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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.

About this comparison →

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

Visibility/wiper complaints

313 reports
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12,450 miles · Aug 23, 2020
Visibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY DRIVES SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SATELLITE SHOP TO REPAIR THE APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD AFTER REPAIR DROVE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AND CRACK EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 5 INCHES. SINCE SATURDAY AUGUST 22 WITH VEHICLE STATIONARY ON RES…

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THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY DRIVES SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SATELLITE SHOP TO REPAIR THE APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD AFTER REPAIR DROVE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AND CRACK EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 5 INCHES. SINCE SATURDAY AUGUST 22 WITH VEHICLE STATIONARY ON RESIDENCE DRIVEWAY THE CRACK HAS EXTENDED PAST THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE IN ONE DIRECTION AND THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. *LN *DL

NHTSA ODI #11350832

1,691 miles · Aug 22, 2020
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, OUR WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXPERIENCED A "BULLSEYE" DEFECT WITHOUT ANY SOUND OF A PROJECTILE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THIS DEFECT THEN "CRACKED" FURTHER EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS COVERING ROUGHLY A 15 INCH SPAN. OUR DEALER, NO…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, OUR WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXPERIENCED A "BULLSEYE" DEFECT WITHOUT ANY SOUND OF A PROJECTILE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THIS DEFECT THEN "CRACKED" FURTHER EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS COVERING ROUGHLY A 15 INCH SPAN. OUR DEALER, NORTH COUNTRY IMPORTS, 616 QUAKER ROAD, QUEENSBURY, NY, WAS CONTACTED. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY HISTORY OF THE 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAVING A WINDSHIELD ISSUE. ONLINE WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS. WE PURCHASED THE CAR 2 WEEKS PRIOR THIS INCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WE WERE NOT TOLD OF ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND WERE NOT ASKED TO SIGN ANY WAIVER CONCERNING THE LAWSUIT. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER HAS COVERAGE FOR WINDSHIELD REPAIR, "SUBARU EQUITY SHIELD OPTIMUM VEHICLE PROTECTION", WE WERE NOT OFFERED THIS PROTECTION AT THE TIME OF SALE. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALER WE WERE DEALT WITH IN A HOSTILE MANNER BY THE MANAGER WHO WOULD NOT DISCLOSE HIS NAME BEFORE HANGING UP ON US. PRIOR TO TERMINATING THE CALL HE REITERATED THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY KNOWN DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELDS AND REFERRED US TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ODI #11350771

11,120 miles · Aug 19, 2020
Visibility/wiper

A TINY ROCK CHIP TURNED INTO A LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THE CHIP HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ANY HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT WAS VERY MINOR. WHILE DRIVING THE SAME DAYS, SAME TRIP A LARGE CRACK DEVELOPED WITH THE FOLLOWING HOUR AND CONTINUES TO GROW. ALL WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS NEWER CAR WITH ONLY 11K MILES. I HAVE NEVER HA…

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A TINY ROCK CHIP TURNED INTO A LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THE CHIP HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ANY HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT WAS VERY MINOR. WHILE DRIVING THE SAME DAYS, SAME TRIP A LARGE CRACK DEVELOPED WITH THE FOLLOWING HOUR AND CONTINUES TO GROW. ALL WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS NEWER CAR WITH ONLY 11K MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A TINY CHIP ON WINDSHIELD END UP BEING A HUGE CRACK THAT KEEPS GROWING ALL WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING ON THE SAME DAY/TRIP.

NHTSA ODI #11350336

2,175 miles · Aug 19, 2020
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN MY NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH ABOUT 2200 MILES ON A FRESHLY SLURRY-COATED ROAD I SAW A SMALL PEBBLE SIZED OBJECT TOSSED IN THE AIR BY THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND LAND JUST INSIDE THE EDGE OF THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A SHARP POP - LIKE A .22 - AND A 4 INCH CRACK APPEARED. I CONTIN…

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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN MY NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH ABOUT 2200 MILES ON A FRESHLY SLURRY-COATED ROAD I SAW A SMALL PEBBLE SIZED OBJECT TOSSED IN THE AIR BY THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND LAND JUST INSIDE THE EDGE OF THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A SHARP POP - LIKE A .22 - AND A 4 INCH CRACK APPEARED. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME AND THE CRACK APPEARED TO BE STABLE. I PARKED THE CAR AND GOT SOME REST. 9 HOURS LATER I WENT OUTSIDE AND FOUND THE CRACK HAD PROGRESSED TO THE CENTER OF MY WINDSHIELD. WHEN I CAME UPON THIS SITE I DECIDED TO DOCUMENT THE INCIDENT IN AN EFFORT TO WARN OTHERS THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND SUBARU SHOULD BE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.

NHTSA ODI #11350186

6,500 miles · Aug 12, 2020
Visibility/wiper

SPONTANEOUS CRACK OF THE WINDSHIELD. HIGHWAY DRIVING, HOT DAY AND A SMALL CRACK APPEARED (THERE WAS NO PEBBLE OR DEBRIS THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD). YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT... THE CRACK GREW AND GREW AND GREW. I SEE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHERS AND WANTED TO REPORT MY EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ODI #11348801

10,600 miles · Aug 10, 2020
Visibility/wiper

I WAS ON A FOUR LANE ROAD (UNIVERSITY AVENUE IN EVANSVILLE, IN - NORTHBOUND) AND MY WINDSHIELD JUST POPPED AND CRACK ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THIS MORNING. I WAS MORE THAN 10 CAR LENGTHS FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD OR ANYTHING COME FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI #11348509

10,000 miles · Jul 29, 2020
Visibility/wiper

SINGLE ROCK CHIP TO WINDSHIELD OF 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED XT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY RESULTED NOT JUST IN CHIP BUT IMMEDIATE MULTIPLE EXTENDING CRACKS SPANNING MOST OF LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAVE NOTED ONGOING CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11342141

6,500 miles · Jul 29, 2020
Visibility/wiper

THERE WAS A TINY ROCK CHIP THAT WAS ABOUT 7 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CENTER. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND IT CRACKED. ABOUT 14 INCHES FROM THAT CHIP ACROSS THEN DOWN. IT ALSO SPIDERED UP ABOUT 7 INCHES. SO NOW MY WHOLE WINDSHIELD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NO WAY THAT LITTLE OF A CRACK COULD SPIDER…

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THERE WAS A TINY ROCK CHIP THAT WAS ABOUT 7 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CENTER. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND IT CRACKED. ABOUT 14 INCHES FROM THAT CHIP ACROSS THEN DOWN. IT ALSO SPIDERED UP ABOUT 7 INCHES. SO NOW MY WHOLE WINDSHIELD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NO WAY THAT LITTLE OF A CRACK COULD SPIDER CRACK LIKE THAT. MIND YOU, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TOMORROW MORNING TO GET THE CHIP FILLED. I WAS PLANNING ON TAKING CARE OF IT BUT NOW I WILL NEED A WHOLE NEW ONE.

NHTSA ODI #11342116

7,500 miles · Jul 26, 2020
Visibility/wiper

TINY CHIP IN CORNER OF WINDSHIELD, PROGRESSED WITHIN 2 HRS. TO A CRACK 1/3 SIZE 24 IN +/-) AROUND ON PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDOW. NOTICED ON A STOP, BUT WAS ON HIGHWAY, NO NOISE WAS HEARD PRECEDING THE CHIP.

NHTSA ODI #11341530

1 miles · Jul 23, 2020
Visibility/wiper

PURCHASE 2020 SUBARU ON 12/30/19 AND AS 7/15/20 THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES DO TO CRACKING. FIRST TIME IT CHIPS AND CRACK APPEARED AND SPREAD THE WINDSHIELD. SECOND TIME, CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AND CAME OUT AND FOUND A CRACKED ACROSS THE LOWER PART OF IT. THIRD TIME ON JULY 15 DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD DRIVE O…

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PURCHASE 2020 SUBARU ON 12/30/19 AND AS 7/15/20 THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES DO TO CRACKING. FIRST TIME IT CHIPS AND CRACK APPEARED AND SPREAD THE WINDSHIELD. SECOND TIME, CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AND CAME OUT AND FOUND A CRACKED ACROSS THE LOWER PART OF IT. THIRD TIME ON JULY 15 DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD DRIVE OVER A SPEED BUMP AND A CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE GARAGE IS ALWAYS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. YESTERDAY, JULY 22, WALKED OUT TO THE CAR AND NOW THERE ARE NEW CRACKS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE WINDSHIELD FIXED YET. CAN YOU HELP?

NHTSA ODI #11341042

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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