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.
Exterior lighting, Oct 23, 2020
HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED TOO HIGH - THEY ARE SIMILAR TO HIGH BEAMS ON OTHER CARS. WHENEVER I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT - ESPECIALLY WHEN OUTSIDE THE CITY, ALMOST EVERY CAR PASSING ME FLASHES BRIGHT LIGHT BECAUSE THEY THINK I HAVE MY HIGH BEAMS ON. THEY ARE POINTED TOO HIGH OFF THE GROUND AND CAUSE GLARE FOR OTHER DRIVERS (WHICH I ALSO EXPERIENCED WHEN MY WIFE WAS FOLLOWING ME IN THE SUBARU WHILE I DROVE OUR OTHER CAR. IT IS REALLY OBNOXIOUS AND DOES NOT SEEM SAFE TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST LIGHTS TO POINT DOWN TOWARDS THE ROAD.
Electrical system, Oct 20, 2020
BATTER IS DEAD AFTER 10 MONTHS, 7500 MILES. SEEMS AS IF THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT IS PULLING POWER OFF OF THE BATTERY WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. I'VE GONE OUT TO THE CAR 5 TIMES NOW OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO A DEAD BATTERY. PROGRESSIVELY IT'S GOTTEN WORSE WITH TWO OF THE TIMES BEING JUST THIS WEEK. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I'M READING ABOUT PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS AS WELL. SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE AN ELECTRICAL BUG THAT THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSING YEAR OVER YEAR.
Exterior lighting, Oct 19, 2020
LOW BEAMS NEED TO BE ADJUSTED, AS THEY ARE TOO BRIGHT FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I GET FLASHED AT NIGHT MULTIPLE TIMES, EVEN BY TRUCKERS WHO SIT HIGHER IN THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT IMPAIRS THE VISION OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AS WELL AS HAD DRIVERS HAVE ROAD RAGE TOWARDS ME, BY THEM SHINING THEIR HIGH BEAMS AT ME.
Other or unspecified, Oct 15, 2020
SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK WHILE DRIVING
Visibility/wiper, Oct 13, 2020
SUBARU WINDSHIELD CONTINUES TO CRACK UNDER SUSPECT CONDITIONS. I AM NOW ON MY THIRD WINDSHIELD IN THE FIRST 5,000 MILES OF OWNERSHIP. THE FIRST WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND. THE SECOND WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN A MINISCULE ROCK HIT IT WHILE DRIVING. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE SUCH WEAK GLASS IN A MODERN CAR. THERE IS NO REASON THAT WINDSHIELDS SHOULD BE CRACKING THIS FREQUENTLY.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 13, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING
Electrical system, Oct 12, 2020
BATTERY WAS REPLACED AFTER 5,549 MILES. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 4-5 DAYS PRIOR TO 07/08/2020 AND NEED TO BE JUMPED DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS AGAIN PARKED FOR 4-5 DAYS PRIOR TO 10/09/2020 AGAIN THE BATTERY WAS DEAD & WAS UNABLE TO USE FOB TO UNLOCK CAR ETC, JUMPED STARTED CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT PROBLEM
Electrical system, Oct 12, 2020
I JUST PURCHASED A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD AND WHILE DRIVING THE ENTIRE INFOCENTER WENT BLANK, AND ALL SAFETY FEATURES WAS DISENGAGED. THE SCREEN REMAINED BLANK FOR APPROX 10 SECONDS BEFORE REBOOTING. I CALLED SUABRU AMERICA AND WAS INFORMNED THAT THERE IS A CLITCH IN THE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO FIX UNSUCCESSFULLY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR DUE TO ITS SAFETY FEATURES. SHOULDN'T I HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THIS POTENTIAL COMPUTER CRASH THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS, WHICH INCLUDES MY 85 YEAR OLD MOTHER?
Visibility, Vehicle speed control, Oct 12, 2020, crash
THE FIRST ISSUE I NOTICE WAS BACK IN MAY, MY SUBARU ALMOST CAME TO A FULL COMPLETE BEFORE IT LEAP FROGGED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING ME TO REARED END THE CAR. THEN TODAY OCTOBER 11. I GOT INTO MY CAR, REMOVED MY WINDSHIELD SUNSHADE FROM MY CAR AT AROUND NOON. I HEARD A LOUD GLASS LIKE CRACK. I THEN SAW A HUGE CRACK FROM WHERE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AND A LINE FROM TO TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE BOTTOM. JUST LIKE THAT. ITS 8 MONTHS OLD SUBARU WITH 5000 MILES ON IT.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Oct 11, 2020
CAR WINDSHIELD HAD ICE OBSCURING PART OF THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM ON STARTUP. WARNING INDICATORS LIT UP INFORMING ME THAT THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM WAS DISABLED. CONCURRENT WITH THIS FAULT, THE FAILURE OF THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO RELEASE THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE SNOW.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 11, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT, WHILE IN PARK POSITION IN A PARKING LOT. THE CRACK IS IN A "U" SHAPE WITH THE TOP OF THE U AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
Electrical system, Oct 11, 2020
THE BATTERY IS NEARLY ALWAYS DEAD AT STARTUP AND I HAVE TO JUMP IT WITH A BATTERY STARTER. THE DEALER HAD SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, YET I HAVE TO JUMP THE CAR IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOTS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 5300 MILES ON IT, AS WE DON'T DRIVE THAT MUCH.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 9, 2020
I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH MY BATTERY DYING. IT STARTED SLOWLY, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, I DIDN'T DRIVE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WHEN THE SERVICE GUY CAME OUT TO JUMP IT, HE SAID THAT I SHOULD CAN DRIVE IT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. I'VE BEEN DOING THAT AND I'D ONLY OCCASIONALLY HAD TO JUMP IT. NOW WITH 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND UNDER 6,000 MILES, I HAVE TO JUMP IT EVERY DAY. WHEN I TOOK IT IN, DEALERSHIP SAID BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE FINE. IF BATTERY IS FINE, MUST BE ELECTRICAL. EITHER WAY, VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS DEFECT IN MY NEW CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 9, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD
Other or unspecified, Oct 8, 2020
THE LEFT-MOST DASH VENT RATTLES INTERMITTENTLY, MOST OFTEN ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. VEHICLE PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2019, AND RATTLE STARTED IN APRIL 2020. MY LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE VENT, BUT THE RATTLE CONTINUES AND APPEARS TO COME FROM BEHIND THE VENT. BECAUSE IT'S INTERMITTENT AND CAN'T BE REPRODUCED ON DEMAND I'VE THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED IT WITH AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDINGS. ESCALATING WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA TO GET IT RESOLVED.
Electrical system, Oct 7, 2020
CAR IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND ALL DAY. WENT TO START CAR AND BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON.
Visibility, Oct 1, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE, A CRACK HAD FORMED FROM THE LOWER LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD AND SPREAD ACROSS TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THE CRACK. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE WINDSHIELD GLASS WAS POORLY MANUFACTURED AND THAT THE CRACK COULD OBSTRUCT HIS VISION WHILE DRIVING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 969.
Visibility, Oct 1, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NEITHER THE LOCAL DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,265. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Other or unspecified, Sep 30, 2020
MY 2020 SUBARU IS 9 MONTHS OLD AND THIS WILL BE THE 2ND WINDSHIELD I WILL BE REPLACING IN THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS IN MOTION BUT NOT STRUCK BY DEBRIS. THE SECOND TIME THERE WAS DEBRIS THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CRACK MOVED QUICKLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT STOPPING. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ABOUT THE FAULTY WINDSHIELDS WITH MANY SUBARU OWNERS INVOLVED AND RECENTLY THE SUIT WAS DISMISSED BY THE COURT. I UNDERSTAND OUTBACKS AND FORESTERS HAVE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS GOING BACK AS FAR AS 2016 AND SUBARU HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE WINDSHIELD IS THINNER THAN MOST TO ACCOMMODATE THE SENSORS. THE COST TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD IS $900+ EACH TIME DUE TO THE NEED FOR ONLY A SUBARU WINDSHIELD AND THE CALIBRATION OF THE SENSORS NEEDED.
Electrical system, Sep 29, 2020
I WAS DRIVING TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A LOW BATTERY. I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, AND THE AUTO STOP-START SYSTEM SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART. I WAS LEFT WITH NO POWER, IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION, WITH CARS AND TRUCKS HAVING TO SWERVE AROUND ME. I RECEIVED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO JUMP-START THE VEHICLE AND THEY DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE BATTERY HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND WILL BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WE DON'T YET KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE BATTERY FAILURE.
Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACK
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 28, 2020
DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD, MADE A STOP AT A LIGHT. WHEN I GOT THE GREEN ARROW TO TURN LEFT, CAR JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. WAS FORTUNATE, 4 GOOD INDIVIDUALS JUMPED OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES TO PUSH US OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND AVOID COLLISION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CALLED SUBARU FOR A TOW. DURING THE 2 HOUR WAIT, TRIED TO START A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH NO LUCK. WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, WAS TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, SO ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN, WHICH IT DID. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP. STAYED THERE FOR 2 AND A HALF WEEKS. THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP, WHICH IN MY MIND, MAY NOT BE AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. MY THOUGHTS ARE THAT SOMETHING OVERHEATED, POSSIBLY A CIRCUIT OR SOFTWARE THAT CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. IT WAS A 95 DEGREE DAY, THE CAR HAD BEEN IDLING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN A STORE PARKING LOT RIGHT BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN. IN TALKING WITH SUBARU, THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME ROOT CAUSE ONCE THEY DO FURTHER ANALYSIS ON THE PROBLEM. I FEEL AT GREAT RISK THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME GOING FORWARD, (IE ON THE INTERSTATE, AT AN INTERSECTION, ETC). I'M HOPING THAT LOGGING THIS INCIDENT WILL HELP OTHER OUTBACK OWNERS KNOW OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER THEY MAY BE IN.
Seat belts, Sep 28, 2020
THIS IS NOT AGAINST SUBARU IT IS AGAINST DOHCLO COMPANY. I PURCHASED AN AFTER MARKET SEATBELT EXTENDER. IT IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT SECURE THE SEATBELT TO RESTRAINT YOU IN AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD RESULT IN EJECTION FROM THE VEHICLE DURING AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE COMPANY AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO ASSIST. I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAY USE THE ITEM WITHOUT CHECKING THAT IT IS SECURED PROPERLY. I FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE STARTED. I HAVE PHOTOS, THE PRODUCT AND COPIES OF ALL MY EMAILS REGARDING THIS.*DT*DT*AS*DT *TR*DT
Visibility/wiper, Sep 24, 2020
A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FOR NO KNOWN REASON. OVER THE A SINGLE DAY IT HAD INCREASED TO A CRACK RUNNING ALL THE WAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW TO THE TOP. THE CRACK WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THEN INCREASED TO COVER THE HEIGHT OF THE WINDOW WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING ON A SMOOTH ROAD.
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 21, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED OUT OF PARK INTO GEAR, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOORS LOCKED WHILE THE REAR HATCH UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE REAR HATCH UNLOCKED THE DOME LIGHT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. W&L SUBARU (535 POINT TOWNSHIP DR, NORTHUMBERLAND, PA 17857 (570) 473-3432) WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE REAR HATCH MECHANISM WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,900. Consumer stated Subaru would purchase the vehicle because of all the electrical problems.