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, Nov 25, 2019
I EXPERIENCED TWO INCIDENTS WITH THE LIFT GATE ON MY 2020 OUTBACK LIMITED XT WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. THEY BOTH HAPPENED ON 11/23/2019. FIRST INCIDENT: THE CAR WAS IN AN INDOOR PARKING GARAGE, BACKED UP TO THE WALL WITH ABOUT 4 FT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE CLOSED LIFT GATE AND THE WALL. I HAD JUST PUT MY 2-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON INTO HIS STROLLER, AND WE WERE BETWEEN THE REAR OF THE CAR AND THE WALL. AS I WAS WHEELING THE STROLLER AWAY FROM THE CAR, THE LIFT GATE AUTOMATICALLY OPENED AND PINNED THE STROLLER AGAINST THE WALL! I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE KEY FOB IN ANY WAY. THE GATE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY SENSE THE OBSTRUCTION, AND IT CONTINUED TO FORCE ITSELF AGAINST THE STROLLER. I HAD TO PUSH FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE LIFT GATE IN ORDER TO FREE MY GRANDSON AND ME. SECOND INCIDENT: AFTER RETURNING TO THE CAR WHICH WAS PARKED AS DESCRIBED IN THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE LIFT GATE FORCEFULLY HIT MY WIFE ON THE HEAD! I HAD RAISED THE GATE, AND AFTER THE GATE WAS ALL THE WAY UP, MY WIFE BENT DOWN TO PUT AN ITEM IN. THE LIFT GATE CAME DOWN ON HER HEAD. SHE WAS IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN! IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 24 HOURS SINCE THIS OCCURRED, AND SHE IS STILL EXPERIENCING HEADACHE, NAUSEA AND BLURRED VISION. WE ARE NOW SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION. LATER THAT AFTERNOON I EXPERIMENTED WITH THE GATE, AND IT MALFUNCTIONED THE SAME WAY (2ND INCIDENT) 2 MORE TIMES! AFTER IT WENT UP ALL THE WAY, THE GATE IMMEDIATELY CAME DOWN AUTOMATICALLY! (WITHOUT THE KEY FOB BEING PHYSICALLY CONTACTED IN ANY WAY)
Other or unspecified, Nov 22, 2019
ALL FOUR FRONT VENTS IN DASH BOARD RATTLE WHEN GOING ABOUT 40 MPH ON SLIGHTLY ROUGH SURFACE. ALSO LOUD SOUND THAT SOUNDS LIKE POPCORN POPPING ON PASSENGER SIDE THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OR DASH BOARD. THE POPCORN SOUND STARTS WHEN DRIVING AT 65 TO 70 MPH.