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, 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, Jul 21, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN 24 HOURS THE FRACTURE SPREAD TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO IRA SUBARU (97 ANDOVER ST, DANVERS, MA 01923, (978) 739-8850) WHO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO A STRESS POINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 4,100.
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, Jul 1, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT THAT THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS FROM THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE GOING DOWN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT CONTACTED GANLEY WESTSIDE SUBARU 25730 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070 AT (440) 734-2000, TO INFORM THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200.
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
Visibility/wiper, Jun 25, 2020
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT WHILE AT WORK. NOTICED THE CRACK IMMEDIATELY UPON LEAVING WORK. THE CRACK STEMS NEAR PASSENGER SIDE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD NEAR WIPER AND GOES TOWARD CENTER MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 25, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A LENGTHY CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT THE AIRPORT FOR ABOUT A WEEK IN EARLY APRIL. *TR
Visibility, Jun 23, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE RADIO VOLUME WAS TURNED UP TO HIGH AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND AN ESTIMATE WAS PROVIDED FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.
Visibility, Jun 22, 2020
PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE FOR THE NIGHT AND WHEN I WOKE UP THE FOLLOWING DAY I SAW A CRACK ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. CRACK LOOKED LIKE IT STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND CONTINUED TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 22, 2020
I GOT INTO MY CAR ONE MORNING AND THE WIND SHIELD WAS CRACKED AT THE MID/LOWER BOTTOM. GLASS SHARDS WERE PRESENT IN 1 LOCATION AND OVER TIME THE CRACK SPREAD AND ANOTHER LOCATION W/ CHIPS/SHARDS WAS PRESENT. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2020
WE WERE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE WINDOW HAD A SMALL CRACK WITHOUT HEARING A ROCK OR PEBBLE HIT THE WINDOW. OVER NEXT FEW DAYS THE CRACK WENT ACROSS THE WINDOW. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WINDOWS ARE TOO PRONE TO CRACKS AND CRACK MORE EASILY THAN THEY SHOULD. SUBARU REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AT NO COST TO US WHICH WE WERE HAPPY ABOUT, BUT WANTED TO DOCUMENT THAT IT SEEMS THEY HAVE MORE FRAGILE WINDSHIELDS IN CASE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN.
Visibility, Jun 16, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE RADIO VOLUME WAS TURNED UP TO HIGH AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. EVANSTON SUBARU LOCATED AT 3340 OAKTON ST, SKOKIE, IL 60076, (847) 869-5700, AND WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 13, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ABOUT 5 INCHES FROM THE SIDE OF THE GLASS. WHEN STATIONARY THE CRACK CONTINUED TO EXPAND. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 11, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON. THE CAR ONLY HAS 300 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 7, 2020
WHILE PARKED IN A STATIONARY POSITION IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS OVERNIGHT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN AN "S" SHAPE FROM THE LEFT EDGE ALL THE WAY TO JUST A FEW INCHES SHORT OF THE CENTER.