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: visibility/wiper
313 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Sep 13, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. NO OBJECT HIT IT. STARTED AS ONE INCH LINE. BY THE TIME I LEFT WORK IT WAS A FOOT AND A HALF IN LENGTH. DEALER SAID THERE WAS OBVIOUS ROCK IMPACT. I DID NOT TAKE A PICTURE WHEN I GOT TO WORK BECAUSE I WAS LATE. FIGURED I COULD DO IT AFTER WORK THEN IT HAD GROWN. I REFUSE TO BUY ANOTHER SUBARU WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENED WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES
Visibility/wiper, Aug 28, 2020
SITTING STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY, A LARGE CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY BEGAN AND EXTENDED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE DAMAGE AND CIRCUMSTANCES ARE CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT CLASS ACTION LEGAL FILINGS FROM MANY, MANY VEHICLE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH RECENT SUBARU WINDSHIELDS.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 25, 2020
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE WINDSCREEN CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AN OBJECT DID NOT HIT THE WINDSCREEN. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE WINDSCREEN AT SAFELITE WITH AN OEM SUBARU WINDSCREEN AND RECALIBRATED THE ADVANCED DRIVER SAFETY SYSTEM COSTING MORE THAN $1,000. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF FAULTS IN SUBARU OUTBACK 2020 WINDSCREENS WITH A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. I WANT TO REPORT MY EXPERIENCE
Visibility/wiper, Aug 24, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK WAS NOTICED AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 24, 2020
I PURCHASED MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK YESTERDAY, 8/24/2020, FROM MAITA SUBARU IN SACRAMENTO CA. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY LATER THAT AFTERNOON, AN VERY SMALL OBJECT FLEW UP FROM THE ROAD CRACK THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK HAS GROWN ABOUT 2X IN SIZE IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS AND THE REPAIR BILL IS ESTIMATED TO BE $880. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A BRAND NEW CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 23, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY DRIVES SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SATELLITE SHOP TO REPAIR THE APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD AFTER REPAIR DROVE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AND CRACK EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 5 INCHES. SINCE SATURDAY AUGUST 22 WITH VEHICLE STATIONARY ON RESIDENCE DRIVEWAY THE CRACK HAS EXTENDED PAST THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE IN ONE DIRECTION AND THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. *LN *DL
Visibility/wiper, Aug 22, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, OUR WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXPERIENCED A "BULLSEYE" DEFECT WITHOUT ANY SOUND OF A PROJECTILE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THIS DEFECT THEN "CRACKED" FURTHER EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS COVERING ROUGHLY A 15 INCH SPAN. OUR DEALER, NORTH COUNTRY IMPORTS, 616 QUAKER ROAD, QUEENSBURY, NY, WAS CONTACTED. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY HISTORY OF THE 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAVING A WINDSHIELD ISSUE. ONLINE WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS. WE PURCHASED THE CAR 2 WEEKS PRIOR THIS INCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WE WERE NOT TOLD OF ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND WERE NOT ASKED TO SIGN ANY WAIVER CONCERNING THE LAWSUIT. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER HAS COVERAGE FOR WINDSHIELD REPAIR, "SUBARU EQUITY SHIELD OPTIMUM VEHICLE PROTECTION", WE WERE NOT OFFERED THIS PROTECTION AT THE TIME OF SALE. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALER WE WERE DEALT WITH IN A HOSTILE MANNER BY THE MANAGER WHO WOULD NOT DISCLOSE HIS NAME BEFORE HANGING UP ON US. PRIOR TO TERMINATING THE CALL HE REITERATED THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY KNOWN DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELDS AND REFERRED US TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 19, 2020
A TINY ROCK CHIP TURNED INTO A LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THE CHIP HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ANY HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT WAS VERY MINOR. WHILE DRIVING THE SAME DAYS, SAME TRIP A LARGE CRACK DEVELOPED WITH THE FOLLOWING HOUR AND CONTINUES TO GROW. ALL WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS NEWER CAR WITH ONLY 11K MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A TINY CHIP ON WINDSHIELD END UP BEING A HUGE CRACK THAT KEEPS GROWING ALL WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING ON THE SAME DAY/TRIP.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 19, 2020
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN MY NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH ABOUT 2200 MILES ON A FRESHLY SLURRY-COATED ROAD I SAW A SMALL PEBBLE SIZED OBJECT TOSSED IN THE AIR BY THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND LAND JUST INSIDE THE EDGE OF THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A SHARP POP - LIKE A .22 - AND A 4 INCH CRACK APPEARED. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME AND THE CRACK APPEARED TO BE STABLE. I PARKED THE CAR AND GOT SOME REST. 9 HOURS LATER I WENT OUTSIDE AND FOUND THE CRACK HAD PROGRESSED TO THE CENTER OF MY WINDSHIELD. WHEN I CAME UPON THIS SITE I DECIDED TO DOCUMENT THE INCIDENT IN AN EFFORT TO WARN OTHERS THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND SUBARU SHOULD BE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 12, 2020
SPONTANEOUS CRACK OF THE WINDSHIELD. HIGHWAY DRIVING, HOT DAY AND A SMALL CRACK APPEARED (THERE WAS NO PEBBLE OR DEBRIS THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD). YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT... THE CRACK GREW AND GREW AND GREW. I SEE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHERS AND WANTED TO REPORT MY EXPERIENCE.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 10, 2020
I WAS ON A FOUR LANE ROAD (UNIVERSITY AVENUE IN EVANSVILLE, IN - NORTHBOUND) AND MY WINDSHIELD JUST POPPED AND CRACK ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THIS MORNING. I WAS MORE THAN 10 CAR LENGTHS FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD OR ANYTHING COME FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 29, 2020
SINGLE ROCK CHIP TO WINDSHIELD OF 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED XT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY RESULTED NOT JUST IN CHIP BUT IMMEDIATE MULTIPLE EXTENDING CRACKS SPANNING MOST OF LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAVE NOTED ONGOING CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THIS ISSUE.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 29, 2020
THERE WAS A TINY ROCK CHIP THAT WAS ABOUT 7 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CENTER. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND IT CRACKED. ABOUT 14 INCHES FROM THAT CHIP ACROSS THEN DOWN. IT ALSO SPIDERED UP ABOUT 7 INCHES. SO NOW MY WHOLE WINDSHIELD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NO WAY THAT LITTLE OF A CRACK COULD SPIDER CRACK LIKE THAT. MIND YOU, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TOMORROW MORNING TO GET THE CHIP FILLED. I WAS PLANNING ON TAKING CARE OF IT BUT NOW I WILL NEED A WHOLE NEW ONE.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 26, 2020
TINY CHIP IN CORNER OF WINDSHIELD, PROGRESSED WITHIN 2 HRS. TO A CRACK 1/3 SIZE 24 IN +/-) AROUND ON PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDOW. NOTICED ON A STOP, BUT WAS ON HIGHWAY, NO NOISE WAS HEARD PRECEDING THE CHIP.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 23, 2020
PURCHASE 2020 SUBARU ON 12/30/19 AND AS 7/15/20 THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES DO TO CRACKING. FIRST TIME IT CHIPS AND CRACK APPEARED AND SPREAD THE WINDSHIELD. SECOND TIME, CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AND CAME OUT AND FOUND A CRACKED ACROSS THE LOWER PART OF IT. THIRD TIME ON JULY 15 DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD DRIVE OVER A SPEED BUMP AND A CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE GARAGE IS ALWAYS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. YESTERDAY, JULY 22, WALKED OUT TO THE CAR AND NOW THERE ARE NEW CRACKS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE WINDSHIELD FIXED YET. CAN YOU HELP?
Visibility/wiper, Jul 22, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY BRAND NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK ON A 2 LANE PAVED ROAD AT APPROX 35 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR I HEARD THIS LOUD CRACK AND I THEN NOTICE A FAIRLY LARGE CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF MY WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AT THE TIME OF THIS CRACK SOUND.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 21, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 19, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON I NEVER SAW ANYTHING HIT IT OR NEVER HEARD ANYTHING HIT IT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT STARTED AT THE EDGE OF THE GLASS. THEN THE CRACK BEGAN TO SPREAD OVER NIGHT WHILE CAR WAS SITTING, BECAUSE I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING IN THE CRACK WAS WAY LONGER.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 19, 2020
2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. CRACKER WINDSHIELD FROM A PEBBLE NICK. NOT A ROCK.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 13, 2020
I WENT INTO A STORE. WHEN I CAME OUT, THERE WAS A S SHAPED CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NO CARS WERE PARKED NEAR MINE. THE CRACK SEEMED TO APPEAR SPONTANEOUSLY.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 13, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING
Visibility/wiper, Jul 12, 2020
TWO OEM WINDSHIELDS CRACKED (INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL) WITHIN 1 WEEK OF EITHER BUYING THE CAR OR REPLACING THEM. BOTH WINDSHIELDS' CRACK STARTED FROM THE MIDDLE OF EITHER THE SUPPORTING LEFT OR RIGHT BARS, GO IN FOR ABOUT 6 INCHES, AND THEN CURVED DOWNWARD. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, NO CAR IN FRONT OF US TO KICK UP GRAVEL, NO IMPACT POINT ON GLASS.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 10, 2020
A LARGE CRACK (10") APPEARED IN OUR WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO APPARENT IMPACT FROM ANY DEBRIS ON OUR NEW OUTBACK
Visibility/wiper, Jul 4, 2020
A CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY APPEARED ON MY WINDSHIELD A FEW DAYS AGO..IT LOOKS LIKE AN EDGE CRACK THAT JUST FORMED WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY ON MY DRIVEWAY AND DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE FORMED BY CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECT. THIS CAR IS JUST 4 MONTHS OLD AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN MUCH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE GLASS! *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 26, 2020
I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR, WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BRING OUT SOMETHING. THE CAR ONLY HAD JUST OVER 100 MILES ON IT, AND I'D ONLY DRIVEN IT 3 TIMES (INCLUDING THIS ONE) WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A CRACK SOUND AND A LARGE (1'-1.5') CURVED CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP (THE CAR WAS A WEEK IN MY POSSESSION THE DAY THIS HAPPENED) AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IMMEDIATELY THEY BEGAN TELLING ME THAT I MUST HAVE BEEN HIT BY A ROCK. I TOLD THEM THAT I WASN'T MOVING AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. WHEN I ARRIVED THE WOMAN WHO 'HANDLES ALL THEIR GLASS CLAIMS' TOLD ME THAT A ROCK HAD HIT MY WINDSHIELD. I TOLD HER AGAIN THAT IT HAD NOT, THAT I HAD NOT BEEN MOVING, AND THAT THE ONLY TIME THE CAR WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN BY ME, WAS WHEN THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT, AND THAT AT NO TIME THAT IT WAS IN MY POSSESSION DID A ROCK HIT IT. SHE INSISTED THAT THE CRACKS DON'T JUST HAPPEN ON THEIR OWN AND THAT A ROCK MUST HAVE HIT IT. *TR