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, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 27, 2020
CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHICH WE HAD REPAIRED ON 10/1/2020 FOR $821.71. CRACK APPEARED SEEMINGLY FROM NOWHERE ON THE MORNING OF 9/22/20.
Electrical system, Nov 27, 2020
CAR WON'T START. FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS AT 4000 MILES. CHANGED POSITION OF SHIFT LEVER TO N AND P UNTIL ABLE TO GET STARTED. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE BATTERY CHECKED BUT THEY SAID IT WAS OK. NOW AT 6000 MILES COMPLETELY DEAD IN GARAGE. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS. HAVING IT TOWED TO DEALER.
Structure, Nov 25, 2020
I WAS DRIVING AND MY WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED.
Electrical system, Nov 25, 2020
MY 2020 OUTBACK WHICH IS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD HAD THE BATTERY DRAIN ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. BOTH TIMES I HAD TO JUMP THE CAR IN ORDER FOR IT TO START. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS. IF I DRIVE THE CAR EVERY DAY, THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT AND THEY SAID 'WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO, I DID NOT MAKE THE CAR'. THIS IS A TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE PROBLEM. WHAT GOOD IS A BRAND NEW CAR THAT CANNOT SIT THREE DAYS WITHOUT A JUMP START.
Electrical system, Nov 24, 2020
WE PURCHASED OUR NEW 2020 OUTBACK LESS THAN A MONTH AGO AND HAVE HAD THE BATTERY DIE 4 SEPARATE TIMES ALREADY. I HAVE HAD TO JUMP START TO REVIVE. WE'VE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE ANY PROBLEM AND NOTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED YET.
Electrical system, Nov 22, 2020
I BOUGHT MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 300 MILES AND CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE 4000 MILES IN IT AND MY CAR WON'T START I EVEN GOT IT SERVICED 2 WEEKS AGO. IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AS USUAL FOR A NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY IT WOULDN'T START.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 21, 2020
SPONTANEOUS CRACKING OF WINDSHIELD WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. STARTED AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD APPROX. MIDWAY. APPROX. 9 INCHES IN LENGTH VERTICALLY THEN CRACK WENT TO PASSENGER SIDE APPROX. 5 INCHES.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 21, 2020
600 MILES ON A BRAND NEW 2020 OUTBACK AND I HEARD A POP WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE EDGE PROB 8 INCHES IN. I DID NOT SEE A ROCK AND IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE A ROCK. IT'S A STRAIGHT LINE. NO BREAK LIKE SOMETHING HIT IT OR ANYTHING. SPONTANEOUS WHILE DRIVING.
Electrical system, Structure, Nov 16, 2020
WHILE INTERACTING WITH THE REAR OF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, I HAD ACCIDENTLY TRIGGERED THE "HANDS-FREE POWER REAR GATE" FEATURE AND THE GATE BEGAN TO OPEN. RATHER THAN WAIT FOR THE TAIL GATE TO FULLY OPEN, I GENTLY PUSHED THE REAR TAIL GATE AGAINST THE AUTOMATIC OPENING BACK INTO THE CLOSED POSITION. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR BEEPED AT ME THREE TIMES AND THE REAR TAIL GATE WOULD NO LONGER LATCH ITSELF CLOSED, EVEN WHEN CLOSED MANUALLY. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE TAIL GATE UNSECURED, IT WOULD OPEN ITSELF WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE THE LATCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND HOLD IT CLOSED.
Other or unspecified, Nov 13, 2020
EXCESSIVE CRACKING OF WINDSHIELD. CAR IS TWO MONTHS OLD AND WOKE UP ONE MORNING TO AN EIGHT INCH CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE MIDDLE. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK WAS HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 12, 2020
NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 3K MILES. WAS DRIVING HOME AT ~50MPH ON FREEWAY, A SMALL (1 CM) ROCK HIT UPPER WINDSHIELD AND MADE A SMALL CHIP. THE CHIP THEN SUDDENLY PROPAGATED TO A FOOT-LONG CRACK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD SHATTER. PROPERLY MANUFACTURED WINDSHIELD SHOULD CHIP, NOT SHATTER.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2020
I BOUGHT A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK XT IN MARCH. IT WAS THE LAST SPECIAL ORDER FROM AUTO NATION BEFORE THEY SHUT DOWN FOR COVID. I DROVE IT VERY LITTLE AS WE WERE BASICALLY HOME BOUND AND THEN FOR SHOPPING, GOLF AND MEETINGS. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER AND I HAVE UNDER TWO THOUSAND MILES DRIVEN. THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD ON SEPTEMBER 17TH AND NOW AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 10TH. IT DIED BOTH TIMES INSIDE MY GARAGE AND THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR WAS THE ONLY THING TO OPEN. IT DID JUMP AND WORK IN BETWEEN THOSE DATES. I AM NOW READING ABOUT ALL THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS AND BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE OUTBACK. SUBARU SUGGESTED THAT I NEEDED TO DRIVE MY CAR EVERY DAY TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING. THAT IS A LUDICROUS IDEA AND SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. I HAVE A CVT 2.4 ENGINE WITH A TURBO. EVERY TIME THE BATTERY DIES ALL THE LOADED INFORMATION LIKE BLUETOOTH, ETC. IS ALSO GONE.
Electrical system, Nov 10, 2020
NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD. ONLY 2300 MILES ON VEHICLE. CAR WAS LAST DRIVEN ON SUNDAY. WOULD NOT START ON TUESDAY EVENING. ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DEAD.
Electrical system, Nov 10, 2020
MY CAR BATTERY HAS DIED THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY THE SECOND DAY BUT BATTERY DIED AGAIN OVERNIGHT.
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACK. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3500 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE A WINDSHIELD CRACK WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE!! I GOT IN THE CAR AND NOTICED BY THE DRIVER SIDE AN UPSIDE DOWN "L".
Visibility/wiper, Nov 2, 2020
WE DISCOVERED A CRACK IN OUR SUBARU OUTBACK WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO SIGN OF A CHIP FROM A ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, JUST A CRACK. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 4,00 MILES ON IT. THE OUTBACK WAS IN THE GARAGE WHEN DISCOVERED. WE HAD IT REPAIRED ON OCTOBER 28 2020. WHILE GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL SITES DISCUSSING SUBARU CRACKED WINDSHIELDS AND A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST SUBARU FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 2, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD RECEIVED TWO VERY MINOR CHIPS AT THE TOP OF DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN HOURS A CRACK APPEARED FROM ABOVE AND BELOW THE CHIPS, WHICH MEASURES AT LEAST 17' ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD FROM TOP TO MIDDLE. THE CRACK APPEARED WHILE DRIVING ON I 25 IN NM IN LIGHT TRAFFIC.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 1, 2020
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ABOUT 10 INCHES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHEN IT HAPPENED.
Other or unspecified, Oct 30, 2020
WE PURCHASED OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK IN OCTOBER 2019 AND WITHIN A A FEW MONTHS (FEB 2020) WE CAME BACK TO OUR PARKED CAR WITH A CRACKED STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD THAT STARTED FROM THE WIPERS. WE GOT OUR WINDSHIELD REPLACED, FAST FORWARD TO OCTOBER 2020 AND WE'RE REPLACING OUR WINDSHIELD AGAIN FROM DRIVING ON A ROLL RODE. THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF DEFECT ON THESE WINDSHIELDS. WE CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ON THESE NEW CARS.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2020
I WENT OUT TO MY GARAGE AND FOUND A 8 INCH CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO APPARENT IMPACT POINT TO THE CRACK. THE DAY BEFORE, I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE WHEN I GOT HOME. THERE WAS NO CRACK. THE CAR IS 5 MONTHS OLD. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER FOR HELP, AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 76 IN AKRON OHIO, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED.WE HEARD A LOUD SOUND--LIKE A GUN SHOT--BUT NO EVIDENCE OF THE WINDOW BEING HIT BY A PROJECTILE. THE CRACK RUNS FROM BELOW THE WIPER BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY 19 INCHES TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DOWNLOAD TO THE SITE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2020
I PURCHASED 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK LAST YEAR DECEMBER. IT IS JUST LESS THAN A YEAR. RECENTLY, WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING FREEWAY TO WORK. I TRIED TO FIND WHY IT WAS HAPPENED BUT I COULD NOT FIND APPARENT REASON. SUBARU DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY.
Electrical system, Oct 26, 2020
BATTERY FAILED WITHIN 1 MONTH OF NEW CAR PURCHASE. TECHNICIAN INITIALLY SAID IT WAS DUE TO REAR DOME LIGHT BEING LEFT ON (DID NOT THINK THIS WAS THE CASE). AFTER REPEATEDLY RETURNING TO THE CAR IN THE MORNINGS TO FIND DRAINED BATTERY, HAD TO PURCHASE BACK UP JUMPING DEVICE TO ENSURE I'D BE ABLE TO USE VEHICLE DAILY. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 MORE TIMES (WITHIN WEEKS OF THE INITIAL PROBLEM) AFTER NEEDING TO JUMP THE CAR TO START IT. NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND BATTERY WAS DEEMED TO BE "OK" PER THEIR TEST. THEN ONE MORNING WHILE STARTING THE CAR, THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED ALL TO FLASH, AN AUDIBLE CLICKING NOISE AND HATCH MOTOR COULD BE HEARD TRYING TO OPEN AND REMAINED STUCK IN THAT MODE UNTIL THE BATTERY DIED (CAR NEVER STARTED). CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR 3RD TIME IN A MONTH AND BATTERY WAS DEEMED "TO BE DEFECTIVE" FROM THE FACTORY AND WAS REPLACED IN THIS 2 MONTH OLD CAR. NO OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED TO EXPLAIN WHAT REPEATEDLY DRAINED THE BATTERY.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2020
FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE OEM AND OEM REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS CRACKED STARTING FROM THE EDGE AND QUICKLY PROPAGATED. NO FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS WAS NOTED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE A CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 25, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE IN MOTION - IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING TINY MIGHT'VE HIT THE CAR BUT I WAS GOING SLOWLY AT LESS THAN 40MPH AND IT WAS NOT ANYTHING LARGE. THERE WAS A TINY SPOT BUT THIS QUICKLY CRACKED INTO A LARGE LINE ONLY A FEW MINUTES LATER.