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.
Engine, Jun 14, 2020
THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM. IN FLORIDA THE TEMP CAN GET OVER 95 DEGREES. AFTER 10-15 SECONDS OF THE CAR BEING OFF THE CAR STARTS TO HEAT UP. MY WIFE WHO HAS BREATHING PROBLEMS STARTS HAVING PROBLEMS. I HAVE ASK THE DEALER TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE THIS FEATURE BUT THEY SAID NO. YOU CAN DO IT EACH TIME YOU START THE CAR BUT IT IS SEVERAL SCREENS DEEP ON THE INFORMATION SYSTEM. PEOPLE WHO DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR OFTEN (LIKE MY WIFE) WOULD HAVE TROUBLE TURNING THIS FEATURE OFF AND COULD PASS OUT SITTING AT A LIGHT. I RECOMMEND SUBARU OFFER A WAY TO DISABLE THIS FEATURE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BREATHING ISSUES. AT A VERY MINIMUM THEY NEED TO MOVE THE DISABLING OF THIS FEATURE ON EVERY START TO THE MAIN INFORMATION SCREEN WHERE ANYONE CAN FIND IT.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 13, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ABOUT 5 INCHES FROM THE SIDE OF THE GLASS. WHEN STATIONARY THE CRACK CONTINUED TO EXPAND. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 11, 2020
WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND THE BATTERY HAS FULLY DRAINED THREE TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE A MONTH AGO. WE TOOK IT IN TO BE EVALUATED AND WERE TOLD THE BATTERY WAS FINE. WE NOW HAVE HAD TO JUMPSTART THIS CAR THREE TIMES AND IT HAS LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 11, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON. THE CAR ONLY HAS 300 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 7, 2020
WHILE PARKED IN A STATIONARY POSITION IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS OVERNIGHT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN AN "S" SHAPE FROM THE LEFT EDGE ALL THE WAY TO JUST A FEW INCHES SHORT OF THE CENTER.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 6, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO VISIBLE PROJECTILES. CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW AFTER INITIAL CRACK WITH US FEARING THE WINDSHIELD WAS ABOUT TO CAVE IN ON US. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 31, 2020
PARKED VEHICLE, WINDSHIELD STARTED CRACKING FOR NO REASON, CHECKED SECURITY CAMERAS, NOTHING EXPLAINS IT.
Visibility/wiper, May 31, 2020
OUR WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED THE CRACK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN OUR GARAGE. I SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I NEED TO CONTACT THE SUBARU DEALER TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY.
Visibility/wiper, May 30, 2020
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. *TR
Visibility, May 27, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK DEVELOPED A CRACK WITH NO SIGNS OF A CHILD OR ANY REASON FOR THE CRACK TO HAVE DEVELOPED. *TR
Electrical system, May 26, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO LAFONTAINE SUBARU (3055 E WEST MAPLE RD, COMMERCE CHARTER TWP, MI 48390) TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800.
Visibility/wiper, May 21, 2020
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, SMALL PEBBLE (MOST LIKELY) STRUCK WINDSHIELD, COULD NOT SEE THE PEBBLE, WAS NOT VERY LOUD. SEEMED INSIGNIFICANT BUT WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION 10 MINUTES LATER CRACKS HAD STARTED EMANATING FROM THE SPOT WHERE THE PEBBLE STRUCK. I'VE NEVER SEEN A WINDSHIELD BREAK SO EASILY, STUFF GETS KICKED UP ALL THE TIME ON THIS INTERSTATE. *TR
Visibility, May 20, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE INSIDE THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A FRACTURE ON THE LOWER PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE WIPER BLADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CASTLE SUBARU (6100 US HWY 6, PORTAGE, IN 46368, (219) 764-5020) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Other or unspecified, May 19, 2020
HAD NEW 2020 OUTBACK LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AND NOTED HAIRLINE STRESS CRACK (NO CHIPS) ON OUTSIDE LAMINATE OF WINDSHIELD, NEAR PASSENGER SIDE CAMERA, 3.25 INCHES LONG. I WAS WASHING THE WINDSHIELD IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE CRACK. THERE ARE PREVIOUS REPORTS OF DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD GLASS WITH THIS MODEL. PHOTO ATTACHED. *TR
Suspension, Visibility/wiper, May 17, 2020
VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN NOV. 2019. IT HAS SINCE HAD IT'S WINDSHIELD REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE FREEWAY EACH TIME AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY A ROCK. NOW I KNOW ROCKS BREAK GLASS, BUT I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WITH SUCH A FRAGILE WINDSHIELD. I'VE OWNED MANY MANY CARS AND NONE HAVE EVER NEEDED THEIR WINDSHIELD REPLACED EVEN AFTER BEING HIT BY A ROCK. CHIPPED YES, BUT NEVER CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS LIKE THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A POPPING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE LEFT FRONT, WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE DEALER CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NOISE IS.
Visibility/wiper, May 14, 2020
TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY ON A SLOW RAINY DAY (~45MPH), A PEBBLE? HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHICH CRACKED AN AREA AS LARGE AS A PENNY NEAR THE WIPERS. RIGHT AWAY, THE CRACK STARTED TO PROPAGATE TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD, MAKING LARGE CRACKLING NOISES. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT IT HAS ALSO EXTENDED TO THE AREA BELOW THE WINDSHIELD SEAL (BY THE HOOD). I HAVE HAD A FEW CARS BEFORE AND ALL HAVE HAD ROCKS HIT THEIR WINDSHIELD. NEVER HAD I SEEN SUCH EASY YIELD IN WINDSHIELD GLASS TO SUCH LIGHT IMPACT. *TR
Electrical system, May 11, 2020
MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS PARKED IN MY HOME GARAGE FROM ABOUT NOON ON TUESDAY UNTIL I TRIED TO GO AT ABOUT 4 PM THE NEXT SUNDAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THERE WAS NO CLEAR REASON WHY. I CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE SERVICE AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEM TO COME MONDAY MORNING TO TRY A JUMP START AND TOW IT INTO THE DEALER IF NEEDED. AT THAT POINT, I HAD THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS AND IT HAD 2 MINES ON IT. MONDAY MORNING I CALLED THE DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING IT ENOUGH AND MAYBE I SHOULD GET A BATTERY TENDER TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING. I WAS NOT AT ALL PLEASED WITH THEIR SUGGESTION AND DO NOT PLAN ON FOLLOWING THEIR ADVICE. I DID SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT SUBARU AND THEIR DEALERS ARE UNWILLING TO RESOLVE. AND, IT SEEMS THAT ITS NOT JUST THE BATTERY BUT SEVERAL CAR COMPONENTS KEEP RUNNING AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND THAT WOULD RUN DOWN ANY BATTERY THAT IS IN THE CAR. I NEED RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION AND THIS NEW CAR IS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT. *TR
Electrical system, May 11, 2020
AFTER THE CAR HAD SAT FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS, WHEN WE WENT TO USE IT AND INITIALLY WE GOT A LOT OF BELLS AND CHIRPS GOING OFF ALONG WITH NUMEROUS WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS. BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. WE WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE TO GET THE KEYS FOR OUR OTHER VEHICLE, BUT DECIDED TO TRY AND START THE CAR A SECOND TIME. THIS TIME THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD - NO INSTRUMENT LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL.(AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD A LITTLE UNDER 3200 MILES TOTAL MILES ON IT AND WAS A LITTLE OVER 3 MONTHS OLD). I RECHARGED THE BATTERY THE NEXT FOR A FEW HOURS AND THEN DROVE IT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY KEPT IT FOR A FEW DAYS BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY OR CHARGING SYSTEM, AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THEM. (NOTE: I HAD ALSO DISCOVERED A SMALL OIL LEAK AT THAT TIME, WHICH THEY FIXED AT THAT TIME) I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST SUBARU REGARDING BATTERY PROBLEMS ON OUTBACK MODEL VEHICLES. TODAY [5-11-20] WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE TO HAVE A BLOOD TEST TAKEN I NOTED THAT THE BATTERY WAS SOMEWHAT LOW (I.E.: THE ENGINE TURNED OVER SLOWER THAN NORMAL). *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 11, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WAY TOO EASILY. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, May 8, 2020
BATTERY IS INADEQUATE FOR THE ELECTRONICS IN THIS CAR AND WILL BE DEAD IF NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AFTER BEING A UNABLE TO START MY CAR TWICE WITHIN A MONTH, THE SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THERE IS NO OTHER UPGRADE OR REPLACEMENT FOR THE BATTERY AND THAT THE FACTORY RECOMMENDATION IS TO DRIVE THE CAR EVERY OTHER DAY. THIS MEANS THAT WHEN I TRAVEL AND LEAVE MY CAR IN AN AIRPORT PARKING LOT FOR A WEEK OR MORE, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO START THE CAR WHEN I RETURN. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME TO DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE POST AT THE AIRPORT, THEN RECONNECT THE POST WHEN I RETURN. I AM A 65-YEAR OLD WOMAN AND NOT A MECHANIC. THIS CAR IS UNRELIABLE AND IS A SAFETY RISK FOR ME WHEN I RETURN TO A PARKING LOT LATE AT NIGHT AND MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START. IT HAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. *TR
Electrical system, May 8, 2020
WE BOUGHT OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK ON 12/16/19. DID A ROAD TRIP FOR 800 MILES IN JAN-2020 WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE CAR CURRENTLY ONLY HAS 2,100 MILES ON IT. ON MAY 1ST WE WENT TO START THE CAR AFTER IT SAT FOR A WEEK OR SO AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD TO WHERE WE HAD TO USE OUR EMERGENCY MANUAL KEY TO OPEN THE DOOR. WE HAD TO JUMP IT FOR QUITE AWHILE BEFORE IT GOT ENOUGH OF A CHARGE TO START. WE TOOK IT ON AN HOUR DRIVE TO TRY AND GET THE BATTERY RECHARGED. MONDAY MAY 4TH WE TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT WAS DEAD AGAIN, JUMPED IT AND TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER. THE DEALER CHECKED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND RECHARGED THE BATTERY. I PICKED IT UP ON TUESDAY THE 5TH AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WEDNESDAY MORNING THE CAR BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. FRIDAY WE HAD TO JUMP IT TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. WHEN WE GOT HOME THE DEALER CALLED TO SAY THAT OUR CAR THAT WE JUST LEFT WOULDN'T START AND THEY HAD TO JUMP IT. THEY ARE GOING TO CHECK IT OUT ON MONDAY AND LET US KNOW WHAT THEY FIND OUT. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 8, 2020
NEW 2020 OUTBACK, TOURING WITH LESS THAN 400 MILES..WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING. NO OTHER VEHICLES IN AREA. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 7, 2020
I HAVE A 2020 OUTBACK LIMITED AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE ON IT WHILE DRIVING ON I-75 IN TN. BOTH TIMES A SMALL STONE KICKED UP BY A PASSING CAR HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT CHECKED OUT BY SAFELITE; IT CRACKED HORIZONTALLY. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND PAID $1035 TO HAVE IT REPLACED BY A SUBARU DEALER AND LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER SMALL STONE KICKED UP BY A CRV PASSING ME HIT THE NEW SUBARU WINDSHIELD. AGAIN, IT IMMEDIATELY CRACKED HORIZONTALLY AND NOW I WILL HAVE IT REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THERE IS APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE QUALITY OF THE GLASS: TOO THIN? DUE TO THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM NEEDING A VERY OPTICALLY PURE GLASS; PERHAPS THE GLASS IS TOO THIN. BUT THE QUALITY OF THE SUBARU FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. (I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC. NO TRUCKS IN AREA. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 6, 2020
A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, AND THE NEXT MORNING A MASSIVE CRACK APPEARED. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 5, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKS UNREASONABLY IN DEICER AREA. CRACKS CONTINUOUSLY GROWING, EVEN WITHOUT TRAVEL OR VIBRATION. CAR HAD LESS THAN 500 MILES. *TR