THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE CRACK AS THERE WERE NO AUTOMOBILES AROUND US. WE ALREADY HAD AN APPT TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALER THAT WEEK TO INSTALL OPTIONS WE HAD PURCHASED AT SALE. AT THAT TIME WE LEARNED THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT PART OF THE WARRANTY AGREEMENT WE HAD SIGNED AND THE FINANCE AGENT IN NO WAY ENCOURAGED US TO SIGN THAT PORTION OF THE AGREEMENT. NOR DID HE INFORM US OF THE HIGH COST OF WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT AND ELECTRONICS RE-CALIBRATION. WE PAID $1143.34 TO REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND RE-CALIBRATE THE ELECTRONICS. OUR INSURANCE WAS A $1000 DEDUCTIBLE WOULD WOULD NOT ALLOW FILINGS FROM DEALERSHIPS AS THEY ARE NOT APPROVED REPAIR SITES. AT THAT TIME WE ALSO PAID AN ADDITIONAL $500 TO PURCHASE THE WINDSHIELD WARRANTY. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Other or unspecified, May 19, 2020
HAD NEW 2020 OUTBACK LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AND NOTED HAIRLINE STRESS CRACK (NO CHIPS) ON OUTSIDE LAMINATE OF WINDSHIELD, NEAR PASSENGER SIDE CAMERA, 3.25 INCHES LONG. I WAS WASHING THE WINDSHIELD IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE CRACK. THERE ARE PREVIOUS REPORTS OF DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD GLASS WITH THIS MODEL. PHOTO ATTACHED. *TR
Other or unspecified, Apr 27, 2020
SUBARU EYESIGHT LANE CENTERING FAILURE. DATE: 27APR 2020, TIME: ABOUT 9:45AM, LOCATION: I-75 SOUTH BOUND BETWEEN DAYTON AND CINCINNATE OHIO, ABOUT MILE MARKER 29.8. ROAD CONDITIONS: DRY, SUNNY AND BRIGHT.: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ON, LANE CENTERING ON. VECHILE MILAGE ABOUT 7700 MILES. WHILE PASSING A SEMI ON THE LEFT, AT THE REAR CORNER OF THE SEMI THE STEERING WHEEL TRIED TO MAKE A HARD SHARP RIGHT TURN.AS IF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LANE HAD MOVED WAY TO THE RIGHT. I HAD A HARD GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME FROM CRASHING INTO THE LEFT REAR OF THE SEMI TRAILER.. I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST THAT THE LANE CENTERING HAS A TENDANCY TO STEER CLOSE TO SEMI'S WHILE PASSING EITHER ON THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. FOR THIS REASON I TEND TO WATCH CLOSELY WHEN PASSING BUT THIS SUPRISED ME AT HOW HARD THE STEERING TRIED TO EXECUTE A LANE CHANGE, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. AFTER BRINGING IT BACK ON COARSE THE LANE CENTERING STAYED IN THE PROPER LANE ABET, WANTING TO STAY TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE FINISHING PASSING. LANE CENTERING FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR THE NEXT FEW MILES AT WHICH TIME I TURNED IT OFF DUE TO APPROACHING SEVERAL SEMI'S. I DON'T BELIEVE THE SUBARA'S EYESIGHT LANE CENTERING FUNCTION IS RELIABLE. THIS IS ALSO THE SECOND TIME THE LANE CENTERING HAS TRIED TO EXECUTE A LANE CHANGE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Mar 15, 2020
WIND SHIELD IS CRACKED AFTER SITTING IN GARAGE FOR 2 DAYS
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT. APPEARS TO BE SPONTANEOUS.
Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2020
THE WINDSHILED HAS A LARGE CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND IS UNDER A WEEK OLD. I NOTICED THE CRACK AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ALL NIGHT AT MY HOUSE. NOT SURE HOW OR WHERE IT BEGAN. I NOTICED ON 3/5 BUT NOT SURE HOW LONG A SMALLER ONE COULD HAVE BEEN THERE AND STARTED TO GROW.
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2020
THE LOW BEAM'S ANGLE ON THE SELF-LEVELING HEADLIGHT UNITS IS TOO FLAT BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC (EVERY OTHER CAR AND THIRD TRUCK FLASHES THEIR HIGH BEAMS AT ME). THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HANDSFREE BLUETOOTH PROTOCOL IS INADEQUATE AS INCOMING CALL VOLUME IS TOO LOW (EVEN AFTER INCREASING SPEAKER VOLUME TO MAXIMUM). IT MAKES HANDSFREE OPERATION OF YOUR MOBILE PHONE ALL BUT WORTHLESS WHILE HANDSFREE OPERATION IS REQUIRED BY LAW IN MY STATE. BOTH ISSUES ARE SAFETY ISSUES AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.
Other or unspecified, Feb 25, 2020
WINDSHIELD HAS 4 CRACKS/RUNS APPROX 24 INCHES EACH AND CHIPS VERY EASILY. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY WINDSHIELDS TO REPLACE IT WITH. SAFELITE COULDN'T FIND MY CAR'S WINDSHIELD IN THEIR INVENTORY. I EVEN BOUGHT THE POLICY THAT REPLACES THE WINDSHIELD AT NO COST TO ME. I DRIVE WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT CAN'T BE FIXED.
Other or unspecified, Feb 24, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM WHEN THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER WERE USED TO PREHEAT THE CAR ON COLD MORNING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERMAL SHOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE VS INSIDE TEMPERATURE CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK UPWARDS AND THEN SPLIT IN BOTH LATERAL DIRECTIONS. COINCIDENTALLY, THE CAR IS NEW AND WAS MAKING A CREAKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED TO THE RIGHT WHICH I COULD NOT SOURCE. NOW THE WINDOW IS CRACKED AND THE NOISE IS GONE. TELLS ME THE WINDSHIELD WAS TOO TIGHT AND UNDER STRESS.
Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I NOTICE THAT MY WINDSHIELD GOT CRACKED FOR NO REASON. I JUST PURCHACED MY OUTBACK 5 DAYS AGO BEFORE IT HAPPENED.
Other or unspecified, Feb 22, 2020
WINDSHIELD
Other or unspecified, Feb 22, 2020
BOUGHT A NEW CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD
Other or unspecified, Jan 31, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD IS TOO FRAGILE. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 4 MONTHS, HAVE ALREADY HAD MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED ONCE. LITERALLY 2 WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT, ANOTHER CRACK. I DIDN'T EVEN HEAR A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS DRIVING OFF THE EXIT OF A FREEWAY, NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME, I HEARD A SMALL CRACKING NOISE. I NOTICED A BULLSEYE CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IF THE GLASS CAN'T EVEN SUSTAIN A SMALL ROCK HITTING IT (SO SMALL THAT I DIDNT EVEN HEAR IT HIT THE WINDSHIELD) HOW DOES THIS GLASS HOLD UP IN ACCIDENTS?
Other or unspecified, Jan 11, 2020
FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED DURING NORMAL DRIVING MODE
Other or unspecified, Jan 7, 2020
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR CRACKED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT THAT HAD NO TREES OR OBJECTS THAT COULD HAVE HIT IN THE LOCATION IT CRACKED.