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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
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23,000 miles · Feb 17, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY DRAIN, SEEMS TO BE UNDIAGNOSABLE. QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOW LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11396616

2,432 miles · Feb 11, 2021
Electrical System

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11395743

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2021
Electrical System

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!

NHTSA ODI #11395632

2,000 miles · Feb 5, 2021
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THE CONTACT CALLED DON MILLER SUBARU WEST (5822 ODANA RD, MADISON, WI 53719; (608) 442-3200) AND WAS INFORMED TO START THE VEHICLE MORE FREQUENTLY SO THAT THE BATTERY WO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THE CONTACT CALLED DON MILLER SUBARU WEST (5822 ODANA RD, MADISON, WI 53719; (608) 442-3200) AND WAS INFORMED TO START THE VEHICLE MORE FREQUENTLY SO THAT THE BATTERY WOULD RECHARGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI #11394785

8,509 miles · Feb 3, 2021
Electrical System

I'VE HAD RECURRING ISSUES WITH MY BATTERY DYING. I'VE REPORTED PREVIOUS ISSUES ON HERE TO SHOW THAT IT IS RECURRING. I DON'T DRIVE THAT OFTEN BECAUSE I'M WORKING REMOTELY RIGHT NOW BUT DROVE 90 MILES IN A SINGLE TRIP ON FRIDAY, JAN. 22. ON SATURDAY, JAN. 23 MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T START BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I NOW CARRY A BA…

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I'VE HAD RECURRING ISSUES WITH MY BATTERY DYING. I'VE REPORTED PREVIOUS ISSUES ON HERE TO SHOW THAT IT IS RECURRING. I DON'T DRIVE THAT OFTEN BECAUSE I'M WORKING REMOTELY RIGHT NOW BUT DROVE 90 MILES IN A SINGLE TRIP ON FRIDAY, JAN. 22. ON SATURDAY, JAN. 23 MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T START BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I NOW CARRY A BATTERY JUMPER BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS ISSUES SO I JUMPED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE ABOUT 50 MILES. ON SUNDAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE SO I DROVE MY 90 MILE RETURN TRIP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT USED MUCH BUT I MADE SURE IT WOULD START EACH DAY AND TOOK A SHORT TRIP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 2, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. INSTEAD OF JUMPING IT, I'M GOING TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN TROUBLESHOOT. THEY HAVE TROUBLESHOOTED IT TWICE BEFORE AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE BATTERY DRAIN. ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE IN THE OFF POSITION AND I HAVE NOT USED ANYTHING BUT THE DRIVER'S DOOR WHICH I MADE SURE IS CLOSED AND LOCKED UPON EXITING. I HAVE A CLAIM GOING WITH SUBARU CONSUME AFFAIRS. THIS WEEK THE LOWS WILL BE IN THE NEGATIVE NUMBERS AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO STAND OUTSIDE AND JUMP MY OWN VEHICLE IN THAT WEATHER BECAUSE OF A FAULTY BATTER/ALTERNATOR/LEMON VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11394423

6,500 miles · Feb 1, 2021
Electrical System

THE BATTERY DIED WITH ONLY ABOUT 6500 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CAR WAS LAST DRIVEN 48 HOUR AGO. NOTHING WAS LEFT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS IN A WARM GARAGE SINCE IT WAS LAST DRIVEN.

NHTSA ODI #11391009

6,300 miles · Jan 27, 2021
Electrical System

INFOTAINMENT CENTER SCREENS BLACK OUT OR DON'T WORK AT ALL. DEALER HAS DONE TWO UPDATES ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11390292

6,300 miles · Jan 27, 2021
Electrical System

WINDOW MOTORS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. GET STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION OR WHEN ROLLING DOWN WILL POP BACK UP AND DOWN BEFORE GETTING STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. I HAVE HAD ONE MOTOR ON DRIVER SIDE REPLACED AND AM NOW NEEDING THE DRIVER SIDE REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ODI #11390290

15,000 miles · Jan 25, 2021
Electrical System

MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK IS JUST OVER A YEAR OLD AND HAS JUST OVER 15,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST MONTH, THE BATTERY HAS DIED 4 TIMES CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED. THE CAUSE OF THE BATTERY DYING IS VERY MINOR ELECTRICAL USAGE WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, RESULTING IN THE CAR NOT STARTING.

NHTSA ODI #11389888

6,000 miles · Jan 17, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance

WHEN APPLE CARPLAY IS BEING USED, THE MULTIMEDIA DISPLAY HAS FROZEN SEVERAL TIMES AND WHEN IT FREEZES, THE RESETS ITSELF TO A BLACK SCREEN. ONCE IT RESETS TO A BLACK SCREEN, THE EYESIGHT IS DISABLED AND RAB (REVERSE AUTOMATIC BRAKING) IS DISABLED. I HAVE HAD A MOMENT WHERE THE SCREEN WAS COMPLETELY BLACK AND BOTH THINGS WERE DIS…

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WHEN APPLE CARPLAY IS BEING USED, THE MULTIMEDIA DISPLAY HAS FROZEN SEVERAL TIMES AND WHEN IT FREEZES, THE RESETS ITSELF TO A BLACK SCREEN. ONCE IT RESETS TO A BLACK SCREEN, THE EYESIGHT IS DISABLED AND RAB (REVERSE AUTOMATIC BRAKING) IS DISABLED. I HAVE HAD A MOMENT WHERE THE SCREEN WAS COMPLETELY BLACK AND BOTH THINGS WERE DISABLED FOR OVER 15 MINUTES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. UNTIL THE MOMENT I TURNED OFF THE CAR DID IT STOP SHOWING THE ISSUE BUT THIS WASN'T THE FIRST INSTANCE OF IT HAPPENING. THE MOMENT I DO NEED THE EYESIGHT WOULD BE TOO LATE SINCE IT'S DISABLED. I'VE RECORDED SEVERAL VIDEOS OF THIS HAPPENING AND I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY TELL ME NOTHING CAN BE DONE SINCE THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND THAT THE VIDEO RECORDING IS "HYPOTHETICAL." I'VE UPLOADED SOME OF THE VIDEOS I'VE RECORDED ONTO YOUTUBE FOR YOU TO CHECK AND VERIFY. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/CHANNEL/UCNA9Z1X9ITGGUPUO_AL_BLG

NHTSA ODI #11388596

Official recalls

6

24V227000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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