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, Jun 22, 2022
Apply getting in my car on June 20th I noticed a 8" Crack starting at the edge of the windshield on the right side about a quarter of the way up from the bottom pfrom the bottom. This is since propagated significantly. The interesting thing is that I just replaced the windshield 4 months ago for a failure that was remarkably similar no associated rock strikeThe crack starting at the right edge.This clearly suggests a design or manufacturing flaw. Note that the 1st one was repaired through the insurance company.. I'm taking it now to the dealer.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 4, 2022
The front windshield cracked in the lower middle section of the windshield. There was no apparent strike from an object while driving (the driver saw no objects strike and the sound did not sound like a typical object strike). The crack appeared suddenly and stretched about 2+ inches to the bottom of the windshield up approximately 2-3 more inches and then horizontal toward the middle of the windshield about 2 inches. Shortly after (within 1 hour) the crack extended another 2ish inches horizontal toward the middle of the windshield. The crakc shows a star like pattern, with six arms radiating off from the center with the two vertical arms on top and bottom extending out as described above. There is also no obvious chip from outside the windshield that would indicate an object strike.
Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2022
In mid 10/2021 while I was driving, my front windshield cracked with no apparent reason. The crack appeared on the passenger side, at the side edge of the windshield. As stated the crack appeared with no apparent reason as there was no imppact of any object to the windshield. No police report was made. I did not make a claim with my insurance. The winshield was replaced and eyesight syste,m was recalibrated at the Subaru dealership in Skokie IL.
Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2022
At the beginning of 05/2020 while I was driving, for no apparent reason, my front windshield cracked. The crack began from the upper edge of the windshield in the area of rear view mirror. As stated, the crack started with no apparent reason as there was no impact of any object to the windshield at the time the crack first occurred. No police report was made. I made an insurance claim to replace the windshield and to recalibrate the eyesight system. The windshield was replaced at Subaru dealership in Skokie IL, on 05/30/2020.
Visibility, May 24, 2022
Windshield cracked without being hit, and continues to spider out from original spot. It is available for inspection upon request. The glass continues to crack and spider, causing difficulty seeing for driver. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by dealer. The vehicle had not been inspected. There is no warning or message of the problem prior to the failure. 5/21 is when the problem first appeared.
Visibility, May 24, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and returning, she discovered a 4-inch crack on the passenger’s side front windshield. The contact indicated that no object struck the windshield to cause the windshield to crack. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Visibility/wiper, May 23, 2022
My windshield spontaneously cracked while driving through town and I feel I have a defective windshield. It started very small that evening, and the next morning it was cracked out in two different placed from that, I was not even able to contact the dealership in that timeframe as it occurred during after hours and had already cracked out before open business hours the next morning. When I contacted the dealership that day, I received no help, stating that my warranty does not cover cracks over "dollar bill size" even with my added "windshield protection" coverage. I have since read that this has been a known issue for several years as the windshields on these models are reportedly thinner than normal so that the "eyesight" technology can function appropriately, and it concerns me that this spontaneous cracking is a safety issue yet no recalls have been made. I am afraid to drive my car further as the crack enlarges day by day. I am still waiting to get this sorted out to get it replaced.
Visibility/wiper, May 20, 2022
Parked car windshield cracked for no reason
Visibility, May 20, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the windshield had fractured on the passenger’s side bottom. The crack was approximately 16-inches from the passenger’s side A-pillar. The fracture migrated towards the driver’s side and extended into a starburst design, obstructing the driver’s visibility. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 339,055.
Visibility, May 16, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence underneath the carport, she noticed there was a crack on the front driver’s side windshield. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer replaced the windshield. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
Visibility/wiper, May 10, 2022
Cracked for no apparent reason on Monday 5/9/2022
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2022
A crack developed in the windshield spontaneously with no outside forces causing it. It is available for inspection. This is the SECOND time this has happened to this vehicle since we have purchased it. The windshield was replaced in May, 2021 because of the SAME ISSUE. These spontaneous cracks can put our safety and the safety of others at risk by obscuring vision. This just happened (May 1, 2022) and it has not been inspected yet by a dealer or insurance representative.
Visibility, May 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that there was a crack on the windshield. There was no impact on the windshield that could have caused the crack. The contact took the vehicle to a windshield repair shop. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 37,000.
Visibility, Apr 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the windshield was fractured on the lower passenger side and had since migrated towards the middle of the windshield. The fracture measured approximately 8-inches long. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 14,000.
Visibility, Apr 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while entering the vehicle she noticed that the front windshield was cracked and pitted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.
Visibility, Apr 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, a tiny rock struck the windshield. The contact stated that later that day while the vehicle was parked, she noticed that the windshield was cracked. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not repair the windshield. The vehicle was taken to a glass repair facility and the windshield was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was taken back to an independent glass repair facility who replaced the windshield. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 6, 2022
Windshield cracked for no apparent reason. Car was in garage. No impact to windshield observed.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 4, 2022
My windshield cracked from top center, with no impacts, it happened on a cold snowy evening, just cracked……
Visibility/wiper, Apr 3, 2022
Driving at speed on 75 S in Dallas and noticed a line crawling up my windshield from the seal near the hood. Didn't hear anything hit the glass. The line keeps getting bigger. It will become harder to see and I fear the glass with shatter at some point. Just had the car inspected a few weeks previous.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 31, 2022
0N03/31/22 2 CRACKS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS DIES OF THE VEHICLE. ONE WAS 9 INCHES IN LENGTH THE OTHER WAS 12 INCHES IN LENGTH. BOTH STARTED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WENT UPWARD. ON 0330/22 THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR AN IL CHANGE AND OVERALL INSPECTION. NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND. VEHICLE WAS HOUSED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. CRACKS WERE FOUND THE NEXT MORNING. NO EVIDENCE ANYTHING HAD IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT. CONTACTED INSURANCE COMPANY FOR CLAIM FOR REPLACEMENT AND RECALIBRATION OF EYE VISION SAFETY FEATURE. THERE IS A CURRENT LAWSUIT PENDING AGAINST SUBARU FOR WINDSHIELD CRACKS THE COVERS THIS MAKE,MODEL AND YEAR
Visibility/wiper, Mar 30, 2022
The front lights are extremely bright for other drivers on the road. It is so bad that I took it into the dealership/service department to get them checked out. I was told that there is no issue with the lights and other drivers are not use to the led lights being installed into newer vehicles. I can see three blocks in front of me as far up into the trees. I rarely drive at night, because I am constantly getting hi beamed by other drivers. I noticed on other public forums that it is an issue with the lights and other models as well.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 21, 2022
Unknown - noticed crack in windshield randomly over the weekend. No known damage to vehicle.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 16, 2022
The windshield cracked for no reason. I was driving around 50mph and didn’t notice anything hitting it.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 9, 2022
While driving on the highway, there must have been some road debris that hit the windshield and caused a long crack to form on the right lower quadrant of the windshield. Due to the development of the crack, the integrity of the windshield is lowered in the event another foreign object strikes it. Searching Outback windshield crack on Google or any other search engine will produce many reports in which other owners are experiencing the same issue. There is a subreddit titled subaruoutback in which there are over 50 reports from other Outback owners experiencing crack development for the first time in all their years of driving. I will be getting my windshield replaced by Safelite as to not place my passengers at risk. There have been previous lawsuits regarding Outback and Legacy models regarding defective windshield, which have since settled, although the year models are from 2015-2016, it would be interesting if they continue to persist for newer models such as 2020, 2021, 2022 since there are still many complaints and cracked windshields being reported. In the event that investigation proves that there are still windshield defective issues, hopefully Subaru can be encouraged to further research and provide safe windshield replacements for all parties involved.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 9, 2022
Cracked windshield for no apparent reason. Rapidly spreading.