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, Apr 9, 2021
I LEFT MY CAR PARKED FOR 6-7 DAYS AND IT'S COMPLETELY DEAD
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.
Electrical system, Mar 29, 2021
MY CAR BATTERY FAILED IN SEPTEMBER THEN AGAIN IN OCTOBER. I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE BACK:BACK. THEN AT THE END OF FEBRUARY- 5 DAYS IN A ROW I HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY JUMPED. DEALER SAW IT AND CLAIMED IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY AND ONLY NEEDED CHARGING. AT THE END OF MARCH (TODAY), THE CAR'S BATTERY FAILED AGAIN. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO SUBARU. THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO AN ANALYSIS ON THE BATTERY. A TOWING SERVICE CAME TO JUMP MY CAR. AT ALL TIMES, WITHOUT A JUMP THE CAR WILL NOT TURNOVER. I ALSO NOTICED- MAYBE RELATED MAYBE NOT- THE CAR'S CALCULATION FOR MILEAGE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. SPECIFICALLY, WITHIN 30 SECONDS IT CAN GO FROM 3 MPG, 55 MPG, 7 THEN SEVERAL HUNDRED; IT MAKES NO SENSE.*DT
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.
Electrical system, Mar 28, 2021
AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, PARKING, AND TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR A SHORT TIME, THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND HAS TO GET JUMP STARTED. SOMETHING DRAINS THE BATTERY. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY, BUR HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES, TWICE AT AROUND 7,000 MILES AND ONCE AT 8,800 MILES. AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED , THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE REAR DOME LIGHT WAS LEFT ON. WHILE I NEVER USED THE REAR DOME LIGHT, I ACCEPTED THE EXPLANATION. HOWEVER, WITH THIS LATEST OCCURRENCE , I AM CERTAIN THAT NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON. I WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY CAN DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I CANNOT DEPEND ON THIS CAR TO START WHENEVER I GO TO DRIVE IT
Forward collision avoidance, Mar 27, 2021
EVER SINCE THE RECALL FOR THE COCKPIT CONTROL SYSTEM SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED ON MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING ON MARCH 1, 2021 THE CONSOLE RANDOMLY REBOOTS. IT HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN 3 WEEKS. ON A RECENT TRIP ON THURSDAY MARCH 25, 2021 THE CONSOLE REBOOTED 3 TIMES IN A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE SAFETY FUNCTIONS ARE DISABLED - PRE-COLLISION BRAKING, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, PRE-COLLISION THROTTLE MANAGEMENT, LANE DEPARTURE AND SWAY WARNING WITH LANE KEEP ASSIST, ETC.
Visibility, Mar 26, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT CALLED FRANK FLETCHER SUBARU (3430 E 20TH ST, JOPLIN, MO 64801) WHO REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPAIR THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. SOON AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, ANOTHER CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE BOTTOM DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD, WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACKS OBSTRUCTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS OFFERED AN INCENTIVE TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A 2021 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT AGREED TO THE TRADE OFFER AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.
Electrical system, Mar 26, 2021
ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURES SUBARU OUTBACK 2020 ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE PAST 10 MONTHS OUR NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FAILED TO START AND WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL POWER. EVERY TIME: 'THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN REGULARLY, INCLUDING ON THE PRIOR DAY. 'WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE HAD NEVER LEFT LIGHTS ON, DOORS OPEN ETC. 'THE CAR JUMP STARTED EASILY AND THEN WOULD BEHAVE NORMALLY FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS. EPISODE 1 5.15.20 LOCAL DEALERSHIP TESTED AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS EPISODE 2 5.22.20 LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY EPISODE 3 1.11.21 TO 1.19.21 LOCAL DEALER HAD CAR FOR 8 DAYS. THEY WORKED WITH SUBARU NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS ENGINEERS. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. NO LOANER CAR PROVIDED EPISODE 4. 3.21.21 JUMP STARTED. SUBARU CONTACTED. I KEPT THE CAR WAITING ADVICE FROM SUBARU. CAR WENT WELL FOR 2 DAYS EPISODE 5 3.23.21 DIED AGAIN. SUBARU CONTACTED. I KEPT THE CAR WAITING ADVICE FROM SUBARU. HAVE NOT RESTARTED. I WANT THE CAR REPLACED.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 24, 2021
VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS OF THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM CRASHING OR GOING DARK AND BEING UNRESPONSIVE. TODAY DURING ANOTHER EPISODE THE VEHICLES ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF CRUISE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT SPEED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ENTIRETY OF ELECTRICAL CONTROLS WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE INFOTAINMENT CRASHING AND BECOMING INOPERABLE ARE A RELATIVELY COMMON EXPERIENCE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 23, 2021
I WAS MOVING VEHICLE INTO GARAGE WHEN I HEARD A "POP". I SAW A CRACK ABOUT 2/3RDS UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. CRACK STARTED FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS AND IS PROPAGATING TOWARDS MOVING TOWARDS THE CENTER.
Visibility, Mar 22, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A CRACK ON THE UPPER SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK OBSTRUCTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.
Electrical system, Mar 21, 2021
PURCHASED CAR FROM DEALERSHIP,PARKED 10 HOURS, BATTERY DEAD.
Other or unspecified, Mar 19, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THE NEAREST CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS APPEARED TO BE A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY, IN FRONT OF ME. I NEVER SAW ANYTHING BOUNCING IN FRONT OF ME/TOWARDS ME. IT LITERALLY SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE SHOT AT THE CAR. THE INTERIOR SHADE WAS CLOSED. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROX. 75 DEGREES. OCCURRED AT 7:17PM. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF ANYTHING HITTING THE GLASS, IT JUST SHATTERED.
Electrical system, Mar 19, 2021
ON MARCH 1, 2021 VEHICLE HAD 4992 MILES ON IT AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE VEHICLE JUMPED. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY SAID BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER, TESTED GOOD. ON MARCH 17TH, VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. ON MARCH 18TH, VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED TWICE IN THE SAME DAY. ON MARCH 19TH, VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED AND TAKEN TO DEALER. VEHICLE NOW HAS 5192 MILES. ON MARCH 19, 2021, A CASE WAS OPENED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 18, 2021
MY 2020 SUBARU TOURING OUTBACK'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED AS IT WAS PARKED AT HOME IN MY DRIVEWAY. THIS OCCURRED ON MARCH 6TH 2021. THE CRACK IN GOES ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD IN THE LINE OF SIGHT AS I DRIVE IT. IT HAD NOT BEEN ON THE ROAD AT ALL THAT DAY. I DROVE IT THE DAY BEFORE AND THERE WAS NO CRACK OR CHIP PRESENT. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD AND A HAZARD WHILE I AM DRIVING AS IT IMPAIRED MY LINE OF SIGHT. THE REPAIR WAS OVER $1000, BUT MY DEDUCTIBLE WAS $50 FROM GEICO.
Electrical system, Mar 17, 2021
MY CAR HAS 6700 MILES AND THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED. AFTER HAVING IT JUMP STARTED BY CSAA, I DROVE IT TO SUBARU. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SUBARU WAS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS.
Electrical system, Mar 17, 2021
BATTERY DIES. THE CAR IS LITTLE OVER 1 YEAR OLD, THE BATTERY DIED AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED SEPTEMBER 2020, DEALER CHARGED IT UP, THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN IN JANUARY 2021 AND DEALER REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY. THE CONTROL PANEL HAS GONE "BLACK" SEVERAL TIMES NO STATUS SHOWS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 17, 2021
2 OEM WINDSHIELDS IN A ROW - THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND A REPLACEMENT, HAVE BOTH HAD CRACKS OF OVER 24 INCHES WITH MULTIPLE FRACTURE LINES ALL STEMMING FROM ONE TINY ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AND LEAVING A PIT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE INTERSTATE BOTH TIMES THE SMALL ROCKS STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND CREATED THE PITS THAT LATER TURNED INTO THE LARGE CRACKS.
Structure, Mar 16, 2021
BOUGHT BRAND NEW, IN 5 MONTHS THE WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD, NOT THE IMPACT STRIKE SPIDER TYPE, BUT FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE EDGE, STRAIGHT LINE CRACK 2 FEET LONG. THE SECOND TIME A CRACK, STRAIGHT LINE TYPE FROM THE PASSENGER EDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BOTH TIMES, 50 MILES AN HOUR, NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRACK, THE CRACK WOULD GET LONGER. NEVER SCENE ANYTHING LIKE IT.
Electrical system, Mar 16, 2021
I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE BATTERY WAS TOO WEAK. I CHARGED THE BATTERY AND LET THE CAR RUN 15 MINUTES. FOUR DAYS LATER, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR, THE BATTERY WAS TOO WEAK AGAIN. I FOUND REFERENCE TO THIS AS AN ISSUE POSSIBLY KNOWN TO SUBARU OF AMERICA WITH RECOMMENDATION TO REPORT TO NHTSA.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2021
A FEW MINUTES INTO A DRIVE THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD (AFTER 9PM) WE NOTICED A SMALL CRACK APPEAR IN THE MIDDLE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES WE WATCHED IT GROW FROM A COUPLE OF INCHES TO ABOUT 10 INCHES IN LENGTH. IT ONLY TOOK A MINUTE OR TWO FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. WE NEVER DROVE OVER 25 MPH. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE STREETS. THERE WAS NORTHING AROUND THAT COULD HAVE HIT OUR WINDSHIELD. IT HAPPENED ALL BY ITSELF. 32 YEARS OF DRIVING MANY VEHICLES AND I NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. THE PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT NIGHT RIGHT AFTER AS WE WENT STRAIGHT HOME. HARD TO SEE THE ENTIRE LENGTH BECAUSE OF THE NIGHT PICTURE. NOT SURE HOW MUCH BIGGER THE CRACK COULD HAVE GOTTEN. LUCKILY WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME AND NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED.
Electrical system, Mar 15, 2021
BATTERY GOES DEAD WHEN DON'T DRIVE IT WEEKLY. PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER IN JUNE 2020. HAVE HAD AAA OUT TWICE TO JUMP THE BATTERY. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY AAA AND DEALERSHIP TO DRIVE THE CAR OR START IT AND LET IT RUN FOR 30 MINUTES EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS TO KEEP BATTERY CHARGED BECAUSE ELECTRONICS DRAIN THE BATTERY. CAR WAS IN GARAGE.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. I HAD COMPLAINED TO THE THE DEALER. THEY WON'T HELP ME AND SAID IT IS ROCK CHIP. IT WAS IN THE PARKING MODE WHEN IT START TO CRACK ITSELF.