IllustrationON 3 OCCASIONS THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, RADIO WORKED, BUT NO STARTER OR ENGINE NOISE. SUBARU SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR OR BATTERY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON SUBARU PROBLEM.
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
Electrical System complaints
258 reportsEXPERIENCING A DEAD BATTERY. 3RD TIME THIS MONTH. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 7090 MILES ON IT, ONCE JUMPED LASTS A WEEK OR 2 AND THEN REPEATS PROBLEM. DEALER JUST SAYS TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY TO IT NOT STARTING. THE CAR WAS SOLD TO US WITH A BAD BATTERY AND MISSING PARTS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR LATER OUR TRANSMISSION BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED WI…
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BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY TO IT NOT STARTING. THE CAR WAS SOLD TO US WITH A BAD BATTERY AND MISSING PARTS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR LATER OUR TRANSMISSION BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHEN NO ROCKS OR ANYTHING HAS HIT IT.
AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR 1 TO 2 DAYS WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN THE BATTERY IS COMPLETELY DRAINED. AFTER RECHARGING THE BATTERY AND GETTING THE CAR STARTED THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING LEFT ON (I.E. DOME LIGHTS) OR OPENED (I.E DOOR AJAR) WHICH WOULD HAVE CREATED A SLOW DRAIN ON THE BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE JAN 2021
I LEFT MY CAR PARKED FOR 6-7 DAYS AND IT'S COMPLETELY DEAD
MY CAR BATTERY FAILED IN SEPTEMBER THEN AGAIN IN OCTOBER. I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE BACK:BACK. THEN AT THE END OF FEBRUARY- 5 DAYS IN A ROW I HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY JUMPED. DEALER SAW IT AND CLAIMED IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY AND ONLY NEEDED CHARGING. AT THE END OF MARCH (TODAY), THE CAR'S BATTER…
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MY CAR BATTERY FAILED IN SEPTEMBER THEN AGAIN IN OCTOBER. I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE BACK:BACK. THEN AT THE END OF FEBRUARY- 5 DAYS IN A ROW I HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY JUMPED. DEALER SAW IT AND CLAIMED IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY AND ONLY NEEDED CHARGING. AT THE END OF MARCH (TODAY), THE CAR'S BATTERY FAILED AGAIN. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO SUBARU. THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO AN ANALYSIS ON THE BATTERY. A TOWING SERVICE CAME TO JUMP MY CAR. AT ALL TIMES, WITHOUT A JUMP THE CAR WILL NOT TURNOVER. I ALSO NOTICED- MAYBE RELATED MAYBE NOT- THE CAR'S CALCULATION FOR MILEAGE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. SPECIFICALLY, WITHIN 30 SECONDS IT CAN GO FROM 3 MPG, 55 MPG, 7 THEN SEVERAL HUNDRED; IT MAKES NO SENSE.*DT
AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, PARKING, AND TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR A SHORT TIME, THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND HAS TO GET JUMP STARTED. SOMETHING DRAINS THE BATTERY. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY, BUR HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES, TWICE AT AROUND 7,000 MILES AND ONCE AT 8,800 MILES. AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED , THE DE…
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AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, PARKING, AND TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR A SHORT TIME, THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND HAS TO GET JUMP STARTED. SOMETHING DRAINS THE BATTERY. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY, BUR HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES, TWICE AT AROUND 7,000 MILES AND ONCE AT 8,800 MILES. AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED , THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE REAR DOME LIGHT WAS LEFT ON. WHILE I NEVER USED THE REAR DOME LIGHT, I ACCEPTED THE EXPLANATION. HOWEVER, WITH THIS LATEST OCCURRENCE , I AM CERTAIN THAT NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON. I WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY CAN DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I CANNOT DEPEND ON THIS CAR TO START WHENEVER I GO TO DRIVE IT
ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURES SUBARU OUTBACK 2020 ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE PAST 10 MONTHS OUR NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FAILED TO START AND WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL POWER. EVERY TIME: 'THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN REGULARLY, INCLUDING ON THE PRIOR DAY. 'WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE BATTERY WA…
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ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURES SUBARU OUTBACK 2020 ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE PAST 10 MONTHS OUR NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FAILED TO START AND WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL POWER. EVERY TIME: 'THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN REGULARLY, INCLUDING ON THE PRIOR DAY. 'WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE HAD NEVER LEFT LIGHTS ON, DOORS OPEN ETC. 'THE CAR JUMP STARTED EASILY AND THEN WOULD BEHAVE NORMALLY FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS. EPISODE 1 5.15.20 LOCAL DEALERSHIP TESTED AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS EPISODE 2 5.22.20 LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY EPISODE 3 1.11.21 TO 1.19.21 LOCAL DEALER HAD CAR FOR 8 DAYS. THEY WORKED WITH SUBARU NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS ENGINEERS. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. NO LOANER CAR PROVIDED EPISODE 4. 3.21.21 JUMP STARTED. SUBARU CONTACTED. I KEPT THE CAR WAITING ADVICE FROM SUBARU. CAR WENT WELL FOR 2 DAYS EPISODE 5 3.23.21 DIED AGAIN. SUBARU CONTACTED. I KEPT THE CAR WAITING ADVICE FROM SUBARU. HAVE NOT RESTARTED. I WANT THE CAR REPLACED.
VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS OF THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM CRASHING OR GOING DARK AND BEING UNRESPONSIVE. TODAY DURING ANOTHER EPISODE THE VEHICLES ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF CRUISE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT SPEED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHILE ON THE HIGHWA…
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VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS OF THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM CRASHING OR GOING DARK AND BEING UNRESPONSIVE. TODAY DURING ANOTHER EPISODE THE VEHICLES ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF CRUISE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT SPEED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ENTIRETY OF ELECTRICAL CONTROLS WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE INFOTAINMENT CRASHING AND BECOMING INOPERABLE ARE A RELATIVELY COMMON EXPERIENCE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
PURCHASED CAR FROM DEALERSHIP,PARKED 10 HOURS, BATTERY 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.