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
What owners actually said
896 reports
9,427 miles · May 12, 2021
Electrical System
CONTINUAL BATTERY PROBLEMS. HAD TO JUMP AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER BUYING THE CAR NEW. FINALLY WOULDN'T TAKE A JUMP AND DROPPED OFF THE CAR AT THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE 2020 SUBARU. THEY SAID THERE WERE KNOWN BATTERY PROBLEMS BUT I NEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR AT LEAST EVERY 2 DAYS TO KEEP THE BATTERY OPERATIONAL.…
Read full complaint
CONTINUAL BATTERY PROBLEMS. HAD TO JUMP AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER BUYING THE CAR NEW. FINALLY WOULDN'T TAKE A JUMP AND DROPPED OFF THE CAR AT THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE 2020 SUBARU. THEY SAID THERE WERE KNOWN BATTERY PROBLEMS BUT I NEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR AT LEAST EVERY 2 DAYS TO KEEP THE BATTERY OPERATIONAL. THE SOLUTION WAS A NEW BATTERY AND AN ECM UPDATE.
NHTSA ODI #11416239
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2021
Visibility/wiper
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…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #11416093
16,000 miles · May 10, 2021
Structure
SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED OUT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. HAPPENED AT 7 A.M. 5/10/2021 IN MECHANICSVILLE VA. NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ABOUT 63 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAVEN'T USED THE SUNROOF IN WEEKS. IT MADE NO SINCE. I GOOGLED AND SAW WHERE THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM ON THEIR OUTBACK AND SOME OT…
Read full complaint
SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED OUT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. HAPPENED AT 7 A.M. 5/10/2021 IN MECHANICSVILLE VA. NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ABOUT 63 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAVEN'T USED THE SUNROOF IN WEEKS. IT MADE NO SINCE. I GOOGLED AND SAW WHERE THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM ON THEIR OUTBACK AND SOME OTHER VEHICLES TOO. I THANKFULLY HAD THE INSIDE COVER PANEL SLID FORWARD SO NONE OF THE GLASS CAME DOWN ON ME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK HOME BUT AS I DROVE SLOWER, THE GLASS KEPT COMING APART. AT FIRST IT WAS A SQUARE AREA ABOUT 6" X 4" MISSING WHEN I FIRST STOPPED AND THE REST WAS ALL SHATTERED LIKE LITTLE SQUARES BUT IN PLACE. THEN AS I DROVE HOME AT A SLOWER SPEED ON THE SIDE ROADS, IT CONTINUED FALLING IN ONTO THE HEADLINER SLIDE COVER.
NHTSA ODI #11415829
14,000 miles · May 10, 2021
Visibility/wiper
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.
NHTSA ODI #11415789
9,500 miles · May 9, 2021
Electrical System
PARKED THE CAR AT LAKESIDE PARK AND WENT FOR A HIKE. RETURNED 2 HOURS LATER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. NO LIGHTS OR DOORS WERE LEFT OPEN. FINALLY CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO JUMP START THE CAR. THERE WAS NO REASON THE BATTERY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD
NHTSA ODI #11415753
8,654 miles · May 9, 2021
Electrical System
THE 2020 OUTBACK HAS DIED 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 5 WEEKS (ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP). AFTER THE SECOND TIME (AT THE DEALERSHIP) THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THREE DAYS LATER THE NEW BATTERY IS DEAD.
NHTSA ODI #11415722
15,600 miles · May 7, 2021
Visibility/wiper
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…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #11415506
5,500 miles · May 4, 2021
Air BagsCrash
ON DECEMBER 18,2020 I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. I WAS TRAVELING MAYBE 5-10 MILES AN HOUR THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT. AN AUTOMOBILE STRUCK ME PERPENDICULAR AT 30-40 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY TAKEN BY THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE SPEED WAS ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND WITNESSES. THE CAR WAS STRUCK SO VIOLENTLY TH…
Read full complaint
ON DECEMBER 18,2020 I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. I WAS TRAVELING MAYBE 5-10 MILES AN HOUR THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT. AN AUTOMOBILE STRUCK ME PERPENDICULAR AT 30-40 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY TAKEN BY THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE SPEED WAS ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND WITNESSES. THE CAR WAS STRUCK SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE SCUFFED ON THE SIDEWALL FROM THEM ROLLING UNDER THE CAR. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVERS WINDOW FROM THE IMPACT. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NO SIDECURTAINS DEPLOYED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE KIA THAT IMPACTED ME. SUBARU TIED MY CAR UP FOR 4 MONTHS AFTER I REQUESTED THEY COME LOOK AT THE CAR TO DETERMINE IF IT ACTED CORRECTLY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THEY DOWNLOADED DATA FROM MY CAR AND HAVE REFUSED TO SHARE IT WITH ME. THEY CLAIM THAT THE IMPACT WAS OBLIQUE. THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE DESIGNED NOT TO GO OFF IF IN FACT THIS HAPPENS. THEY ALSO SAY THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT. I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL. IT SAYS THAT IF THE IMPACT IS PERPENDICULAR THE AIRBAGS/SIDE CURTAINS SHOULD DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS 3 MONTHS OLD TO THE DAY. INCLUDED ARE PICTURES OF MY CAR SHOWING THE DAMAGE. I ALSO SENT PICTURES OF HOW THE FRONT TIRE WAS BENT FROM THE IMPACT.. I HAVE ALSO INCLUDED THE PICTURES OF THE KIA THAT IMPACTED MY SUBARU.
NHTSA ODI #11415079
10,750 miles · May 1, 2021
Visibility/wiper
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…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #11414707
20,000 miles · Apr 28, 2021
Unknown Or Other
I HAVE A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE WINDSHIELDS KEEP BREAKING. I JUST HAD THE THIRD (3RD) WINDSHIELD INSTALLED IN THIS 2020 VEHICLE AND IT WAS CRACKED BEFORE IT WAS TWO WEEKS OLD. THE LAST WINDSHIELD I HAD WAS SPIDER WEBS OF CRACKS - I DROVE IT LIKE THAT FOR MONTHS WAITING ON SUBARU TO FIX THE GLASS ISSUE. IT IS NOT FIXED. I HAVE …
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE WINDSHIELDS KEEP BREAKING. I JUST HAD THE THIRD (3RD) WINDSHIELD INSTALLED IN THIS 2020 VEHICLE AND IT WAS CRACKED BEFORE IT WAS TWO WEEKS OLD. THE LAST WINDSHIELD I HAD WAS SPIDER WEBS OF CRACKS - I DROVE IT LIKE THAT FOR MONTHS WAITING ON SUBARU TO FIX THE GLASS ISSUE. IT IS NOT FIXED. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS IN THIS AREA FOR TWO DECADES AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE NEW SUBARU WINDSHIELDS. SMALL DEBRIS WILL HIT THE CAR ON HWY/INTERSTATE THAT WOULD NOT USUALLY CRACK GLASS AND IT CRACKS. IT CHIPS VERY EASY AND THEN CRACKS TO A LENGTH THAT IS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. I THINK SOME OF THE CRACKS JUST APPEAR. BIZARRE. A FAMILY MEMBER HAS 2021 ASCENT AND JUST HAD TO REPLACE HER WINDSHIELD ALSO.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ↗