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.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 11, 2021
A 12-INCH LING CRACK DEVELOPED SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. ONLY ~3,470 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM-MIDDLE AND WENT UPWARD AND TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE IN A J SHAPE. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF AN IMPACT TO ME, BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY WAS SIGNS OF IMPACT SO IT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY.
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Jan 9, 2021
THIS 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING XT RAN WELL FOR THE FIRST 10,000 MILES. WE WERE INFORMED IT HAD A RECALL AND THIS WAS CORRECTED 1/06/2021 BY CARBOONE'S SUBARU IN UTICA, NY. AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WHEN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE AND ADAPTIVE STEERING ARE ENGAGED IF THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO LEAVE ITS LANE THE WARNING MESSAGE IS 'PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL'. BEFORE THIS IT WAS 'LANE DEPARTURE'. IF THE ADAPTIVE STEERING IS NOT ENGAGED THE WARNING REMAINS 'LANE DEPARTURE'. THIS BEHAVIOR HAPPENS ON ALL ROADS WHEN THE ADAPTIVE STEERING AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CAN BE ENGAGED. IT OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS WARNING TO PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL OCCURS WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE ON THE WHEEL AND IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING (LANE DEPARTURE) NOR WHAT THE VEHICLE WARNINGS ARE WHEN NOT USING THE ADAPTIVE STEERING. THIS PRESENTS A CONFUSING PICTURE TO THE DRIVER AND COULD LEAD TO AN INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SUBARU'S RESPONSE TO THE CHANGE OF WARNINGS IS 'THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR'.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 8, 2021
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE (64) AND GOT A SMALL CHIP (ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY PINKY NAIL) FROM A ROCK/ PEBBLE IN LOWER LEFT AREA OF WINDSHIELD. PARKED THE CAR AT HOME. CHIP WAS STABLE. THE NEXT MORNING THE CHIP NOW HAS A CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD HORIZONTALLY ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY. THE DEALERSHIP (CASEY SUBARU) HAS REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS COST ME $730 OUT OF POCKET WHICH IS TO BE REFUNDED TO ME FROM BOTH MY INSURANCE COMPANY ($230) AND THE DEALERSHIP ($500). I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CASEY. I WAS TOLD THAT CHIPS NO MORE THAN ONE HALF INCH ARE COVERED. BUT NOT CRACKS. THANK YOU, SCOTT.
Visibility, Jan 6, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A ROCK IMPACTED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A LARGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL SUBARU OF GEORGETOWN (7501 N INTERSTATE 35 FRONTAGE RD, GEORGETOWN, TX 78626) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,800.
Electrical system, Jan 6, 2021
DEAD BATTERY, LESS THAN 14,000 MILES ON THE CAR, 14 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASE; CAR IS KEPT IN A HEATED GARAGE AND THEREFORE NOT SUBJECTED TO TEMPERATURE EXTREMES
Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2021
I HAVE HAD 4 CRACKED WINDSHIELDS THAT HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ONE YEARS TIME. NO WINDSHILED HAS MADE IT LONGER THAN 5 MONTHS, TWO ONLY LASTED ABOUT 6 WEEKS. I HAVE REPLACED ALL WITH OEM GLASS. LAST THREE INCIDENCE WERE FOR UNKNOWN CAUSE TO ME. I PURCHASED MY CAR 10/12/19 . FIRST WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED 12/19, SECOND 5/20, THEN 7/20, AND AGAIN 12/20
Visibility/wiper, Jan 4, 2021
MY WIFE AND I WERE SITTING IN OUR CAR AT A RED LIGHT STATIONARY AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BASE UP ABOUT 10 IN LONG FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE PRIOR TO THE EVENT.
Visibility, Jan 4, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM TRONCALLI SUBARU (820 ATLANTA RD, CUMMING, GA 30040) THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CRACKING SOUND COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. UPON DISCOVERY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE EDGE OF THE MIDDLE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. OVERNIGHT, THE CRACK SPREAD HALFWAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK OBSTRUCTED HIS VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE SAME DEALER BY HIS INSURANCE PROVIDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Other or unspecified, Jan 4, 2021
I/WE WERE DRIVING WEST ON RIVER DRIVE, IN DAVENPORT IOWA, AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. LATER IN THE TRIP IT CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. NOTHING HAS EVER HIT THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE IT TO CRACK. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility, Jan 4, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE RIGHT, LOWER PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED TWICE AND THAT THE SAME CRACK HAD FORMED AFTER EACH REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK SPREAD ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND 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 70.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 3, 2021
THIS IS THE SECOND CRACKED WINDSHIELD I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WITH THIS CAR IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND 18K MILES. IT STARTED AS A TINY ROCK CHIP BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND TURNED INTO A 12+ INCH CRACK WITHIN A DAY. I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THE TINY ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD, BUT THE FACT THAT I AM NOW ON MY 3RD. WINDSHIELD SHOULD POINT TO SOME SORT OF ISSUE WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT AND REPROGRAMING OF THE SAFETY COMPONENTS TOTALS $1,400 AND CAN ONLY BE DONE BY THE DEALER.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 2, 2021
I PURCHASED A NEW 2020 OUTBACK ON NOVEMBER 23RD.ON DECEMBER 30TH IT DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD STARTING AT THE BOTTOM ABOUT TWO INCHES. EACH DAY IT HAS GROWN. NOW IT IS ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG AND IS SPLITTING TO EACH SIDE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME I WOULD HAVE TO TURN IT IN ON MY INSURANCE. THE CAR HAS 842 MILES ON IT..FROM ALL THE REPORTS I HAVE READ AN THIS ISSUE SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS WINDSHIELD ISSUE. I HAD HOPED THIS CAR COULD LAST FOR YEARS BUT IT IS NOT LOOKING THAT WAY SO FAR.WHEN THE CRACK DEVELOPED IT WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT AND HAD NOT HAD ANY IMPACT.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2021
IT IS NOT ABOUT AN ACCIDENT. I DISCOVERED A CRACK ON THE SIDE OF THE REAR RIGHT TIRE. IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE TIRE SINCE I DIDN'T DROVE ON ANY OBSTACLE. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR BLOW, LOOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE, ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR DEADLY ACCIDENT.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 1, 2021
REAR CAMERA POOR IMAGE QUALITY. THE BACK-UP CAMERA IS THAT IT GETS FAIRLY GRAINY IN LIGHT RAIN AND/OR AT NIGHT. NOT VERY CLEAR AND I DON'T SEE ANY SETTINGS ANYWHERE. IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY OLD CAMERA LACKING LIGHTING AND YOU ALSO SEE THE "GRAIN" OF THE IMAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 30, 2020
AFTER A 650 MILE DRIVE WITH NO IMPACTS TO WINDSHIELD OR PERCEPTIBLE CRACKS, PARKED THE CAR OVERNIGHT. IN THE MORNING, A CRACK HAD DEVELOPED FROM THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD MOVING UP AND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITH NO FURTHER DRIVING, THE CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE, SPLITTING INTO TWO CRACKS. THE SPONTANEOUS CRACK IS IN THE EYELINE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE CRACK FORMED AND HAS BEEN STATIONARY AS THE CRACK HAS GROWN. SEE PICTURES. ONE PHOTO IS WHEN FIRST DEVELOPED, (DECEMBER 14, 2020) SECOND IN ON DECEMBER 30, 2020 AFTER NO DRIVING AND THE CAR REMAINING STATIONARY FROM THE 14TH)..
Visibility/wiper, Dec 30, 2020
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED OVERNIGHT. NO MARKING OF ROCK OR ANY DAMAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 30, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN A RELATIVELY NEW (1-YEAR-OLD) VEHICLE. I DISCOVERED THE CRACK IN THE MORNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I BELIEVE IT WASN'T THERE YESTERDAY WHEN I LAST PARKED THE CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 30, 2020
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A ~12" CRACK VERTICAL CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STATIONARY WHEN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO KNOWN PEBBLE, ROCK, OR DEBRIS WAS KNOWN TO HAVE STUCK THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A RELATIVELY LOUD "POP" SOUND AND THE CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK EXTENDS FROM ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE WINDSHIELD DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BLACK SECTION OF GLASS THAT SUPPORTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (VISIBLE BUT LESS OBVIOUS IN THE PHOTO THAN THE CRACK THROUGH THE TRANSPARENT SECTION OF THE GLASS). THE VEHICLE WAS ~4 MONTHS OLD (PURCHASED NEW) AT THE TIME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM ~15 TO 35 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE TIME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED.
Other or unspecified, Dec 30, 2020
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO IMPACT, JUST CRACKED AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD (ABOUT 10MPH).
Visibility, Dec 29, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO DEVELOP A CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BASE SEVEN INCHES LONG, WITHOUT AN IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WILLIAMS SUBARU OF SAYRE (222 SPRING ST, SAYRE, PA 18840) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT HIS INSURANCE PROVIDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 26, 2020
TODAY (26 DECEMBER 2020) AS I PARKED MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK IN A BUSINESS PARKING LOT, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN JUST FOUR MONTHS I NOTICED MY WINDSHIELD STARTING TO CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES, ROAD DEBRIS , OR WINDS TO CAUSE THIS. THIS IS THE THIRD CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON MY NEW SUBARU IN FOUR MONTHS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SUBARU HAS A PROBLEM! I HAVE DRIVEN OVER 1.5 MILLION MILES IN FORTY-PLUS PLUS YEARS, AND NEVER IN ALL THE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS AND MODELS OF VEHICLES HAVE I EVER HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS!
Electrical system, Dec 26, 2020
ON APPROX. 8/22/20 I RECEIVED AN EMAIL OR TEXT FROM SUBARU OR STARLINK, I DON'T REMEMBER, ABOUT A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I TRIED TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE BUT THE PROCESS WOULDN'T COMPLETE FOR SOME REASON. WITHIN A FEW HOURS I RECEIVED ANOTHER EMAIL SAYING TO DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS ONE AND THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE UPDATE. THE ISSUE LEFT ME WITHOUT ANY DISPLAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE RADIO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.
Electrical system, Dec 26, 2020
I WENT OUT THIS MORNING 12/26/2020 AND THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM ON 12/22/20 WHICH I HAVE REPORTED. I MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED SECURELY AND ALL LIGHTS WERE OFF. PRIOR TO THE 12/22/20 INCIDENT, I HAD 2 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. ONE PREVIOUS INCIDENT INVOLVED A BATTERY DRAIN (I DO NOT REMEMBER THE DATE) BECAUSE THE CABIN LIGHT WAS LEFT ON OVERNIGHT. THE BATTERY DRAINAGE PREVENTION FUNCTION SHOULD HAVE KEPT THAT FROM HAPPENING BUT DID NOT. ALSO, ON APPROX. 9/1/20, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM SUBARU ABOUT A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I TRIED TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE BUT THE PROCESS WOULDN'T COMPLETE FOR SOME REASON. WITHIN A FEW HOURS I RECEIVED ANOTHER EMAIL SAYING TO DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS ONE AND THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE UPDATE. THE ISSUE LEFT ME WITHOUT ANY DISPLAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE RADIO REPLACED.
Electrical system, Dec 26, 2020
ON TUESDAY 12/22/20 AT APPROX 3 PM I GOT IN MY CAR TO RUN AN ERRAND AND IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD MOVED IT THE EVENING BEFORE FROM THE STREET TO THE DRIVEWAY. I DID NOT OPEN ANYTHING BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND LOCKED IT WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE. I HAD NOT USED THE LIFT GATE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED. I HAD NOT TURNED ON ANY INTERIOR LIGHT EITHER OR HEADLIGHTS. I HAD IT JUMPED THE NEXT MORNING AND IT STARTED.
Electrical system, Dec 24, 2020
ON THE 21ST OF DECEMBER THE BATTERY IN MY OUTBACK WENT DEAD. I TOOK IT INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECHARGED THE BATTERY. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR TWO DAYS LATER, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THE 29TH OF DECEMBER. BOTH TIMES, THE CAR WAS STARTED 10-12 HOURS BEFORE.