IllustrationWINDSHIELD STARTED CRACKING FROM BELOW THE WIPE TRIM AND KEEPS CRACKING. WAS DRIVING UP DONNER SUMMIT HWY 80. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. TEMPERATURE IN 20'S ELEVATION GAIN TO NEAR 6500 FEET. SOME SLEET SNOW WIPERS IN USE. NOTICED CRACK AFTER STORM CLEARED. CRACK HAPPENED FROM NO KNOWN IMPACT. DIDN'T HEAR ANY ROCK IMPACT.
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 reportsMY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. ONE MORNING AS I WAS GETTING IN THE VEHICLE AND I NOTICED A CRACK HAD APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDING UP AND TO THE CENTER ABOUT A FOOT.
ON TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY, 2021 I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM PICKING MY TWO CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL (AGE 4 AND 6). AS I APPROACHED THE DRIVE WAY THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED PROPERLY TO ALLOW ME TO TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY, BUT SUDDENLY THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE CAR ACCELERATED DRIVING STRAIGHT THROUGH MY CLOSED GARAGE DOOR. I WAS …
Read full complaint
ON TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY, 2021 I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM PICKING MY TWO CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL (AGE 4 AND 6). AS I APPROACHED THE DRIVE WAY THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED PROPERLY TO ALLOW ME TO TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY, BUT SUDDENLY THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE CAR ACCELERATED DRIVING STRAIGHT THROUGH MY CLOSED GARAGE DOOR. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL STEERING BUT REGARDLESS OF MY FOOT PRESSING FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THANKFULLY, INSTALLED IN THE CEMENT WAS A ROGUE R3 WEIGHT RACK THAT WAS BOLTED INTO THE CEMENT AT FOUR LOCATIONS. THE CAR PROCEEDED FORWARD UNTIL COLLIDING WITH THE WEIGHT RACK, A MERE 3 FEET FROM OUR HVAC SYSTEM AND THE HOME STRUCTURE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. IF THE WEIGHT RACK DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE MYSELF AND MY TWO CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY INJURED, NOT TO MENTION, IF MY HUSBAND OR TWO SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN THE GARAGE AT THE TIME, THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN DEATH. MY AIR BOGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE AUTO COLLISION SAFETY MECHANISM FAILED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY IN HOPES TO KEEP THIS AS A FAMILY VEHICLE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, PRIMARY REASON FOR PURCHASE WAS SAFETY. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. MY VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TOWED TO RPM PERFORMANCE IN BURLINGTON WASHINGTON FOR INSPECTION. LATER, BROUGHT TO DWAYNE LANES SUBARU (PURCHASE LOCATION) FOR INSPECTION. FINDINGS WERE THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED AND DRIVER IS AT FAULT. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. DANGEROUSLY UNSAFE AND THIS MUST BE MADE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS AND POTENTIAL DEATHS.
BATTERY DRAIN, SEEMS TO BE UNDIAGNOSABLE. QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOW LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER CANNON SUBARU (5212 FLORIDA AVE S, LAKELAND, FL 33813, (888) 450-8918) AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER CANNON SUBARU (5212 FLORIDA AVE S, LAKELAND, FL 33813, (888) 450-8918) AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,567.
WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK, THAT I THOUGHT WAS WEIRD AS I DIDN'T HEAR A ROCK, BUT A CRACK. I SAW THAT 2020 SUBARU OUTBACKS HAD A LAWSUIT FOR DEFECT. I FOUND OUT WEEKS AFTER I MADE AN INSURANCE CLAIM TO HAVE MY WINDSHIELD FIXED. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT CALLED GLASSMAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (28000 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, (888) 451-0949) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIF…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT CALLED GLASSMAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (28000 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, (888) 451-0949) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,133. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN IT CRACKED.
CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN AUG 2020. I HAD A NORMAL 6 MONTH SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY FEB 8, 2021. ON SUNDAY FEB 7, 2021 CAR WOULDN'T START. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY CAME TO MY HOME AND USED A BATTERY STARTER TO JUMP START THE CAR. I LET THE CAR RUN FOR 30 MINUTES TO CHARGE THE BATTERY…
Read full complaint
CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN AUG 2020. I HAD A NORMAL 6 MONTH SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY FEB 8, 2021. ON SUNDAY FEB 7, 2021 CAR WOULDN'T START. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY CAME TO MY HOME AND USED A BATTERY STARTER TO JUMP START THE CAR. I LET THE CAR RUN FOR 30 MINUTES TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STARTED FINE SO I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SCHEDULED SERVICE APPOINTMENT. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE CAR HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED THE DAY BEFORE. WHEN THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETE I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT FINE. REFER TO ITEM #5 ON ATTACHED SERVICE REPORT. I DROVE THE CAR HOME. ON WEDNESDAY FEB 10, 2021 I TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULDN'T START. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CAME TO MY HOME AND JUMP STARTED THE CAR. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOOK FOR A PROBLEM. THE DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND, WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR STANDING NEXT TO THE CAR, TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I'VE SINCE LOOK INLINE FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HAVE FOUND THAT LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST SUBARU REGARDING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. SEE PAGE #1 OF ATTACHED MAGAZINE ARTICLE.
CAR WILL NOT START. BATTERY IS DEAD. WE DROVE IT MONDAY AND IT WAS FINE. WE DID NOT USE LIGHTS AND MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OFF. TODAY, IT WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WAS DEAD!
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.