IllustrationSPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK. LOWER EDGE OF DRIVERS SIDE CRACK. 25 MPH ZONE WITH NO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME. BECOMING LARGER TOWARDS PASSENGER SIDE, EACH DAY, CURRENTLY MID WINDSHIELD. I HAVE HAD TO MAKE A CLAIM WITH INSURANCE TODAY.
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
What owners actually said
896 reportsSMALL ROCK HIT WINDSHIELD ON INTERSTATE, LEAVING A NICE CHIP WITH FIVE LINES COMING OUT. IN THE AM FOUND 2 LINES EXPANDED SEVERAL INCHES OUTWARD. -THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAD A WINDSHIELD BREAK IN THE THIS CAR (IN THE LAST YEAR)! MILEAGE IS AT 19000, OWNED NEW 1.5 YRS.
WE HAD (3) BROKEN WINDSHIELDS DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING SINCE NOVEMBER. (2) IN LAST 8 WEEKS. MY WIFE HAS TRAVEL SAME SECTION OF HIGHWAY M-F FOR LAST 8 YEARS WITH NO BROKEN WINDSHIELDS WITH (2) PREVIOUS VEHICLES.
THE BATTERY SUDDENLY DRAINED. THIS HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AFTER I HAD A TRIP OF OVER 750 MILES. I DID A JUMP START AND THEN DROVE THE CAR FOR OVER 20 MINUTES. THE NEXT DAY THE SAME THING. TOOK IT TO SUBARU SERVICE, THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM JUST CHARGED IT. THE NEXT TIME AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME SUB…
Read full complaint
THE BATTERY SUDDENLY DRAINED. THIS HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AFTER I HAD A TRIP OF OVER 750 MILES. I DID A JUMP START AND THEN DROVE THE CAR FOR OVER 20 MINUTES. THE NEXT DAY THE SAME THING. TOOK IT TO SUBARU SERVICE, THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM JUST CHARGED IT. THE NEXT TIME AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME SUBARU SERVICE KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND THEN CHANGED THE BATTERY. ITS A FEW MONTHS NOW BUT I ALWAYS HAVE THIS LINGERING FEELING THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN, SPECIALLY READING THE NEWS REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING AFTER SOME TIME.
WENT TO GET IN MY CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK WHERE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN SINCE SUNDAY THE 11TH AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM MIDDLE AND UP A SIGNIFICANT WAY BEFORE IT SPLIT INTO A WIDE 'Y' SHAPE.
BATTERY IS DEAD. CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND NOT USED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT ON WED APRIL 14, 2021 THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. NO LIGHTS HAS BEEN LEFT ON. ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED WHEN CAR NOT IN USE.
ON 9/27/2021 I BOUGHT A NEW 2020 SUBURU OUTBACK FROM CAMELBACK SUBURU IN PHOENIX AZ. WE HAVE NOW HAD TWO WINDSHIELDS CRACK STARTING FROM THE LEFT A PILLAR AND CONTINUE ACROSS THE REST OF THE WINDSHIELD IN SHORT ORDER. BOTH WINDSHIELDS CRACKED FROM THE SAME SPOT WITHOUT ANY CAUSE, IE ROCKS ETC. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING IT IS FR…
Read full complaint
ON 9/27/2021 I BOUGHT A NEW 2020 SUBURU OUTBACK FROM CAMELBACK SUBURU IN PHOENIX AZ. WE HAVE NOW HAD TWO WINDSHIELDS CRACK STARTING FROM THE LEFT A PILLAR AND CONTINUE ACROSS THE REST OF THE WINDSHIELD IN SHORT ORDER. BOTH WINDSHIELDS CRACKED FROM THE SAME SPOT WITHOUT ANY CAUSE, IE ROCKS ETC. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING IT IS FROM ROCKS. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I BELIEVE THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON AND ARE DEFRAUDING ME OUT OF A LEGITIMATE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY CLAIM. I HAVE TALKED WITH MY INSURANCE AGENT AND THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE WITH THEM WITH TWO CLAIMS IIN SUCH A SHORT TIME.
BATTERY REPEATEDLY DIES AFTER VERY SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, NO LIGHTS LEFT ON OR DOORS LEFT OPEN. VEHICLE BATTERY HAS DIED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS WHEN LEFT OVERNIGHT.
WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF I-15 IN MONTANA ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 6:30PM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK RANDOMLY CRACKED FROM LOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE IMPACT TO T…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF I-15 IN MONTANA ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 6:30PM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK RANDOMLY CRACKED FROM LOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. ROAD CONDITIONS SEEMED SMOOTH AT THE TIME OF THE CRACK AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AROUND MID 40 DEGREES F. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR SEVERAL HOURS SO THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STABLE WITH NO WILD TEMPERATURE SWINGS. INSPECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE EVENT SHOWS NO SIGNS OF CHIPS OR IMPACTS NEAR THE CRACK. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES NOTED.
THE WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS NOT CRACKED WHEN I PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE ONE NIGHT. THE NEXT AFTERNOON WHEN WE GOT IN TO DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE, THE WINDSHIELD HAD AN UNEXPECTED CRACK APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES LONG, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN FROM THE TOP, GOING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE WIN…
Read full complaint
THE WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS NOT CRACKED WHEN I PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE ONE NIGHT. THE NEXT AFTERNOON WHEN WE GOT IN TO DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE, THE WINDSHIELD HAD AN UNEXPECTED CRACK APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES LONG, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN FROM THE TOP, GOING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK CAME SEEMINGLY OUT OF NOWHERE. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN STATIONARY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS. THIS CRACK APPEARED ON SUNDAY AND IS HUGE, WE WILL NEED THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED.
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.