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, Feb 23, 2020
WINDSHIELD CHIPPED VERY EASILY
Visibility/wiper, Feb 22, 2020
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD DOWN PAST THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. I WAS HIT BY NO ROCKS OR ANY DEBRIS.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 6, 2020
I PURCHASED A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK ONE WEEK AGO (JAN 30, 2020) TODAY I HAVE 700 MILES AND AFTER HEARING OF CHARGES AGAINST SUBARU FOR PRODUCING DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS I INSPECTED MINE AND I NOTICED A 2' LONG WINDSHIELD CRACK ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE. I'M CONCERNED THAT IT MAY SPREAD LATER TO IMPEDE MY VISION, BUT WANTED TO GO ON RECORD THAT THIS DEFECT EXISTS.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 28, 2020
CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE WITH NO CRACK IN THE WINDOW CAME OUT IN THE MORNING AND WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVERUNDER WARRANTY.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 26, 2020
CAR HAS ~1000 MILES. THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NO CHIPS OR IMPACT. CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION. JUST WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND NOTICED IT WAS CRACKED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU CARS. MULTIPLE REPORTS AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 24, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FOR NO REASON. WHEN RETURNING HOME, NOTICED A 15 INCH CRACK RISING FROM THE LOWER PASSENGER-SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD, RISING UNDER THE WIPERS AND TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PARKED OUTDOORS UNDER OVERCAST SKIES (NOT HOT), AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. (NOR DO I RECALL ANY WINDSHIELD IMPACTS AT ANY TIME SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR) THE CRACK SIMPLY APPEARED. IT WAS NOT PRESENT 10 MINUTES PRIOR WHEN MY SON GOT INTO THE CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 21, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON PASSENGER SIDE FROM BENEATH THE WIPER BLADE UP ABOUT 12-15 INCHES. VERY SMALL CHIP ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD ALONG THE CRACK. DO NOT REMEMBER BEING HIT BY DEBRIS. EVEN SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SMALL PEBBLE AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. SEEMS EXTREMELY WEAK. NOT SURE IF THE NEW 2020 OUTBACKS HAVE THE SAME WINDSHIELD ISSUE AS THE 2017-2019 BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES WITH MANY OTHER CONSUMERS AND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST SUBARU FOR THIS REASON.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2020
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. ON 12/30/2020 MY WIFE AND I DROVE UP INTO MOUNTAINS TO SPEND NEW YEARS EVE CAMPING. ASCENT WAS 6000+ FEET WITH A SHARP TEMPERATURE CHANGE. TWO CRACKS APPEARED BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THEN JOINED INTO ONE AND SPREAD FURTHER UP THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK SEEMED TO OCCUR SHORTLY AFTER TURNING ON THE DEFROST FUNCTION. WE NOTICED THE CRACK WHILE STOPPED. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK THE CAR TO OUR DEALER, BOB BAKER SUBARY IN CARLSBAD, CA, BUT THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRACK. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS FROM A ROCK AND HE COULD TELL BECAUSE HE HAS 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. YET HE FAILED TO ASK A SINGLE QUESTION OF WHEN, WHERE OR HOW IT OCCURRED.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 29, 2019
THE CAR WAS PARKED ON 12/28.2019 IN PERFECT CONDITION AS NEW. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AT 11:50AM ON 12/29/2019 IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THE CRACK IS 24 INCHES IN LENGTH AND RUNS FROM THE BOTTOM DRIVERS SIDE UNDER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER HEADING IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION THEN TURNS TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT AN ELEVATION OF ONE THIRD THE HEIGHT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STATIONARY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I HAVE BEEN EXCLUSIVELY THE SOLE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE FOR ALL OF ITS 2260 MILES. THE WINDSHIELD HAS NEVER BEEN STRUCK BY AN OBJECT.THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME ON 10/31/2019.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Dec 28, 2019
POOR REAR CAMERA VISIBILITY, LEADING ME TO NEARLY HIT GAS PUMPS
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD FORMED AN 8'' CRACK ON THE OUTSIDE STARTING FROM THE EDGE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. DIABLO SUBARU OF WALNUT CREEK (2646 N MAIN ST, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94597) INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 14, 2019
2 SEPARATE INCIDENT WINDSHIELD CRACKS WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF NEW PURCHASE
Visibility/wiper, Dec 6, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT.