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, Mar 14, 2020
IN THE MORNING WE DISCOVERED A 10-INCH LONG CRACK IN OUR WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN OUR GARAGE OVER 10 HOURS. WE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM PRESUMING A ROCK HAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD BUT NEITHER DRIVER RECALLED SUCH AN OCCURRENCE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACK. HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AND 250 MILES. STARTED THE CAR WITH REMOTE, AND AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE, NOTICED A CRACK AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 12" IN LENGTH. UPON INSPECTION, SAW AN AREA OF SMALL REFLECTIONS JUST BENEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER WHERE THE IN-GLASS DEFROSTING ELEMENTS ARE LOCATED, THE CRACK EXTENDS FROM THIS POINT IN TWO DIRECTIONS; ONE DOWN TO THE BASE OF THE GLASS, THE OTHER DIAGONALLY UPWARD. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALS NO CHIPPING OR ROUGHNESS ON THE EXTERIOR, THOUGH THE OUTER LAMINATION IS THE LAYER THAT IS CRACKED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A FLAW INTERNALLY FROM WHICH THE BREAK EMANATES. AS STATED EARLIER, THIS SIMPLY APPEARED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW FREEZING AND THE CAR HAD BEEN STARTED WITH THE HEATER/DEFROSTER ON TO PRE-WARM THE INTERIOR. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD FROM A ROCK OR OTHER DEBRIS; IN FACT THE POINT WHERE THERE IS THE VISIBLE FLAW IS EXACTLY BENEATH THE WIPER IN THE RESTING POSITION; NO OBJECT COULD HAVE STRUCK THE GLASS THERE AS IT IS COVERED BY THE WIPER BLADE. PHOTOS SHOW THE OVERALL WINDSHIELD WITH THE WIPER RETRACTED AND A CLOSEUP THAT SHOWS THE POINT OF ORIGIN AND HORIZONTAL DEFROSTER ELEMENTS. WHEN REPORTED TO THE SELLING DEALER, THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THERE IS NO COVERAGE FOR GLASS, IN SPITE OF THE STATED 36 MONTH/30K MILE 'BUMPER-TO-BUMPER' WARRANTY. WE EXPLAINED AND SHOWED DEALER REPRESENTATIVES THAT THIS INSTANCE WAS CLEARLY NOT CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZARD BUT A SPONTANEOUS BREAK. THE CRACK HAS CONTINUED TO LENGTHEN WHILE WE WAIT FOR APPEALS TO REGIONAL SUBARU REPRESENTATIVES.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2020
WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASING MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK A CRACK APPEARED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT STRETCHES FROM ONE SIDE HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD, RIGHT IN THE FIELD OF VIEW. IT APPEARED OVERNIGHT, WHILE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE. NO ROCK PECKS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 13, 2020
I BOUGHT CAR HOME ON JAN 2. ON JAN 4TH I WOKE UP AND DISCOVERED THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED OVER NIGHT FOR NO REASON THAT WE COULD FIND. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED ALL NIGHT IN A DRIVE WAY AND NO OTHER DAMAGE OR ANYTHING WAS APPARENT. IT JUST GOT ABOUT 10 DEGREE COLDER DURING THE NIGHT THEN NORMAL.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 11, 2020
PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. NO ROCK HITS OR CHIPS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 10, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN AN OPEN PARKING LOT.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 9, 2020
I WOKE UP ON FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH TO SEE MY CAR'S WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE GARAGE. THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE WHEN I PARKED IT THE NIGHT BEFORE. MY DEALERSHIP DOES NOT BELIEVE ME AND SAYS A STONE HIT IT BUT NO STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE CAR LOT ON MONDAY, MARCH 2ND. I HAD THE DEFROSTERS ON FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH. THIS IS A BRAND NEW LEASE WITH ONLY 200 MILES ON IT AS OF FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH WHEN THE CRACK WAS NOTICED.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 9, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SUBARU DEALER WILL NOT COVER IT AND BECAME VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. THE CRACK BECAME MUCH LARGER OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THE CRACK GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER SIDE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE.
Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2020
THE WINDSHILED HAS A LARGE CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND IS UNDER A WEEK OLD. I NOTICED THE CRACK AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ALL NIGHT AT MY HOUSE. NOT SURE HOW OR WHERE IT BEGAN. I NOTICED ON 3/5 BUT NOT SURE HOW LONG A SMALLER ONE COULD HAVE BEEN THERE AND STARTED TO GROW.
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2020
THE LOW BEAM'S ANGLE ON THE SELF-LEVELING HEADLIGHT UNITS IS TOO FLAT BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC (EVERY OTHER CAR AND THIRD TRUCK FLASHES THEIR HIGH BEAMS AT ME). THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HANDSFREE BLUETOOTH PROTOCOL IS INADEQUATE AS INCOMING CALL VOLUME IS TOO LOW (EVEN AFTER INCREASING SPEAKER VOLUME TO MAXIMUM). IT MAKES HANDSFREE OPERATION OF YOUR MOBILE PHONE ALL BUT WORTHLESS WHILE HANDSFREE OPERATION IS REQUIRED BY LAW IN MY STATE. BOTH ISSUES ARE SAFETY ISSUES AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO CRACK. THE CRACK STARTED FROM THE LOWER SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A GLASS REPAIR FACILITY. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Other or unspecified, Feb 25, 2020
WINDSHIELD HAS 4 CRACKS/RUNS APPROX 24 INCHES EACH AND CHIPS VERY EASILY. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY WINDSHIELDS TO REPLACE IT WITH. SAFELITE COULDN'T FIND MY CAR'S WINDSHIELD IN THEIR INVENTORY. I EVEN BOUGHT THE POLICY THAT REPLACES THE WINDSHIELD AT NO COST TO ME. I DRIVE WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT CAN'T BE FIXED.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 24, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED JUST A FEW HOURS AFTER APPLYING CRYSTAL FUSION TO PROTECT THE WINDSHIELD. IT STARTED RAINING AFTER IT WAS APPLIED. WE WENT TO DINNER, AND WHEN WE CAME BACK TO THE PARKED VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN APPROXIMATE 6" CRACK, ON THE LEFT, DRIVER'S SIDE, FROM THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 24, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK SITTING IN THE GARAGE AFTER RETURNING FROM A 10 MILE DRIVE. TWO HOURS AFTER HAVING PARKED THE CAR WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE, A 10 INCH CRACK WAS VISIBLE ORIGINATING FROM THE UPPER LEFT CORNER. THE CRACK HAS GROWN TO ABOUT 24 INCHES OVER THE NEXT DAY.
Other or unspecified, Feb 24, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM WHEN THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER WERE USED TO PREHEAT THE CAR ON COLD MORNING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERMAL SHOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE VS INSIDE TEMPERATURE CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK UPWARDS AND THEN SPLIT IN BOTH LATERAL DIRECTIONS. COINCIDENTALLY, THE CAR IS NEW AND WAS MAKING A CREAKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED TO THE RIGHT WHICH I COULD NOT SOURCE. NOW THE WINDOW IS CRACKED AND THE NOISE IS GONE. TELLS ME THE WINDSHIELD WAS TOO TIGHT AND UNDER STRESS.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2020
FOUR WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE NEW VEHICLE, I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK APPEARED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUED TO CRACK FOR ABOUT 6 MORE INCHES. I HAVE NOW ORDERED A NEW WINDSHIELD TO REPLACE THE BROKEN ONE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN I NOTICED THE CRACK INITIALLY.
Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I NOTICE THAT MY WINDSHIELD GOT CRACKED FOR NO REASON. I JUST PURCHACED MY OUTBACK 5 DAYS AGO BEFORE IT HAPPENED.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2020
WINDSHIELD CHIPPED VERY EASILY
Visibility/wiper, Feb 22, 2020
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD DOWN PAST THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. I WAS HIT BY NO ROCKS OR ANY DEBRIS.
Other or unspecified, Feb 22, 2020
WINDSHIELD
Other or unspecified, Feb 22, 2020
BOUGHT A NEW CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD
Visibility/wiper, Feb 6, 2020
I PURCHASED A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK ONE WEEK AGO (JAN 30, 2020) TODAY I HAVE 700 MILES AND AFTER HEARING OF CHARGES AGAINST SUBARU FOR PRODUCING DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS I INSPECTED MINE AND I NOTICED A 2' LONG WINDSHIELD CRACK ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE. I'M CONCERNED THAT IT MAY SPREAD LATER TO IMPEDE MY VISION, BUT WANTED TO GO ON RECORD THAT THIS DEFECT EXISTS.
Steering, Feb 5, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE STEERING CEASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, WITH THE STEERING BEING DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STOHLMAN SUBARU SERVICE LOCATED AT 8435 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA 22182 AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300.
Other or unspecified, Jan 31, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD IS TOO FRAGILE. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 4 MONTHS, HAVE ALREADY HAD MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED ONCE. LITERALLY 2 WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT, ANOTHER CRACK. I DIDN'T EVEN HEAR A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS DRIVING OFF THE EXIT OF A FREEWAY, NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME, I HEARD A SMALL CRACKING NOISE. I NOTICED A BULLSEYE CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IF THE GLASS CAN'T EVEN SUSTAIN A SMALL ROCK HITTING IT (SO SMALL THAT I DIDNT EVEN HEAR IT HIT THE WINDSHIELD) HOW DOES THIS GLASS HOLD UP IN ACCIDENTS?
Visibility/wiper, Jan 28, 2020
CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE WITH NO CRACK IN THE WINDOW CAME OUT IN THE MORNING AND WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVERUNDER WARRANTY.