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
383 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Dec 26, 2020
TODAY (26 DECEMBER 2020) AS I PARKED MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK IN A BUSINESS PARKING LOT, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN JUST FOUR MONTHS I NOTICED MY WINDSHIELD STARTING TO CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES, ROAD DEBRIS , OR WINDS TO CAUSE THIS. THIS IS THE THIRD CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON MY NEW SUBARU IN FOUR MONTHS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SUBARU HAS A PROBLEM! I HAVE DRIVEN OVER 1.5 MILLION MILES IN FORTY-PLUS PLUS YEARS, AND NEVER IN ALL THE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS AND MODELS OF VEHICLES HAVE I EVER HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS!
Visibility/wiper, Dec 21, 2020
MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED, IN A SAFE PLACE, AT MY RESIDENCE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS. ONE MORNING, I DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD WHICH BEGAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, RUNS IN A SMOOTH LINE, MAKING A TURN UPWARD AND CONTINUES ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AND STOPS CLOSE TO THE CENTER. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN STRUCK BY A PROJECTILE OR ANYTHING THE LAST TIME I HAD DRIVEN IT. THERE IS NO "SPIDER-WEBBING" OR MARKS THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH IT GETTING HIT.
Visibility, Dec 21, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A STONE HIT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED THE GLASS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TWICE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE GLASS WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 10,000.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 11, 2020
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. ABOUT A 12 - 14 INCH CRACK AROUND THE WINDSHIELD TOP-CENTER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THIS HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2020
MY 2ND SUBARU OUTBACK IN 3.5 YEARS, AND IT IS THE 3RD TIME I HAVE TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD (?!) THIS TIME IT IS ONLY IN 4 MONTHS OLD CAR, 2020 MODEL. I WAS NOT EVEN DRIVING WHEN I NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD CRACK POPPING UP - I WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME, JUST STARTED THE CAR TO WARM IT UP. LOWER SECTION IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, SLIGHTLY TOWARDS THE CENTER. I INSPECTED THE AREA ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE IT APPEARED THE FIRST - NO APPARENT IMPACT OF THE ROCK OR SOME OTHER FLYING OBJECT. IT SEEMS LIKE THE GAP ON THE CRACK IS ABOUT 1/2 MM WIDE - LIKE THE PRESSURE FROM THE INSIDE IS TO BLAME FOR THE CRACK? (SEE THE PICTURES). OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW THAT OWN (OR HAVE OWNED) OUTBACKS ALSO HAD THEIR WINDSHIELD CRACKING. I GOOGLED IT ' I SEE THE INFORMATION ABOUT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THE WEB. HTTPS://WWW.TORQUENEWS.COM/1084/NEW-RULING-SUBARU-CRACKED-WINDSHIELD-LAWSUIT-NOW-ADDS-25M-CARS SOMETHING IS JUST NOT RIGHT HERE. SUBARU NEEDS TO STEP UP AND OWN IT, BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 5, 2020
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND A LARGE CRACK, APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES IN LENGTH, APPEARED FOLLOWING IMPACT WITH A VERY, VERY SMALL PIECE OF DEBRIS, 1 CM MAX DIAMETER. NEAR IMMEDIATELY A SECOND PIECE OF DEBRIS, ALSO 1 CM MAX DIAMETER, CAUSED AN 8 INCH CRACK IN LENGTH ON IMPACT WEATHER WAS WARMER THAN USUAL THAT WEEK, COMPARED TO PRECEDING DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS CHANGING LANES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NEVER HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 4, 2020
OUR WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND THE CRACK RAN IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. I EXPECT A BROKEN WINDSHIELD FROM TIME TO TIME BUT THIS SEEMED VERY ABNORMAL. THE WINDSHIELD WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD AND THE SMALL CHIP OCCURRED AFTER A TINY, TINY ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS WEIRD BECAUSE AFTER YEARS OF DRIVING IN COLORADO SMALL DEBRI HIT OUR WINDOWS ALL THE TIME BUT NEVER CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. THEN THE CHIP RAN ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDOW IN A MATTER OF HOURS. IT WASN'T EVEN COLD OR HOT, IT JUST FREAKISHLY RAN ACROSS THE WINDOW. SOMETHING JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT FOR A NEW WINDOW TO FRACTURE LIKE THIS SO QUICKLY.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2020
TODAY 12-3-20 WE WERE DRIVING ON I-95 IN FLORIDA TO SEE MY SON FOR THE 1ST TIME IN OVER A YEAR (AIR FORCE). SMALL ROAD PARTICLES WERE STIRRED UP FROM THE ROAD, (NOT ANYTHING LARGE, YOU BARELY HEARD IT HIT THE WINDSHIELD, ALMOST LIKE SAND) AND THEN WE HEARD A CRACKING SOUND, LOOKED AT OUR WINDSHIELD AND THERE IS ABOUT A 9 INCH CRACK ALL OF THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM TOWARD WIPERS, UP TOWARDS THE TOP. I'M 40 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK, MUST LESS LIKE THIS OVER SUCH ROAD SMALL PARTICLES. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, I WAS DRIVING ON I85 TO WORK, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED BUT I CHALKED IT UP TO MAYBE THE DEBRIS WAS LARGER THAN I THOUGHT. TODAY MY HUSBAND, SON, AND NIECE WERE SIN THE CAR WITH ME...AND FRANKLY I AM CONCERNED THAT IF ANYTHING LARGE EVER HITS THIS WINDSHIELD, IT WILL SHATTER, OR THE ITEM WILL COME THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. SO I DO. IT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR THIS VERY REASON. A WINDSHIELD IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT AND I AM NOT CONFIDENT OR CONVINCED AT THIS POINT AT ALL THAT THIS ONE ON MY 2020 OUTBACK WOULD STAND A CHANCE AT ANY MIDSIZE ROAD HAZARD. BEFORE UPGRADING TO THE OUTBACK, I HAD A 2016 CROSSTREK AND HAD A 'LARGE ROCK' HIT MY WINDSHIELD, WHEN IT DID IT SCARED ME IT HIT SO HARD....ALL THAT WAS LEFT AFTER THAT MASSIVE RICK HIT WAS A SMALL HALF MOON SHAPED CHIP. THIS 2020 OUTBACK COULD IN NO WAY TAKE AN IMPACT LIKE THAT ONE. IT COULD SEVERELY HURT ME OR WHOMEVER IS DRIVING, INCLUDING MY 16 YEAR OLD SON IF THE WINDSHIELD WERE TO SHATTER IF IT IS HIT AGAIN. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. FOR SUBARU, ALL ABOUT SAFETY, IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT AS A LOYAL SUBARU OWNER HAS ME QUESTIONING THE MISSION STATEMENTS AND HEARTFELT COMMERCIALS THAT WE SEE DAILY. MAKE IT RIGHT SUBARU. FIX IT!!
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT A REASON. CAR PARKED AT NIGHT. NEXT MORNING WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF AN IMPACT
Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2020
YESTERDAY MORNING (CAR IS PARKED), I DISCOVERED A CRACK THAT IS ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG ON MY WINDSHIELD AND HAVE GOTTEN LONGER THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND TODAY. CURRENTLY, IT IS ABOUT 26 INCHES ACROSS THE MIDDLE. I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT AND HAVE PERSONAL PARKING WHERE ARE THERE OPEN PARKING AND NOT PARKED UNDER A TREE OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE FALLEN ON THE WINDSHIELD. THERE ARE NO SPIDERWEB CRACK OR SIGNS (LIKE A ROCK BEING THROWN..ETC) THAT WOULD INDICATE THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY NOR WAS IT RECALLED; EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES I'VE FOUND ONLINE THAT MANY 2020 OUTBACK OWNERS (AND OTHER SUBARU OWNERS) HAVE EXPERIENCED CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ON 29FEB2020; THERE IS NO WAY THAT A WINDSHIELD WOULD CRACK SO SUDDENLY UNLESS IT WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY OR DEFECTIVE/DUE TO HEATING ELEMENT.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 1, 2020
CAME OUTSIDE TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. HAD NOT DRIVEN IT THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE NEAREST HOUSE IS OVER AN ACRE AWAY. WE HAVE NO CHILDREN. NO IDEA WHY IT WOULD CRACK BECAUSE WE WEREN'T DRIVING IT AND THERE WAS NO ONE AROUND TO DAMAGE IT AND IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER 36 HOURS.
Visibility/wiper, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 29, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT A REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CRACK STARTS AT THE TOP, APPROXIMATELY AT THE CENTER. IT STARTED TO EXPAND DOWN AND IN A FEW HOURS HAS REACHED HALF OF THE HEIGHT. I CHECKED WITH FEW REPAIR SHOPS AND THE VERDICT IS THE WINDSHIELD NEEDS A REPLACEMENT. AFTER THE CRACK APPEARED MY ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL HAS STARTED TO TURN OFF BY ITSELF FOR SHORT PERIOD (SO FAR IT HAPPENED TWICE).
Visibility/wiper, Nov 29, 2020
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A PAVED ROAD WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND REALIZED I HAD A CHIP IN MY WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE NOT CARS AROUND ME AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING FLY AT MY WINDSHIELD. THE ROAD IS IN A RESIDENTIAL/BUSINESS NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CHIP HAS NOT GROWN SINCE THEN. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE I'VE ALSO NOTICED AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH MY WINDSHIELD WILL LOOK CLEAN FOR BUT BY THE END OF THE DAY IT'S LOOKS DIRTY WITH LITTLE SPECKS ALL OVER IT AGAIN. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER IS.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 28, 2020
WINDSHIELD GLASS CRACKED SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY APPARENT CAUSE. THE CRACK APPEARED DURING DRIVING ON OCTOBER 30, 2020. THE SIZE OF THE CRACK IS ABOUT 1/2", AND IT HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY REPAIRED.
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 27, 2020
CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHICH WE HAD REPAIRED ON 10/1/2020 FOR $821.71. CRACK APPEARED SEEMINGLY FROM NOWHERE ON THE MORNING OF 9/22/20.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 21, 2020
SPONTANEOUS CRACKING OF WINDSHIELD WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. STARTED AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD APPROX. MIDWAY. APPROX. 9 INCHES IN LENGTH VERTICALLY THEN CRACK WENT TO PASSENGER SIDE APPROX. 5 INCHES.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 21, 2020
600 MILES ON A BRAND NEW 2020 OUTBACK AND I HEARD A POP WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE EDGE PROB 8 INCHES IN. I DID NOT SEE A ROCK AND IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE A ROCK. IT'S A STRAIGHT LINE. NO BREAK LIKE SOMETHING HIT IT OR ANYTHING. SPONTANEOUS WHILE DRIVING.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 12, 2020
NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 3K MILES. WAS DRIVING HOME AT ~50MPH ON FREEWAY, A SMALL (1 CM) ROCK HIT UPPER WINDSHIELD AND MADE A SMALL CHIP. THE CHIP THEN SUDDENLY PROPAGATED TO A FOOT-LONG CRACK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD SHATTER. PROPERLY MANUFACTURED WINDSHIELD SHOULD CHIP, NOT SHATTER.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 2, 2020
WE DISCOVERED A CRACK IN OUR SUBARU OUTBACK WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO SIGN OF A CHIP FROM A ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, JUST A CRACK. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 4,00 MILES ON IT. THE OUTBACK WAS IN THE GARAGE WHEN DISCOVERED. WE HAD IT REPAIRED ON OCTOBER 28 2020. WHILE GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL SITES DISCUSSING SUBARU CRACKED WINDSHIELDS AND A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST SUBARU FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 2, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD RECEIVED TWO VERY MINOR CHIPS AT THE TOP OF DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN HOURS A CRACK APPEARED FROM ABOVE AND BELOW THE CHIPS, WHICH MEASURES AT LEAST 17' ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD FROM TOP TO MIDDLE. THE CRACK APPEARED WHILE DRIVING ON I 25 IN NM IN LIGHT TRAFFIC.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 1, 2020
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ABOUT 10 INCHES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHEN IT HAPPENED.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2020
I WENT OUT TO MY GARAGE AND FOUND A 8 INCH CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO APPARENT IMPACT POINT TO THE CRACK. THE DAY BEFORE, I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE WHEN I GOT HOME. THERE WAS NO CRACK. THE CAR IS 5 MONTHS OLD. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER FOR HELP, AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 76 IN AKRON OHIO, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED.WE HEARD A LOUD SOUND--LIKE A GUN SHOT--BUT NO EVIDENCE OF THE WINDOW BEING HIT BY A PROJECTILE. THE CRACK RUNS FROM BELOW THE WIPER BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY 19 INCHES TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DOWNLOAD TO THE SITE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2020
I PURCHASED 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK LAST YEAR DECEMBER. IT IS JUST LESS THAN A YEAR. RECENTLY, WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING FREEWAY TO WORK. I TRIED TO FIND WHY IT WAS HAPPENED BUT I COULD NOT FIND APPARENT REASON. SUBARU DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2020
FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE OEM AND OEM REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS CRACKED STARTING FROM THE EDGE AND QUICKLY PROPAGATED. NO FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS WAS NOTED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE A CRACK.