IllustrationA CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY APPEARED ON MY WINDSHIELD A FEW DAYS AGO..IT LOOKS LIKE AN EDGE CRACK THAT JUST FORMED WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY ON MY DRIVEWAY AND DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE FORMED BY CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECT. THIS CAR IS JUST 4 MONTHS OLD AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN MUCH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE GLASS! *TR
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 reportsVEHICLE WOULD NOT START. LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AND GIVING SYSTEMS NOT WORKING. HEADLIGHTS FLASHED CONTINUOUSLY. IT WAS IN THE GARAGE BUT COULDN'T GET TAILGATE OPEN. TURNED OUT ISSUE WAS BATTERY FOR THE IGNITION. SUBARU EMERGENCY ARRANGED TOWING AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD BRING IT BACK TO ME. THEN WHEN I REQUESTED THEY SAID IT WOULD B…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AND GIVING SYSTEMS NOT WORKING. HEADLIGHTS FLASHED CONTINUOUSLY. IT WAS IN THE GARAGE BUT COULDN'T GET TAILGATE OPEN. TURNED OUT ISSUE WAS BATTERY FOR THE IGNITION. SUBARU EMERGENCY ARRANGED TOWING AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD BRING IT BACK TO ME. THEN WHEN I REQUESTED THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $168 TO BRING IT BACK. IT IS A WEEK OLD AND 335 MILES ON IT AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME TO RETURN IT TO ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT THAT THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS FROM THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE GOING DOWN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT CONTACTED GANLEY WESTSIDE SUBARU 25730 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070 AT (440) 734-2000, TO INFORM THE D…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT THAT THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS FROM THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE GOING DOWN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT CONTACTED GANLEY WESTSIDE SUBARU 25730 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070 AT (440) 734-2000, TO INFORM THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY, 2020. AFTER DRIVING IT LESS THAN 1500 MILES, THE BATTERY DIED, REQUIRING A JUMP START. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER, AND HAVING BEEN DRIVEN ALMOST DAILY, IT WENT DEAD AGAIN. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT SUBARU HAS TO ADDRESS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CARLSEN SUBARU, REDWOOD CIT…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY, 2020. AFTER DRIVING IT LESS THAN 1500 MILES, THE BATTERY DIED, REQUIRING A JUMP START. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER, AND HAVING BEEN DRIVEN ALMOST DAILY, IT WENT DEAD AGAIN. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT SUBARU HAS TO ADDRESS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CARLSEN SUBARU, REDWOOD CITY, CA, THEY CLAIMED TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY OFFERED TO INSPECT THE CAR, BUT WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE BATTERY WITH ANOTHER, EQUIVALENT BATTERY.
3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH, MY BATTERY HAS BEEN DEAD FOR NO REASON. MY CAR ONLY HAS 3800 MILES. MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE.
NEW SUBARU OUTBACK ONLY HAS 3800 MILES ON IT. DROVE IT YESTERDAY. THIS MORNING, TRIED TO START THE STATIONARY CAR AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. NEEDED TO JUMP THE CAR. *TR
BATTERY DRAINED WHEN VEHICLE PARKED WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS OR OTHER ELECTRIC LOAD CAUSING DEAD BATTERY. THIS HAPPENED 2X, FIRST TIME WAS ON THE 3RD DAY OF BRAND NEW CAR OWNERSHIP. 2ND TIME 6 MONTHS LATER. NO-START CONDITION LEAVES WOMEN PRIMARY DRIVER IN A VULNERABLE POSITION OF BEING STRANDED WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. APPARENTLY THER…
Read full complaint
BATTERY DRAINED WHEN VEHICLE PARKED WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS OR OTHER ELECTRIC LOAD CAUSING DEAD BATTERY. THIS HAPPENED 2X, FIRST TIME WAS ON THE 3RD DAY OF BRAND NEW CAR OWNERSHIP. 2ND TIME 6 MONTHS LATER. NO-START CONDITION LEAVES WOMEN PRIMARY DRIVER IN A VULNERABLE POSITION OF BEING STRANDED WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. APPARENTLY THERE MAY BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING FOR SIMILAR FAILURES TO OTHER SUBARU OWNERS. *TR
OUR SEVEN MONTH OLD 2020 OUTBACK BATTERY HAS DIED THREE TIMES. OUR LATEST DEAD BATTERY REVEALED EXTREMELY CONCERNING STATISTICS ACCORDING TO OUR AAA SERVICE TECHNICIAN. *TR
I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR, WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BRING OUT SOMETHING. THE CAR ONLY HAD JUST OVER 100 MILES ON IT, AND I'D ONLY DRIVEN IT 3 TIMES (INCLUDING THIS ONE) WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A CRACK SOUND AND A LARGE (1'-1.5') CURVED CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP (THE CAR WAS A WEEK…
Read full complaint
I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR, WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BRING OUT SOMETHING. THE CAR ONLY HAD JUST OVER 100 MILES ON IT, AND I'D ONLY DRIVEN IT 3 TIMES (INCLUDING THIS ONE) WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A CRACK SOUND AND A LARGE (1'-1.5') CURVED CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP (THE CAR WAS A WEEK IN MY POSSESSION THE DAY THIS HAPPENED) AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IMMEDIATELY THEY BEGAN TELLING ME THAT I MUST HAVE BEEN HIT BY A ROCK. I TOLD THEM THAT I WASN'T MOVING AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. WHEN I ARRIVED THE WOMAN WHO 'HANDLES ALL THEIR GLASS CLAIMS' TOLD ME THAT A ROCK HAD HIT MY WINDSHIELD. I TOLD HER AGAIN THAT IT HAD NOT, THAT I HAD NOT BEEN MOVING, AND THAT THE ONLY TIME THE CAR WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN BY ME, WAS WHEN THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT, AND THAT AT NO TIME THAT IT WAS IN MY POSSESSION DID A ROCK HIT IT. SHE INSISTED THAT THE CRACKS DON'T JUST HAPPEN ON THEIR OWN AND THAT A ROCK MUST HAVE HIT IT. *TR
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT WHILE AT WORK. NOTICED THE CRACK IMMEDIATELY UPON LEAVING WORK. THE CRACK STEMS NEAR PASSENGER SIDE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD NEAR WIPER AND GOES TOWARD CENTER MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. *TR
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.