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, May 5, 2020
I HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK AND IT COMPLETELY DIED. BRAND NEW CAR AND THE BATTERY DRAINED. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IF I DON'T DRIVE IT FOR 7 DAYS IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS TO OCCUR. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 70 MILES ON IT AND COMPLETELY DIED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING GARAGE. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 2, 2020
I LEASED MY 2020 OUTBACK 5 MONTHS AGO AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE WINDSHIELD EASILY CRACKS AFTER A SMALL OBJECT HIT THE GLASS AND MADE A LOW SUBTLE NOISE. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SCENARIOS AS SUCH PREVIOUSLY WITH OTHER NON-SUBARU BRAND CARS AND NONE OF THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKED. CLEARLY THE QUALITY OF THE GLASS IS TERRIBLE AND DEFECTIVE. THERE EVEN SEEMS TO BE A BIG CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING SUBARU WINDSHIELDS.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 30, 2020
THERE IS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT BASICALLY APPEARED OVER NIGHT. IT WASN'T THERE WHEN WE PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE IN THE EVENING AND THEN I NOTICED IT THE NEXT DAY WHEN I GOT OUT. IT STARTS FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS AND THERE ARE EVEN SHARDS OF GLASS COMING OUT IN ONE SPOT. WE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED A ROCK HITTING US AS OUR CAR IS ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS OLD...MY FIRST BRAND NEW PURCHASE. THE CRACK NOW GOES COMPLETELY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 28, 2020
THE MORNING OF APRIL 28 I NOTICED A CRACK DEVELOPING ON THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. IT STARTED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BELOW THE WIPER AND IS HEADING UPWARD. THE PREVIOUS EVENING, I HEARD A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO CRACK EVIDENT AT THE TIME. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK APPEARED AND THERE IS A VERY SMALL PIT AT THE ROCK IMPACT SITE. THE SIZE OF THE ROCK STRIKE DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. THIS IS THE SECOND CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON THIS 3-MONTH OLD CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 28, 2020
THE MORNING OF MARCH 26 I NOTICED AN APPROXIMATELY 8-INCH-LONG CRACK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. BY THE END OF THE DAY THE CRACK HAD SPREAD TO ALMOST THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE PREVIOUS DAY AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE ROCK IMPACT. AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD 3600 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN OWNED FOR 2.5 MONTHS. LOCAL DEALER (HERB GORDON SUBARU IN SILVER SPRING, MD) GRACIOUSLY COVERED THE REPLACEMENT AND RECALIBRATION OF EYE-SIGHT CAMERAS.
Other or unspecified, Apr 27, 2020
SUBARU EYESIGHT LANE CENTERING FAILURE. DATE: 27APR 2020, TIME: ABOUT 9:45AM, LOCATION: I-75 SOUTH BOUND BETWEEN DAYTON AND CINCINNATE OHIO, ABOUT MILE MARKER 29.8. ROAD CONDITIONS: DRY, SUNNY AND BRIGHT.: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ON, LANE CENTERING ON. VECHILE MILAGE ABOUT 7700 MILES. WHILE PASSING A SEMI ON THE LEFT, AT THE REAR CORNER OF THE SEMI THE STEERING WHEEL TRIED TO MAKE A HARD SHARP RIGHT TURN.AS IF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LANE HAD MOVED WAY TO THE RIGHT. I HAD A HARD GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME FROM CRASHING INTO THE LEFT REAR OF THE SEMI TRAILER.. I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST THAT THE LANE CENTERING HAS A TENDANCY TO STEER CLOSE TO SEMI'S WHILE PASSING EITHER ON THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. FOR THIS REASON I TEND TO WATCH CLOSELY WHEN PASSING BUT THIS SUPRISED ME AT HOW HARD THE STEERING TRIED TO EXECUTE A LANE CHANGE, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. AFTER BRINGING IT BACK ON COARSE THE LANE CENTERING STAYED IN THE PROPER LANE ABET, WANTING TO STAY TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE FINISHING PASSING. LANE CENTERING FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR THE NEXT FEW MILES AT WHICH TIME I TURNED IT OFF DUE TO APPROACHING SEVERAL SEMI'S. I DON'T BELIEVE THE SUBARA'S EYESIGHT LANE CENTERING FUNCTION IS RELIABLE. THIS IS ALSO THE SECOND TIME THE LANE CENTERING HAS TRIED TO EXECUTE A LANE CHANGE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 24, 2020
WIDSHIELD APPEARS TO HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM LOWER LEFT HAND EDGE TO A LENGTH OF NEARLY 12' IN FRONT OF DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR HOME GARAGE WITH NO CRACK EVIDENT WHEN PARKED AND CRACK WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE BEING DRIVEN THE FOLLOWING DAY. CRACK APPEARED JUST A DAY AFTER VEHICLE WAS IN DEALER SERVICE FOR AN ECU REPROGRAMMING RECALL.
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 21, 2020
WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE AROUND 50-70 IT WILL HESITATE AND ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO STOP. NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON HAVE TAKING BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DO THIS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT COLD WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT CAN BE AFTER I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE. THIS HAPPENS ON MAIN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 18, 2020
CAR HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN WEEKS AND HAS BEEN SAFELY STORED ON MY PROPERTY. GOT THE CAR OUT TO WASH IT AND I NOTICED A CHIP DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT AN INCREDIBLY UNUSUAL SWIRL DEVELOPED IN THE GLASS THAT CANNOT BE CLEANED FROM INSIDE OR OUT. PHOTO ATTACHED. LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING BETWEEN THE LAYERS OF GLASS. FILED A CLAIM AND MY INSURANCE SENT OUT SAFELITE TO FILL THE CHIP. SWIRL IS STILL THERE. SEEMS UNSAFE. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Apr 17, 2020
WE HAVE A 2020 OUTBACK AND A CRACK APPEARED STARTING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CORNER AND BEGAN MOVING UP AND OUT INTO LINE OF SIGHT. I FOUND THE CRACK WHEN I PULLED OUT OF THE GARAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 11, 2020
VEHICLE HAS UNDER 12K MILES AND THIS IS THE 3RD WINDSHIELD THAT HAS SPONTANEOUSLY HAS CRACKED
Visibility/wiper, Apr 6, 2020
I GOT IN MY CAR ONE MORNING AND NOTICED A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK WAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ORIGINATED FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE GLASS. IT HAS BEEN A WEEK OR SO, AND THE CRACK CONTINUES TO GROW EVERYDAY.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 3, 2020
A LARGE CRACK FORMED ON THE DRIVER SIDE AT EYE LEVEL. I'VE NEVER SEEN A WINDSHIELD BREAK SO SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING. IT DISTRACTED ME FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AS I WAS WATCHING THE CRACK GET LARGER. I WAS DRIVING AT 50 MILES PER HOUR ON THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL LOST VISIBILITY AND TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THE WINDSHIELDS ARE MADE TO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO SAVE COSTS. SUBARU DOES NOT COVER WINDSHIELDS AND THE EYE SIGHT CALIBRATION IS WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO TAKE ON PERSONALLY. A COMPANY WHOSE REPUTATION IS BUILT ON SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE CUTTING CORNERS ON THE WINDSHIELDS.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Visibility/wiper, Apr 2, 2020
FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED HALFWAY ACROSS THE GLASS AFTER A PEBBLE KICKED UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CRACK SPIDERED OUT ON ITS OWN ACROSS THE ENTIRE FRONT WINDSHIELD WITHIN FIVE HOURS. CAMERA ON WINDSHIELD NOW HAS TO BE RECALIBRATED OTHERWISE WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 1, 2020
THE CAR HAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE STABILITY AND THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. TRANSMISSION ALSO NEEDS REPLACEMENT. PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAYS. DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS YOUTUBE FOOTAGE AS FOLLOWS: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=OXOJDP_T9LI HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=77WURJDTVZK HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=LGQL63LDQVI&T=10S HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=0ACRLYXYHQI&T=11S
Visibility/wiper, Mar 26, 2020
FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS MULTIPLE PITS ON IT AFTER ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ROCKS HITTING IT. THE VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND BARELY DRIVEN. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE WINDSHIELD WILL EVENTUALLY CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 25, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH DURING A RAIN STORM, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A SMALL ROCK. THE CRACK EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET. THE LOCAL DEALER AUTO NATION SUBARU SCOTTSDALE LOCATED AT (15678 N. NORTHSIGHT BLVD, SCOTTSDALE AZ) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 22, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT LESS THAN 1800 MILES WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN HIGHWAY. AT LESS THAN 3,000 MILES, ANOTHER CRACK HAD DEVELOPED. BOTH CRACKS STARTED ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) OF THE WINDSHIELD AND ARE TRAVELLING UP AND TO THE LEFT OF THE WINDSHIELD IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 20, 2020
NEW VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. FOUND LATE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD IN THE MORNING. NO KNOW CHIPS OR IMPACTS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 16, 2020
CAR HAD AROUND 6,000 MILES WHEN MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE MY CAR WAS SITTING IN MY HEATED GARAGE. NO HITS OR IMPACTS, JUST CRACKED. TOOK SUBARU AROUND A MONTH TO HELP ME AND THEN THEY INSTALLED IT IMPROPERLY AND I NEEDED TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK TO HAVE IT COMPLETED PROPERLY.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 16, 2020
2020 OUTBACK WITH UNDER 6,000 MILES AND WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM THE UPPER RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE INTO THE MAIN VIEW ARE
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020
WINDSHIELD IN MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK SEEMS TO BE MADE OF FAKE GLASS, SOFT OR THIN GLASS THAT IS EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROCK CHIPS AND GLASS BREAKAGE. HAVE HAD THE NEW SUBARU A LITTLE OVER A MONTH (2600 MILES) AND ALREADY HAVE HAD 3 ROCK CHIPS ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT SEEMS LIKE EVEN THE SMALLEST PIECE OF ROCK CAUSES THE GLASS TO CHIP. COMPARED TO MY OTHER 3 VEHICLES THESE ROCK CHIPS OCCUR MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY. IT HAPPENS WHEN FOLLOWING OR MEETING OTHER VEHICLES WHEN THE TIRES OF THOSE VEHICLES THROW UP SMALL ROCK PIECES. ALL 3 OCCURRENCES WERE WHILE DRIVING ON PAVED, 2 LANE HIGHWAYS. IT'S NOT JUST A CASE OF BAD LUCK AS MY 2016 SUBARU ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S FAKE GLASS. IT OBSTRUCTS VISION UNTIL YOU CAN GET THE ROCK CHIPS REPAIRED OR THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED.
Other or unspecified, Mar 15, 2020
WIND SHIELD IS CRACKED AFTER SITTING IN GARAGE FOR 2 DAYS
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020
MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD SMALL WINDSHIELD CRACK FOR NO REASON JUST AFTER 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASING. IT WAS NOT USING FOR SOME DAYS AND WAS IN MY APARTMENT PARKING LOT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR NO COST BUT IT LOOKS LIKE LOW QUALITY WINDSHIELD FITS ON THE CAR FROM FACTORY.
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT. APPEARS TO BE SPONTANEOUS.