IllustrationBATTERY GOES DEAD WHEN DON'T DRIVE IT WEEKLY. PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER IN JUNE 2020. HAVE HAD AAA OUT TWICE TO JUMP THE BATTERY. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY AAA AND DEALERSHIP TO DRIVE THE CAR OR START IT AND LET IT RUN FOR 30 MINUTES EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS TO KEEP BATTERY CHARGED BECAUSE ELECTRONICS DRAIN THE BATTERY. CAR WAS IN GARAGE.
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 reportsWINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. I HAD COMPLAINED TO THE THE DEALER. THEY WON'T HELP ME AND SAID IT IS ROCK CHIP. IT WAS IN THE PARKING MODE WHEN IT START TO CRACK ITSELF.
MY OUTBACK WAS BOUGHT NEW LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE CAR BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE. MY CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 3,000 MILES ON IT, IT'S USED MOSTLY FOR CITY DRIVING. ONE MORNING MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD IN OUR DRIVEWAY, NOTHING WOULD TURN ON, SO WE JUMPED THE CAR BATTERY AND IT WORKED FINE THE REST OF THE DAY. WHEN THE …
Read full complaint
MY OUTBACK WAS BOUGHT NEW LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE CAR BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE. MY CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 3,000 MILES ON IT, IT'S USED MOSTLY FOR CITY DRIVING. ONE MORNING MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD IN OUR DRIVEWAY, NOTHING WOULD TURN ON, SO WE JUMPED THE CAR BATTERY AND IT WORKED FINE THE REST OF THE DAY. WHEN THE CAR TURNED ON, NO LIGHTS WERE ON TO INDICATE THAT THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DRAINED DUE TO LIGHTS BEING KEPT ON. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AGAIN. WE JUMPED THE CAR AGAIN, BUT AFTER NOT BEING USED FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE CAR BATTERY WAS AGAIN COMPLETELY DEAD. WE ARE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT IT APPEARS THERE IS ALREADY A LAWSUIT AGAINST SUBARU FOR THE SAME THING HAPPENING IN OTHER 2016-2020 OUTBACKS.
VEHICLE PARKED AT CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AIRPORT FROM 2/27/21-3/5/21 DEVELOPED WINDSHIELD CRACK IN STATIONARY CONDITION WITH NO OBSERVABLE EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD OR CAR. LUCKILY THE CRACK IS MINOR AND DID NOT IMPAIR DRIVING BUT A FULL REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO AN ALMOST NEW PARKED CAR WITH…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE PARKED AT CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AIRPORT FROM 2/27/21-3/5/21 DEVELOPED WINDSHIELD CRACK IN STATIONARY CONDITION WITH NO OBSERVABLE EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD OR CAR. LUCKILY THE CRACK IS MINOR AND DID NOT IMPAIR DRIVING BUT A FULL REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO AN ALMOST NEW PARKED CAR WITH NO NOTICEABLE DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD.
WHILE DRIVING MY SUBARU OUTBACK TODAY ON A CLEAN, CLEAR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH VERY FEW OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED, MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE. THE CRACK ORIGINATED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER AND TRAVELLED UP AND TO THE LEFT.
MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS HAD A 2ND INCIDENT WITH A WINDSHIELD CRACK THAT DRAMATICALLY SPREAD MORE THAN A FOOT LONG ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING FROM A PIN-NEEDLE-SIZED HOLE NEAR THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER, I.E., ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AROUND SPEED LIMIT WHEN A PEBBLE HIT IT, CAUSIN…
Read full complaint
MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS HAD A 2ND INCIDENT WITH A WINDSHIELD CRACK THAT DRAMATICALLY SPREAD MORE THAN A FOOT LONG ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING FROM A PIN-NEEDLE-SIZED HOLE NEAR THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER, I.E., ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AROUND SPEED LIMIT WHEN A PEBBLE HIT IT, CAUSING THE TINY HOLE, WHICH ONLY ERUPTED INTO A HUGE CRACK AFTER I PARKED IT. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR EXACTLY 1 YEAR WHEN IT HAPPENED AND IT'S ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR LESS THAN 6,000 MILES. THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS THIN AND NOT DURABLE.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2020 OUTBACK ONYX XT IN FALL 2019. IT GENERALLY HAD NO ISSUES AND RAN FINE WITH NORMAL DRIVING (EG DRIVING TO WORK AND ERRANDS EVERY DAY OR TWO). FALL OF 2020 (CAR AROUND 10,000 MILES) THE CAR RANDOMLY WAS FULLY DEAD (COULDN'T UNLOCK DOORS OR START THE ENGINE) ONE MORNING AFTER HAVING BEEN DRIVEN NORMALLY ONE…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A NEW 2020 OUTBACK ONYX XT IN FALL 2019. IT GENERALLY HAD NO ISSUES AND RAN FINE WITH NORMAL DRIVING (EG DRIVING TO WORK AND ERRANDS EVERY DAY OR TWO). FALL OF 2020 (CAR AROUND 10,000 MILES) THE CAR RANDOMLY WAS FULLY DEAD (COULDN'T UNLOCK DOORS OR START THE ENGINE) ONE MORNING AFTER HAVING BEEN DRIVEN NORMALLY ONE OR TWO DAYS BEFORE. I JUMP STARTED THE CAR, DROVE IT FOR AN HOUR, AND THE BATTERY SEEMINGLY DID NOT CHARGE - THE CAR DIED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND IT COULD NOT BE LOCKED/UNLOCKED/STARTED/ETC. THE CAR WAS JUMP STARTED AGAIN AND BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAULTY BATTERY UNIT WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR THEN WORKED NORMALLY UNTIL EARLY 2021, WHEN THE ISSUE REPEATED ITSELF - FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE CAR DIED, AFTER HAVING WORKED FINE THE DAY OR TWO BEFORE (I.E. IT WASN'T LEFT UNDRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME). IT WAS JUMP STARTED, BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER, AND SAME DIAGNOSIS/FIX - BATTERY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ONE WEEK LATER, THE ISSUE REPEATED ITSELF. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AND THE DEALER DID MORE DIAGNOSES AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH THAT WAS IN AN ON POSITION (ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT ITSELF WAS OFF) - THEY TRIED TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE WITH LEAVING THE LIGHT ON CAUSING THE CAR TO DIE OVERNIGHT. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY. MOST RECENTLY, AROUND ONE WEEK LATER - MARCH 1 2021 - THIS ISSUE REPEATED FOR A FOURTH TIME. I WAS SPECIFICALLY CAREFUL THAT NO LIGHT SWITCHES WERE EVER LEFT ON AND THE CAR HAD WORKED FINE THE DAY PRIOR TO IT HAVING BEEN UNABLE TO START, AND AM AWAITING INSTRUCTIONS FROM SUBARU FOR NEXT STEPS. CLEARLY IT IS NOT SIMPLY A "BAD BATTERY" AS THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE CAR (WHICH IS UNDER WARRANTY) AND MAKE IT USEABLE FOR NORMAL DRIVING.
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT MY RESIDENCE. I GOT SOMETHING OUT OF MY GLOVE BOX AND IT WAS FINE. I WENT BACK AN HOUR LATER TO PUT THE ITEM BACK AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD HAD A LARGE CRACK IN IT.
LAST SUNDAY MORNING I DISCOVERED A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AS I GOT INTO THE CAR. CRACK APPEARED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WAS NOT THERE THE DAY BEFORE WHEN CAR WAS LAST DRIVEN. CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT OR OBVIOUS REASON. WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING.
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.