IllustrationA SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, AND THE NEXT MORNING A MASSIVE CRACK APPEARED. *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 reportsWINDSHIELD CRACKS UNREASONABLY IN DEICER AREA. CRACKS CONTINUOUSLY GROWING, EVEN WITHOUT TRAVEL OR VIBRATION. CAR HAD LESS THAN 500 MILES. *TR
I HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK AND IT COMPLETELY DIED. BRAND NEW CAR AND THE BATTERY DRAINED. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IF I DON'T DRIVE IT FOR 7 DAYS IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS TO OCCUR. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 70 MILES ON IT AND COMPLETELY DIED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING GARAGE. *TR
I LEASED MY 2020 OUTBACK 5 MONTHS AGO AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE WINDSHIELD EASILY CRACKS AFTER A SMALL OBJECT HIT THE GLASS AND MADE A LOW SUBTLE NOISE. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SCENARIOS AS SUCH PREVIOUSLY WITH OTHER NON-SUBARU BRAND CARS AND NONE OF THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKED. CLEARLY THE QUALITY OF THE GLASS IS TERRIBLE AND DEFE…
Read full complaint
I LEASED MY 2020 OUTBACK 5 MONTHS AGO AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE WINDSHIELD EASILY CRACKS AFTER A SMALL OBJECT HIT THE GLASS AND MADE A LOW SUBTLE NOISE. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SCENARIOS AS SUCH PREVIOUSLY WITH OTHER NON-SUBARU BRAND CARS AND NONE OF THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKED. CLEARLY THE QUALITY OF THE GLASS IS TERRIBLE AND DEFECTIVE. THERE EVEN SEEMS TO BE A BIG CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING SUBARU WINDSHIELDS.
THERE IS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT BASICALLY APPEARED OVER NIGHT. IT WASN'T THERE WHEN WE PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE IN THE EVENING AND THEN I NOTICED IT THE NEXT DAY WHEN I GOT OUT. IT STARTS FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS AND THERE ARE EVEN SHARDS OF GLASS COMING OUT IN ONE SPOT. WE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED A ROCK HITTING US AS OUR…
Read full complaint
THERE IS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT BASICALLY APPEARED OVER NIGHT. IT WASN'T THERE WHEN WE PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE IN THE EVENING AND THEN I NOTICED IT THE NEXT DAY WHEN I GOT OUT. IT STARTS FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS AND THERE ARE EVEN SHARDS OF GLASS COMING OUT IN ONE SPOT. WE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED A ROCK HITTING US AS OUR CAR IS ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS OLD...MY FIRST BRAND NEW PURCHASE. THE CRACK NOW GOES COMPLETELY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD.
THE MORNING OF APRIL 28 I NOTICED A CRACK DEVELOPING ON THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. IT STARTED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BELOW THE WIPER AND IS HEADING UPWARD. THE PREVIOUS EVENING, I HEARD A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO CRACK EVIDENT AT THE TIME. THE NEXT DAY TH…
Read full complaint
THE MORNING OF APRIL 28 I NOTICED A CRACK DEVELOPING ON THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. IT STARTED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BELOW THE WIPER AND IS HEADING UPWARD. THE PREVIOUS EVENING, I HEARD A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO CRACK EVIDENT AT THE TIME. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK APPEARED AND THERE IS A VERY SMALL PIT AT THE ROCK IMPACT SITE. THE SIZE OF THE ROCK STRIKE DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. THIS IS THE SECOND CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON THIS 3-MONTH OLD CAR.
THE MORNING OF MARCH 26 I NOTICED AN APPROXIMATELY 8-INCH-LONG CRACK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. BY THE END OF THE DAY THE CRACK HAD SPREAD TO ALMOST THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE PREVIOUS DAY AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE ROCK IMPACT. AT THE TIME THE CA…
Read full complaint
THE MORNING OF MARCH 26 I NOTICED AN APPROXIMATELY 8-INCH-LONG CRACK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. BY THE END OF THE DAY THE CRACK HAD SPREAD TO ALMOST THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE PREVIOUS DAY AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE ROCK IMPACT. AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD 3600 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN OWNED FOR 2.5 MONTHS. LOCAL DEALER (HERB GORDON SUBARU IN SILVER SPRING, MD) GRACIOUSLY COVERED THE REPLACEMENT AND RECALIBRATION OF EYE-SIGHT CAMERAS.
SUBARU EYESIGHT LANE CENTERING FAILURE. DATE: 27APR 2020, TIME: ABOUT 9:45AM, LOCATION: I-75 SOUTH BOUND BETWEEN DAYTON AND CINCINNATE OHIO, ABOUT MILE MARKER 29.8. ROAD CONDITIONS: DRY, SUNNY AND BRIGHT.: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ON, LANE CENTERING ON. VECHILE MILAGE ABOUT 7700 MILES. WHILE PASSING A SEMI ON THE LEFT, AT …
Read full complaint
SUBARU EYESIGHT LANE CENTERING FAILURE. DATE: 27APR 2020, TIME: ABOUT 9:45AM, LOCATION: I-75 SOUTH BOUND BETWEEN DAYTON AND CINCINNATE OHIO, ABOUT MILE MARKER 29.8. ROAD CONDITIONS: DRY, SUNNY AND BRIGHT.: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ON, LANE CENTERING ON. VECHILE MILAGE ABOUT 7700 MILES. WHILE PASSING A SEMI ON THE LEFT, AT THE REAR CORNER OF THE SEMI THE STEERING WHEEL TRIED TO MAKE A HARD SHARP RIGHT TURN.AS IF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LANE HAD MOVED WAY TO THE RIGHT. I HAD A HARD GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME FROM CRASHING INTO THE LEFT REAR OF THE SEMI TRAILER.. I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST THAT THE LANE CENTERING HAS A TENDANCY TO STEER CLOSE TO SEMI'S WHILE PASSING EITHER ON THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. FOR THIS REASON I TEND TO WATCH CLOSELY WHEN PASSING BUT THIS SUPRISED ME AT HOW HARD THE STEERING TRIED TO EXECUTE A LANE CHANGE, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. AFTER BRINGING IT BACK ON COARSE THE LANE CENTERING STAYED IN THE PROPER LANE ABET, WANTING TO STAY TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE FINISHING PASSING. LANE CENTERING FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR THE NEXT FEW MILES AT WHICH TIME I TURNED IT OFF DUE TO APPROACHING SEVERAL SEMI'S. I DON'T BELIEVE THE SUBARA'S EYESIGHT LANE CENTERING FUNCTION IS RELIABLE. THIS IS ALSO THE SECOND TIME THE LANE CENTERING HAS TRIED TO EXECUTE A LANE CHANGE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE.
WIDSHIELD APPEARS TO HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM LOWER LEFT HAND EDGE TO A LENGTH OF NEARLY 12' IN FRONT OF DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR HOME GARAGE WITH NO CRACK EVIDENT WHEN PARKED AND CRACK WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE BEING DRIVEN THE FOLLOWING DAY. CRACK APPEARED JUST A DAY AFTER VEHICLE WAS IN DEALER SERVICE FOR AN EC…
Read full complaint
WIDSHIELD APPEARS TO HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM LOWER LEFT HAND EDGE TO A LENGTH OF NEARLY 12' IN FRONT OF DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR HOME GARAGE WITH NO CRACK EVIDENT WHEN PARKED AND CRACK WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE BEING DRIVEN THE FOLLOWING DAY. CRACK APPEARED JUST A DAY AFTER VEHICLE WAS IN DEALER SERVICE FOR AN ECU REPROGRAMMING RECALL.
WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE AROUND 50-70 IT WILL HESITATE AND ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO STOP. NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON HAVE TAKING BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DO THIS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT COLD WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT CAN BE AFTER I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE. THIS HAPPENS ON MAIN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
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.