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
899 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 27, 2021
HAD THE CAR 18 MONTHS BATTERY WENT DEAD; UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOME KIND OF NATIONAL ISSUE WITH SUBARU BATTERIES DRAINING PREMATURELY
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.
Electrical system, Apr 24, 2021
MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK IS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DEAD TWO TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS GARAGED AND NOTHING WAS LEFT ON TO DRAIN THE BATTERY
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.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 21, 2021
THE BATTERY KEEPS DYING. SUBARU TESTED THE BATTERY IT'S FINE. TOLD ME TO GET A BATTERY TENDER OR TO DRIVE FOR AN HOUR OR SO EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS FOR THE ALTERNATOR TO CHARGE UP. IN LESS THAN A WEEK THE CAR BATTERY HAD TO BE JUMPED 5 TIMES. STARTED 4/15/2021 THRU TODAY 4/21/2021.
Electrical system, Lane departure, Apr 21, 2021
THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ELECTRONICS THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS 4 TIMES IN THE YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE LAST REPROGRAMMING WAS DUE TO A NHTSA RECALL. THE SYSTEM WAS BETTER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE THE LAST REPROGRAMMING BUT ON MONDAY 4/19/21 AT 5:58 PM THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURRED THE ELECTRONIC SCREEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH WENT BLACK AS I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH SOUTHBOUND ON I-95 IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND. THE SCREEN AND ALL IT FUNCTIONS WERE OFF FOR 4 MINUTES UNTIL IT RESTARTED WITH THE INITIAL SCREEN THAT APPEARS WHEN I START THE CAR. IT IS A WARNING SCREEN WITH A GREEN AREA TO PRESS THAT I AGREE WITH THE WARNING. FOR 4 MINUTES I WAS DRIVING WITH NO ACCESS TO THE CONTROLS THAT ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION FO THE MAIN SCREEN. THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME I SHOULD TAKE A VIDEO OF THE DASH IF THIS HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT IS HARD TO TAKE A VIDEO WHILE DRIVING IN THE EXPRESS LANES AT 65 MPH. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT AFTER ALL THESE REPROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED. WHEN THE DEALER HAD INSTALLED THE REVISED PROGRAMING I ASKED WHAT TO DO IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE A VIDEO THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WELL IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN. I IMAGINE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO FIND THIS REOCCURRING BUT I CAN'T BE SURE OF THAT. IT IS MOST DISCONCERTING TO THINK THAT ALL OF THE SAFETY CONTROLS THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO OBTAIN ARE OUT OF USE FOR 4 MINUTES AS I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE RADIO ON WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY IT WENT OFF I LOOKED DOWN AT THE SCREEN AND IT WAS BLACK COMPLETELY OFF. I ASSUME THAT ALL OF THE SAFETY FUNCTIONS THE SCREEN CONTROLS ALSO WERE OFF. IT STAYED THAT WAY FOR 4 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED AS IF I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT KEEPS RECURRING.
Electrical system, Apr 20, 2021
BATTERY DIED AFTER LEAVING UNUSED FOR JUST 9 DAYS. OCCASIONALLY STARTER BUTTON DOES NOT WORK, RETRY AND IT STARTS.
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.
Other or unspecified, Apr 18, 2021
WE HAD (3) BROKEN WINDSHIELDS DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING SINCE NOVEMBER. (2) IN LAST 8 WEEKS. MY WIFE HAS TRAVEL SAME SECTION OF HIGHWAY M-F FOR LAST 8 YEARS WITH NO BROKEN WINDSHIELDS WITH (2) PREVIOUS VEHICLES.
Electrical system, Apr 17, 2021
THE BATTERY SUDDENLY DRAINED. THIS HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AFTER I HAD A TRIP OF OVER 750 MILES. I DID A JUMP START AND THEN DROVE THE CAR FOR OVER 20 MINUTES. THE NEXT DAY THE SAME THING. TOOK IT TO SUBARU SERVICE, THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM JUST CHARGED IT. THE NEXT TIME AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME SUBARU SERVICE KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND THEN CHANGED THE BATTERY. ITS A FEW MONTHS NOW BUT I ALWAYS HAVE THIS LINGERING FEELING THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN, SPECIALLY READING THE NEWS REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING AFTER SOME TIME.
Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 17, 2021
WENT TO GET IN MY CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK WHERE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN SINCE SUNDAY THE 11TH AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM MIDDLE AND UP A SIGNIFICANT WAY BEFORE IT SPLIT INTO A WIDE 'Y' SHAPE.
Electrical system, Apr 16, 2021
BATTERY IS DEAD. CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND NOT USED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT ON WED APRIL 14, 2021 THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. NO LIGHTS HAS BEEN LEFT ON. ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED WHEN CAR NOT IN USE.
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.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Apr 15, 2021
BATTERY REPEATEDLY DIES AFTER VERY SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, NO LIGHTS LEFT ON OR DOORS LEFT OPEN. VEHICLE BATTERY HAS DIED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS WHEN LEFT OVERNIGHT.
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.
Other or unspecified, Lane departure, Back over prevention, Apr 12, 2021
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE PROBLEM THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH MY CAR. THE CAR'S CCM WOULD OCCASIONALLY FREEZE; SAY APPLE CARPLAY IS UNAVAILABLE AND RESTART; THE CCM WOULD GO BLANK, BUT STILL BACKLIT; OR JUST FREEZE ATTEMPT TO RESTART, BUT NOT TURN BACK ON RENDERING ITEMS IN THE CAR USELESS, LIKE VOICE CONTROL AND JUST EVERYTHING!! SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG AND I JUST HAVE A GRIEVANCE. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S THE CASE, WHEN THERE'S VIDEO EVIDENCE. I HAVE A LOANER CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AND TURNED OFF THE DISPLAY (I DIDN'T KNOW THAT COULD BE DONE), BUT THE VOICE CONTROL WORKED IN THE LOANER THAT WAS NOT HAVING A PROBLEM AS OPPOSED TO MINE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS WRITTEN IN WITH THAT COMPLAINT. OF NOTE, I'VE BEEN GOING INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE OCTOBER 2020, AND I'VE ONLY OWNED THE CAR SINCE JUL 2020. I HAD IT CHECKED IN VIRGINIA AND OKLAHOMA CITY. I RECEIVED A LOANER CAR ON THURSDAY, 8 APR 2020, FOR THE PROBLEM ONLY AFTER I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A TEXT STATING THAT THE CAR WAS READY, BUT NO RESPONSE AS TO WHAT WAS DONE. AGAIN, I RECEIVED THE 'SOFTWARE IS UP TO DATE'. BE AWARE THAT WHEN THE SCREEN GOES BLANK, YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANYTHING, NOT EVEN VOICE CONTROL. I DID TEST THAT WHILE MY CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING A D ALSO DISPLAYING THAT EYESIGHT AND REAR ASSIST BRAKING WERE ALSO NOT FUNCTIONAL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE I WAS UTILIZING NAVIGATION SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING AT THE TIME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME DURING NAVIGATION THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. ALTHOUGH I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE FROM THE CAR VIA TEXT ON EASTER SUNDAY, THE MY SUBARU APP SENT AN 'ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONAL' FOR 30 DAYS, BUT I JUST HAD ERRORS A FEW DAYS PRIOR. IT'S LIKE THE HEALTH REPORT IS ONLY FOR THAT MOMENT IN TIME AND NOT REALLY FOR 30 DAYS.
Electrical system, Apr 12, 2021
WE JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR. USED, LESS THAN 7K MILES. I HAVEN'T EVEN MADE A PAYMENT YET. MY WIFE CALLED ME FROM THE TURN LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH HUNDREDS OF CARS SPEEDING PAST. SHE WAS DRIVING AND STOPPED TO TURN LEFT AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN SHE WENT TO GO, THE CAR TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT START - ALTHOUGH IT APPEARED THERE WAS POWER; RADIO, LIGHTS, ALL WORKING. A POLICE OFFICER AND A PASSER-BY PUSHED HER INTO A PARKING LOT AFTER 20 MINUTES. WHEN I ARRIVED, IT APPEARED THE BATTERY WAS NOT CRANKING THE STARTER. I HAD HER GET JUMPER CABLES AND YES, IT STARTED RIGHT UP. NO INDICATION THAT THE BATTERY WAS HAVING ISSUES, NO WARNING LIGHTS. I TURNED THE AUTO STOP-START OFF WHILE I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO COULDN'T EVEN TALK TO ME BECAUSE THEY WERE TO BUSY. FORTUNATELY, IT STARTED UP AND MADE IT HOME. TOOK MY SON TO HIS BASEBALL GAME AND AFTER SITTING FOR 3 HOURS, WOULD NOT START, GOT A JUMP. TOOK IT HOME, LET IT RUN A BIT, IN THE MORNING, WOULD NOT START. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT SUBARU AND THIS EXACT ISSUE. THIS SOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN BASICALLY A NEW CAR.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 12, 2021
ON 3 OCCASIONS THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, RADIO WORKED, BUT NO STARTER OR ENGINE NOISE. SUBARU SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR OR BATTERY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON SUBARU PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Apr 12, 2021
EXPERIENCING A DEAD BATTERY. 3RD TIME THIS MONTH. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 7090 MILES ON IT, ONCE JUMPED LASTS A WEEK OR 2 AND THEN REPEATS PROBLEM. DEALER JUST SAYS TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.
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.
Electrical system, Apr 10, 2021
AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR 1 TO 2 DAYS WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN THE BATTERY IS COMPLETELY DRAINED. AFTER RECHARGING THE BATTERY AND GETTING THE CAR STARTED THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING LEFT ON (I.E. DOME LIGHTS) OR OPENED (I.E DOOR AJAR) WHICH WOULD HAVE CREATED A SLOW DRAIN ON THE BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE JAN 2021