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, May 28, 2021
Windshield cracked while on the freeway. I don't think anything hit it, we were driving at 75 MPH when we heard a crack, and instantly a crack went from the bottom left side of the windshield in an upward direction almost all the way across the center of the glass. The glass at the bottom left side where the crack started is broken deeply into the glass and may be all the way through. We are concerned that if a large rock hit the windshield it would break apart and fall into the car. I brought the car to the Subaru dealer we purchased the car from. The service manager looked at it and instantly said, rock hit, not covered and wouldn't talk to us after that. The car has less than 10,000 miles.
Visibility/wiper, May 19, 2021
On one of my first times driving my new car to work on my morning commute I was traveling at a normal rate of speed and with a lot of distance from the car in front of me I heard a crack and saw the windshield beginning to show signs of a straight crack. That was December 15, 2020. Now on May 19, 2021 I have a crack from the far right side of the windshield and runs to the initial location, about 70% across my windshield.
Visibility/wiper, May 17, 2021
Large, long windshield crack. No rocks or debris, nothing hit the windshield. I went out to my car one morning and there is a long crack in my windshield starting at the middle edge.
Visibility, May 13, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BOTTOM LEFT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED. THE FIRST WINDSHIELD CRACK OCCURRED 3 MONTHS PRIOR AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME GLASS WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER FAILURE WITH THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,500.
Visibility/wiper, May 13, 2021
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE NOT IN USE WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF PURCHASING NEW 2020 OUTBACK. CRACK HAS PROGRESSED TO SPAN ENTIRE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, May 13, 2021
I AM ON MY 4TH WINDSHIELD. MY WINDSHIELDS KEEP CRACKING FROM CHIPS,, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS.
Visibility/wiper, May 11, 2021
WINDSHIELD FORMED A LARGE CRACK AT 2495 MILES (APPROX. 2/15/20) FROM LEFT BOTTOM CORNER TO CENTER ABOVE DRIVER POSITION. ONLY INDICATED CAUSE A 1/8 INCH SHALLOW SCRATCH. WINDSHIELD AGAIN CRACKED, ALMOST IDENTICAL SIZE AND POSITION AT 8934 MILES (APPROX.4/20/21), ONLY INDICATED DAMAGE A SMALL PIT AT LEFT BOTTOM. CRACKS ONLY APPEARED AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE---NOTHING NOTICED PRIOR. EMAIL WITH GM AT DEALER PRODUCED NO RESPONSE. TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENTS $979.10. NO DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELDS OF 2 OTHER VEHICLES DRIVEN ON THE SAME ROUTES. IN MY OPINION, BOTH WINDSHIELD MARKS WERE EXTREMELY MINOR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PRODUCED WINDSHIELD FAILURE.
Visibility/wiper, May 10, 2021
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE CRACKING. CRACK BEGAIN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PORTION WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS PAINTED. ONGOING ISSUE WITH 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS.
Visibility/wiper, May 7, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A MASSIVE CRACK (ABOUT 6 IN VERTICAL AND 8 IN ACROSS) SPONTANEOUSLY. MY FIANCEE AND I WERE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS AND STOPPED INTO A SHOP. DURING THE DRIVE TO THE SHOP, WE DID NOT HEAR OR SEE ANY ROAD DEBRIS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN WE PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD WAS INTACT AND COMPLETELY NORMAL. ONCE WE COMPLETED OUR SHOPPING (ABOUT 30 MINUTES FROM THE TIME THAT WE PARKED), WE RETURNED AND FOUND OUR VEHICLE HAD THIS LONG, RIDICULOUS CRACK. TO REITERATE. MY CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND PARKED. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS AT LEAST 200 YARDS AWAY FROM THE NEAREST ROAD. NOW, I HAVE TO GET MY WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY REPLACED IN ORDER TO SEE CLEARLY. INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, AND THIS OUTBACK HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR WRECKS. MY FIANCEE AND I ARE THE ONLY DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, May 1, 2021
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WINDSHIELD JUST STARTED CRACKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FROM BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BELOW THE WINDOW TRIM. WITHIN MINUTES IT WENT FROM A 3-4 INCH CRACK TO ENCOMPASSING THE MAJORITY OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS WINDSHIELD. IN DECEMBER A SMALL PEBBLE BARELY TAPPED THIS DRIVER'S SIDE AND CAUSED AN INSTANT GOUGE.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 27, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY OUTBACK CRACKED WITH NO WARNING OR IMPACT. I HAD PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS JUST BEGINNING TO MOVE FORWARD ON MY STREET WHEN I HEARD A SOUND IN THE CABIN. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT LOOKED AROUND AS I REACHED A NEARBY STOP SIGN. THERE IS A LARGE Y-SHAPED CRACK FROM THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD, PARTIALLY HIDDEN BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Apr 26, 2021
A 12 INCH CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED AFTER I HEARD A LOUD SHARP SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING 55 MPH ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY (BRILEY PARKWAY) IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 23, 2021
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AND WITH NO ANTECEDENT ROCK OR OTHER IMPACT, WINDSHIELD INCURRED LARGE DIAGONAL CRACK. AT THE TIME, CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A HGHWAY IN GOOD WEATHER.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 22, 2021
DRIVING AND NOTICED A CRACK ON MY WINDSHIELD. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE I CAN HEAR THE GLASS MAKING CRACKING SOUNDS AND THE CRACK STARTED TO SPREAD FAST ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. DID NOT DRIVE VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 WEEKS AND CRACK GREW WITHIN THE TIME FRAME.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 19, 2021
SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK. LOWER EDGE OF DRIVERS SIDE CRACK. 25 MPH ZONE WITH NO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME. BECOMING LARGER TOWARDS PASSENGER SIDE, EACH DAY, CURRENTLY MID WINDSHIELD. I HAVE HAD TO MAKE A CLAIM WITH INSURANCE TODAY.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 18, 2021
SMALL ROCK HIT WINDSHIELD ON INTERSTATE, LEAVING A NICE CHIP WITH FIVE LINES COMING OUT. IN THE AM FOUND 2 LINES EXPANDED SEVERAL INCHES OUTWARD. -THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAD A WINDSHIELD BREAK IN THE THIS CAR (IN THE LAST YEAR)! MILEAGE IS AT 19000, OWNED NEW 1.5 YRS.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 16, 2021
ON 9/27/2021 I BOUGHT A NEW 2020 SUBURU OUTBACK FROM CAMELBACK SUBURU IN PHOENIX AZ. WE HAVE NOW HAD TWO WINDSHIELDS CRACK STARTING FROM THE LEFT A PILLAR AND CONTINUE ACROSS THE REST OF THE WINDSHIELD IN SHORT ORDER. BOTH WINDSHIELDS CRACKED FROM THE SAME SPOT WITHOUT ANY CAUSE, IE ROCKS ETC. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING IT IS FROM ROCKS. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I BELIEVE THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON AND ARE DEFRAUDING ME OUT OF A LEGITIMATE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY CLAIM. I HAVE TALKED WITH MY INSURANCE AGENT AND THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE WITH THEM WITH TWO CLAIMS IIN SUCH A SHORT TIME.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 14, 2021
WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF I-15 IN MONTANA ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 6:30PM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK RANDOMLY CRACKED FROM LOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. ROAD CONDITIONS SEEMED SMOOTH AT THE TIME OF THE CRACK AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AROUND MID 40 DEGREES F. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR SEVERAL HOURS SO THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STABLE WITH NO WILD TEMPERATURE SWINGS. INSPECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE EVENT SHOWS NO SIGNS OF CHIPS OR IMPACTS NEAR THE CRACK. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES NOTED.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 13, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS NOT CRACKED WHEN I PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE ONE NIGHT. THE NEXT AFTERNOON WHEN WE GOT IN TO DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE, THE WINDSHIELD HAD AN UNEXPECTED CRACK APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES LONG, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN FROM THE TOP, GOING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK CAME SEEMINGLY OUT OF NOWHERE. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN STATIONARY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS. THIS CRACK APPEARED ON SUNDAY AND IS HUGE, WE WILL NEED THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 11, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE LOWER CENTER WHILE PARKING IN THE GARAGE. NO KNOWN IMPACT HAPPENED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Apr 11, 2021
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY TO IT NOT STARTING. THE CAR WAS SOLD TO US WITH A BAD BATTERY AND MISSING PARTS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR LATER OUR TRANSMISSION BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHEN NO ROCKS OR ANYTHING HAS HIT IT.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 7, 2021
WINDSHIELD HAS CHIPPED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH AS OF 4/7/21 ON OUR 2020 OUTBACK, FROM EXTREMELY LIGHT AND TINY ROAD DEBRIS/ROCK STRIKES. NOW HAS A 4TH, LARGER CHIP NEAR THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITH A 18" CRACK THAT GREW OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW HOURS. ALL OCCURRED WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAYS. ALL DURING MILD WEATHER. ALL WERE FROM ROCKS ALMOST TOO SMALL TO SEE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH OUR 2018 SUBARU. SUBARU NOW OFFERS WINDSHIELD COVERAGE AT ADDITIONAL CHARGE. SALESMAN NOTED THAT IT WAS "BECAUSE THEY USE THINNER GLASS DUE TO THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM". THIS WOULD SUGGEST SUBARU KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 5, 2021
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE WITHIN 15 MONTHS. BOTH CRACKS STARTED AS SMALL CHIPS AND QUICKLY (WITHIN HOURS) TURNED INTO LARGE CRACKS SPANNING THE MAJORITY OF THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH CHIPS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.
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.