What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2020 Subaru Outback

Early-defect pattern

21.8% of complaints about the 2020 Subaru Outback came in its first year of service — a higher share than 96% of the 178 2020 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is visibility / wipers (313 complaints), typically at 1.4 yr or about 5,000 miles.

Complaints
1,133
Median age at failure
1.8 yr
Median mileage
6,000 n=523
Crash / fire / tow
5.2% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Visibility / wipers
313 reports · 5,000 mi
1.4 yr
0%
Electrical system
259 reports · 5,000 mi
1.7 yr
1.2%
Other
150 reports · 4,600 mi
1.9 yr
3.3%
Collision avoidance
73 reports · 10,500 mi
2.1 yr
8.2%
Visibility
71 reports · 18,442 mi
1.8 yr
1.4%
Engine
48 reports · 7,500 mi
2.8 yr
20.8%
Power train
46 reports · 23,000 mi
2.6 yr
6.5%
Lane departure
24 reports · 10,500 mi
1.7 yr
4.2%
Structure
21 reports · 9,000 mi
1.5 yr
9.5%
Air bags
19 reports · 12,000 mi
4.8 yr
15.8%
Speed control
18 reports · 1,100 mi
2.6 yr
33.3%
Exterior lighting
16 reports · 6,500 mi
1.6 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

24V227000 2024-03-22
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

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.

An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

22V485000 2022-07-08
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.

An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

21V955000 2021-12-09
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.

An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

21V587000 2021-07-29
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

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.

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

20V766000 2020-12-10
Back over prevention:display function

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."

The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.

19V664000 2019-09-18
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 1,322 mi 4 mo in service
THE CAR HAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE STABILITY AND THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. TRANSMISSION ALSO NEEDS REPLACEMENT. PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAYS. DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS YOUTUBE FOOTAGE AS FOLLOWS: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=OXOJDP_T9LI HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=77WURJDTVZK HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=LGQL63LDQVI&T=10S HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=0ACRLYXYHQI&T=11S
Electrical system 2,200 mi 7 mo in service
FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED HALFWAY ACROSS THE GLASS AFTER A PEBBLE KICKED UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CRACK SPIDERED OUT ON ITS OWN ACROSS THE ENTIRE FRONT WINDSHIELD WITHIN FIVE HOURS. CAMERA ON WINDSHIELD NOW HAS TO BE RECALIBRATED OTHERWISE WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.
Electrical system 73 mi 8 mo in service
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
Service brakes 8,300 mi 10 mo in service
WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS THERE IS A CRACKING SOUND IN THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION OR BRAKE AREA, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN GOING AT HIGH SPEEDS JUST SMALL BUMPS AND BRAKING.

Other Outback model years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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