IllustrationLarge, long windshield crack. No rocks or debris, nothing hit the windshield. I went out to my car one morning and there is a long crack in my windshield starting at the middle edge.
2020 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Outback years
Owner complaints for the 2020 Subaru Outback are substantially higher than the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
3960–25K
3025–50K
1250–75K
275–100K
1100–150K
2150K+
443 reports with mileage · 453 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 313 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 258 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports7 fire reports4 injury reports
Visibility/wiper complaints
313 reportsWINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE NOT IN USE WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF PURCHASING NEW 2020 OUTBACK. CRACK HAS PROGRESSED TO SPAN ENTIRE WINDSHIELD.
I AM ON MY 4TH WINDSHIELD. MY WINDSHIELDS KEEP CRACKING FROM CHIPS,, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS.
WINDSHIELD FORMED A LARGE CRACK AT 2495 MILES (APPROX. 2/15/20) FROM LEFT BOTTOM CORNER TO CENTER ABOVE DRIVER POSITION. ONLY INDICATED CAUSE A 1/8 INCH SHALLOW SCRATCH. WINDSHIELD AGAIN CRACKED, ALMOST IDENTICAL SIZE AND POSITION AT 8934 MILES (APPROX.4/20/21), ONLY INDICATED DAMAGE A SMALL PIT AT LEFT BOTTOM. CRACKS ONLY APP…
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WINDSHIELD FORMED A LARGE CRACK AT 2495 MILES (APPROX. 2/15/20) FROM LEFT BOTTOM CORNER TO CENTER ABOVE DRIVER POSITION. ONLY INDICATED CAUSE A 1/8 INCH SHALLOW SCRATCH. WINDSHIELD AGAIN CRACKED, ALMOST IDENTICAL SIZE AND POSITION AT 8934 MILES (APPROX.4/20/21), ONLY INDICATED DAMAGE A SMALL PIT AT LEFT BOTTOM. CRACKS ONLY APPEARED AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE---NOTHING NOTICED PRIOR. EMAIL WITH GM AT DEALER PRODUCED NO RESPONSE. TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENTS $979.10. NO DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELDS OF 2 OTHER VEHICLES DRIVEN ON THE SAME ROUTES. IN MY OPINION, BOTH WINDSHIELD MARKS WERE EXTREMELY MINOR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PRODUCED WINDSHIELD FAILURE.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE CRACKING. CRACK BEGAIN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PORTION WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS PAINTED. ONGOING ISSUE WITH 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS.
MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A MASSIVE CRACK (ABOUT 6 IN VERTICAL AND 8 IN ACROSS) SPONTANEOUSLY. MY FIANCEE AND I WERE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS AND STOPPED INTO A SHOP. DURING THE DRIVE TO THE SHOP, WE DID NOT HEAR OR SEE ANY ROAD DEBRIS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN WE PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD WAS INTACT AND COMPLETELY NORMAL. ONCE WE COMPLETE…
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MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A MASSIVE CRACK (ABOUT 6 IN VERTICAL AND 8 IN ACROSS) SPONTANEOUSLY. MY FIANCEE AND I WERE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS AND STOPPED INTO A SHOP. DURING THE DRIVE TO THE SHOP, WE DID NOT HEAR OR SEE ANY ROAD DEBRIS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN WE PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD WAS INTACT AND COMPLETELY NORMAL. ONCE WE COMPLETED OUR SHOPPING (ABOUT 30 MINUTES FROM THE TIME THAT WE PARKED), WE RETURNED AND FOUND OUR VEHICLE HAD THIS LONG, RIDICULOUS CRACK. TO REITERATE. MY CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND PARKED. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS AT LEAST 200 YARDS AWAY FROM THE NEAREST ROAD. NOW, I HAVE TO GET MY WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY REPLACED IN ORDER TO SEE CLEARLY. INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, AND THIS OUTBACK HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR WRECKS. MY FIANCEE AND I ARE THE ONLY DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WINDSHIELD JUST STARTED CRACKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FROM BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BELOW THE WINDOW TRIM. WITHIN MINUTES IT WENT FROM A 3-4 INCH CRACK TO ENCOMPASSING THE MAJORITY OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS WINDSHIELD. IN DECEMBER A SMALL PEBBLE BARELY TAPPED…
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WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WINDSHIELD JUST STARTED CRACKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FROM BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BELOW THE WINDOW TRIM. WITHIN MINUTES IT WENT FROM A 3-4 INCH CRACK TO ENCOMPASSING THE MAJORITY OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS WINDSHIELD. IN DECEMBER A SMALL PEBBLE BARELY TAPPED THIS DRIVER'S SIDE AND CAUSED AN INSTANT GOUGE.
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY OUTBACK CRACKED WITH NO WARNING OR IMPACT. I HAD PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS JUST BEGINNING TO MOVE FORWARD ON MY STREET WHEN I HEARD A SOUND IN THE CABIN. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT LOOKED AROUND AS I REACHED A NEARBY STOP SIGN. THERE IS A LARGE Y-SHAPED CRACK FROM THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD, PART…
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THE WINDSHIELD ON MY OUTBACK CRACKED WITH NO WARNING OR IMPACT. I HAD PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS JUST BEGINNING TO MOVE FORWARD ON MY STREET WHEN I HEARD A SOUND IN THE CABIN. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT LOOKED AROUND AS I REACHED A NEARBY STOP SIGN. THERE IS A LARGE Y-SHAPED CRACK FROM THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD, PARTIALLY HIDDEN BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.
A 12 INCH CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED AFTER I HEARD A LOUD SHARP SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING 55 MPH ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY (BRILEY PARKWAY) IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AND WITH NO ANTECEDENT ROCK OR OTHER IMPACT, WINDSHIELD INCURRED LARGE DIAGONAL CRACK. AT THE TIME, CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A HGHWAY IN GOOD WEATHER.
Official recalls
624V227000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
Mar 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
22V485000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:driveline:chain/belt
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:driveline:chain/belt
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.
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
21V955000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:driveline:chain/belt
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:driveline:chain/belt
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.
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
21V587000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Jul 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
20V766000 · Back Over Prevention:display Function
Dec 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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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.
19V664000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Sep 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.