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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
2,500 miles · Mar 29, 2021
Electrical System

MY CAR BATTERY FAILED IN SEPTEMBER THEN AGAIN IN OCTOBER. I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE BACK:BACK. THEN AT THE END OF FEBRUARY- 5 DAYS IN A ROW I HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY JUMPED. DEALER SAW IT AND CLAIMED IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY AND ONLY NEEDED CHARGING. AT THE END OF MARCH (TODAY), THE CAR'S BATTER…

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MY CAR BATTERY FAILED IN SEPTEMBER THEN AGAIN IN OCTOBER. I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE BACK:BACK. THEN AT THE END OF FEBRUARY- 5 DAYS IN A ROW I HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY JUMPED. DEALER SAW IT AND CLAIMED IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY AND ONLY NEEDED CHARGING. AT THE END OF MARCH (TODAY), THE CAR'S BATTERY FAILED AGAIN. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO SUBARU. THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO AN ANALYSIS ON THE BATTERY. A TOWING SERVICE CAME TO JUMP MY CAR. AT ALL TIMES, WITHOUT A JUMP THE CAR WILL NOT TURNOVER. I ALSO NOTICED- MAYBE RELATED MAYBE NOT- THE CAR'S CALCULATION FOR MILEAGE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. SPECIFICALLY, WITHIN 30 SECONDS IT CAN GO FROM 3 MPG, 55 MPG, 7 THEN SEVERAL HUNDRED; IT MAKES NO SENSE.*DT

NHTSA ODI #11405489

9,066 miles · Mar 29, 2021
Visibility/wiper

THE FRONT WINDOW CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK STARTED ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY UP THE WINDOW, IN A J SHAPE FASHION. VERY NARROW CRACK. THE CAR WAS IN MY GARAGE WHEN I WENT OUT TO START IT I SAW THE CRACK. HAD NOT BEEN THERE BEFORE BUT THE EYE SIGHT SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING THE DAY BEFORE WHEN DRIVING THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11405341

3,000 miles · Mar 28, 2021
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED AT THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE GLASS NEAR THE VENTS. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BUT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE AROUND. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR ROCK.

NHTSA ODI #11405253

8,800 miles · Mar 28, 2021
Electrical System

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, PARKING, AND TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR A SHORT TIME, THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND HAS TO GET JUMP STARTED. SOMETHING DRAINS THE BATTERY. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY, BUR HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES, TWICE AT AROUND 7,000 MILES AND ONCE AT 8,800 MILES. AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED , THE DE…

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AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, PARKING, AND TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR A SHORT TIME, THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND HAS TO GET JUMP STARTED. SOMETHING DRAINS THE BATTERY. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY, BUR HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES, TWICE AT AROUND 7,000 MILES AND ONCE AT 8,800 MILES. AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED , THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE REAR DOME LIGHT WAS LEFT ON. WHILE I NEVER USED THE REAR DOME LIGHT, I ACCEPTED THE EXPLANATION. HOWEVER, WITH THIS LATEST OCCURRENCE , I AM CERTAIN THAT NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON. I WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY CAN DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I CANNOT DEPEND ON THIS CAR TO START WHENEVER I GO TO DRIVE IT

NHTSA ODI #11405220

12,000 miles · Mar 27, 2021
Forward Collision Avoidance

EVER SINCE THE RECALL FOR THE COCKPIT CONTROL SYSTEM SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED ON MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING ON MARCH 1, 2021 THE CONSOLE RANDOMLY REBOOTS. IT HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN 3 WEEKS. ON A RECENT TRIP ON THURSDAY MARCH 25, 2021 THE CONSOLE REBOOTED 3 TIMES IN A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE SAFETY FUNCTIONS A…

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EVER SINCE THE RECALL FOR THE COCKPIT CONTROL SYSTEM SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED ON MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING ON MARCH 1, 2021 THE CONSOLE RANDOMLY REBOOTS. IT HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN 3 WEEKS. ON A RECENT TRIP ON THURSDAY MARCH 25, 2021 THE CONSOLE REBOOTED 3 TIMES IN A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE SAFETY FUNCTIONS ARE DISABLED - PRE-COLLISION BRAKING, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, PRE-COLLISION THROTTLE MANAGEMENT, LANE DEPARTURE AND SWAY WARNING WITH LANE KEEP ASSIST, ETC.

NHTSA ODI #11405122

10,000 miles · Mar 26, 2021
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT CALLED FRANK FLETCHER SUBARU (3430 E 20TH ST, JOPLIN, MO 64801) WHO REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT CALLED FRANK FLETCHER SUBARU (3430 E 20TH ST, JOPLIN, MO 64801) WHO REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPAIR THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. SOON AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, ANOTHER CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE BOTTOM DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD, WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACKS OBSTRUCTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS OFFERED AN INCENTIVE TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A 2021 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT AGREED TO THE TRADE OFFER AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #11404983

4,141 miles · Mar 26, 2021
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURES SUBARU OUTBACK 2020 ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE PAST 10 MONTHS OUR NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FAILED TO START AND WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL POWER. EVERY TIME: 'THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN REGULARLY, INCLUDING ON THE PRIOR DAY. 'WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE BATTERY WA…

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ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURES SUBARU OUTBACK 2020 ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE PAST 10 MONTHS OUR NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FAILED TO START AND WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL POWER. EVERY TIME: 'THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN REGULARLY, INCLUDING ON THE PRIOR DAY. 'WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE HAD NEVER LEFT LIGHTS ON, DOORS OPEN ETC. 'THE CAR JUMP STARTED EASILY AND THEN WOULD BEHAVE NORMALLY FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS. EPISODE 1 5.15.20 LOCAL DEALERSHIP TESTED AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS EPISODE 2 5.22.20 LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY EPISODE 3 1.11.21 TO 1.19.21 LOCAL DEALER HAD CAR FOR 8 DAYS. THEY WORKED WITH SUBARU NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS ENGINEERS. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. NO LOANER CAR PROVIDED EPISODE 4. 3.21.21 JUMP STARTED. SUBARU CONTACTED. I KEPT THE CAR WAITING ADVICE FROM SUBARU. CAR WENT WELL FOR 2 DAYS EPISODE 5 3.23.21 DIED AGAIN. SUBARU CONTACTED. I KEPT THE CAR WAITING ADVICE FROM SUBARU. HAVE NOT RESTARTED. I WANT THE CAR REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11404977

15,000 miles · Mar 24, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS OF THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM CRASHING OR GOING DARK AND BEING UNRESPONSIVE. TODAY DURING ANOTHER EPISODE THE VEHICLES ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF CRUISE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT SPEED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHILE ON THE HIGHWA…

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VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS OF THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM CRASHING OR GOING DARK AND BEING UNRESPONSIVE. TODAY DURING ANOTHER EPISODE THE VEHICLES ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF CRUISE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT SPEED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ENTIRETY OF ELECTRICAL CONTROLS WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE INFOTAINMENT CRASHING AND BECOMING INOPERABLE ARE A RELATIVELY COMMON EXPERIENCE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #11404678

4,916 miles · Mar 23, 2021
Visibility/wiper

I WAS MOVING VEHICLE INTO GARAGE WHEN I HEARD A "POP". I SAW A CRACK ABOUT 2/3RDS UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. CRACK STARTED FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS AND IS PROPAGATING TOWARDS MOVING TOWARDS THE CENTER.

NHTSA ODI #11404477

5,000 miles · Mar 22, 2021
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A CRACK ON THE UPPER SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK OBSTRUCTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A CRACK ON THE UPPER SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK OBSTRUCTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.

NHTSA ODI #11404246

Official recalls

6

24V227000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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