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, Mar 29, 2021
THE FRONT WINDOW CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK STARTED ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY UP THE WINDOW, IN A J SHAPE FASHION. VERY NARROW CRACK. THE CAR WAS IN MY GARAGE WHEN I WENT OUT TO START IT I SAW THE CRACK. HAD NOT BEEN THERE BEFORE BUT THE EYE SIGHT SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING THE DAY BEFORE WHEN DRIVING THE CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 28, 2021
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED AT THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE GLASS NEAR THE VENTS. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BUT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE AROUND. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR ROCK.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 23, 2021
I WAS MOVING VEHICLE INTO GARAGE WHEN I HEARD A "POP". I SAW A CRACK ABOUT 2/3RDS UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. CRACK STARTED FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS AND IS PROPAGATING TOWARDS MOVING TOWARDS THE CENTER.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 18, 2021
MY 2020 SUBARU TOURING OUTBACK'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED AS IT WAS PARKED AT HOME IN MY DRIVEWAY. THIS OCCURRED ON MARCH 6TH 2021. THE CRACK IN GOES ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD IN THE LINE OF SIGHT AS I DRIVE IT. IT HAD NOT BEEN ON THE ROAD AT ALL THAT DAY. I DROVE IT THE DAY BEFORE AND THERE WAS NO CRACK OR CHIP PRESENT. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD AND A HAZARD WHILE I AM DRIVING AS IT IMPAIRED MY LINE OF SIGHT. THE REPAIR WAS OVER $1000, BUT MY DEDUCTIBLE WAS $50 FROM GEICO.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 17, 2021
2 OEM WINDSHIELDS IN A ROW - THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND A REPLACEMENT, HAVE BOTH HAD CRACKS OF OVER 24 INCHES WITH MULTIPLE FRACTURE LINES ALL STEMMING FROM ONE TINY ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AND LEAVING A PIT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE INTERSTATE BOTH TIMES THE SMALL ROCKS STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND CREATED THE PITS THAT LATER TURNED INTO THE LARGE CRACKS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2021
A FEW MINUTES INTO A DRIVE THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD (AFTER 9PM) WE NOTICED A SMALL CRACK APPEAR IN THE MIDDLE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES WE WATCHED IT GROW FROM A COUPLE OF INCHES TO ABOUT 10 INCHES IN LENGTH. IT ONLY TOOK A MINUTE OR TWO FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. WE NEVER DROVE OVER 25 MPH. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE STREETS. THERE WAS NORTHING AROUND THAT COULD HAVE HIT OUR WINDSHIELD. IT HAPPENED ALL BY ITSELF. 32 YEARS OF DRIVING MANY VEHICLES AND I NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. THE PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT NIGHT RIGHT AFTER AS WE WENT STRAIGHT HOME. HARD TO SEE THE ENTIRE LENGTH BECAUSE OF THE NIGHT PICTURE. NOT SURE HOW MUCH BIGGER THE CRACK COULD HAVE GOTTEN. LUCKILY WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME AND NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 8, 2021
VEHICLE PARKED AT CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AIRPORT FROM 2/27/21-3/5/21 DEVELOPED WINDSHIELD CRACK IN STATIONARY CONDITION WITH NO OBSERVABLE EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD OR CAR. LUCKILY THE CRACK IS MINOR AND DID NOT IMPAIR DRIVING BUT A FULL REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO AN ALMOST NEW PARKED CAR WITH NO NOTICEABLE DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 4, 2021
WHILE DRIVING MY SUBARU OUTBACK TODAY ON A CLEAN, CLEAR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH VERY FEW OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED, MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE. THE CRACK ORIGINATED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER AND TRAVELLED UP AND TO THE LEFT.
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 3, 2021
MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS HAD A 2ND INCIDENT WITH A WINDSHIELD CRACK THAT DRAMATICALLY SPREAD MORE THAN A FOOT LONG ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING FROM A PIN-NEEDLE-SIZED HOLE NEAR THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER, I.E., ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AROUND SPEED LIMIT WHEN A PEBBLE HIT IT, CAUSING THE TINY HOLE, WHICH ONLY ERUPTED INTO A HUGE CRACK AFTER I PARKED IT. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR EXACTLY 1 YEAR WHEN IT HAPPENED AND IT'S ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR LESS THAN 6,000 MILES. THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS THIN AND NOT DURABLE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 2, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT MY RESIDENCE. I GOT SOMETHING OUT OF MY GLOVE BOX AND IT WAS FINE. I WENT BACK AN HOUR LATER TO PUT THE ITEM BACK AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD HAD A LARGE CRACK IN IT.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 1, 2021
LAST SUNDAY MORNING I DISCOVERED A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AS I GOT INTO THE CAR. CRACK APPEARED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WAS NOT THERE THE DAY BEFORE WHEN CAR WAS LAST DRIVEN. CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 1, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT OR OBVIOUS REASON. WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING.
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 27, 2021
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A PROGRESSIVE CRACK FROM EDGE ON PASSENGER SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE ON FRIDAY, 2/26/2021 AT THE END OF THE DAY. HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT ON SATURDAY MORNING, 2/27/2021 THERE WAS A 6-8 INCH CRACK. THE CRACK HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING NOR DID ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE WHILE DRIVING ON A CLEAR DAY AND NOTHING SEEMED TO HAVE HIT THE WINDOW
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 22, 2021
RETURNED TO CAR FOUND FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO EVENT OCCURRED TO MY RECOLLECTION TO CAUSE THIS
Visibility/wiper, Feb 20, 2021
DROVE CAR ON WEDNESDAY (2/17/21) AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. WENT TO DRIVE CAR ON FRIDAY AND SAW I HAD AN L SHAPED CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD FROM PASSENGER PILLAR ACROSS AND DOWN THE WINDSHIELD. NO DING IS FELT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 20, 2021
WITHIN 12 HOURS OF HAVING THE CAR, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. NO ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD NOR WAS I USING AIR CONDITIONING OR THE HEATER. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS ABOUT 65F. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 18, 2021
WINDSHIELD STARTED CRACKING FROM BELOW THE WIPE TRIM AND KEEPS CRACKING. WAS DRIVING UP DONNER SUMMIT HWY 80. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. TEMPERATURE IN 20'S ELEVATION GAIN TO NEAR 6500 FEET. SOME SLEET SNOW WIPERS IN USE. NOTICED CRACK AFTER STORM CLEARED. CRACK HAPPENED FROM NO KNOWN IMPACT. DIDN'T HEAR ANY ROCK IMPACT.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 12, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 7, 2021
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES, WHEN WE STARTED TO HEAR A CRACKLING SOUND. SOON AFTER, WE WATCHED THE WINDSHIELD START TO CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO SPREAD, AND BY THE TIME WE RETURNED HOME, THE CRACK EXTENDED FURTHER. WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 61 MPH WHEN THE CRACK STARTED, NO TURNS OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT THE TIME THE CRACK APPEARED. THIS HAPPENED ON OUR 2020 OUTBACK TOURING WITH 2,300 MILES, THAT WE PURCHASED OCTOBER 2020.
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Feb 4, 2021
MY CAR WAS PARKED AND I DISCOVERED ABOUT A FOOT LONG CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A REASON FOR CAUSE, NO CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD OR ACCIDENTS WITH THE CAR. IT'S MOSTLY GARAGE KEPT AND HAS LESS THAN 12000 MILES OVER 14 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 3, 2021
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 2, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 24 HOURS. I NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR.