2020 Subaru Outback problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (313) · Electrical System (186) · Visibility:windshield (64)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Outback model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
444 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 2024-03-22 · campaign 24V227000 · 118,723 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:driveline:chain/Belt 2022-07-08 · campaign 22V485000 · 182 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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:driveline:chain/Belt 2021-12-09 · campaign 21V955000 · 198,255 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 Su
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2021-07-29 · campaign 21V587000 · 175,968 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Back Over Prevention:display Function 2020-12-10 · campaign 20V766000 · 7,741 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages 2019-09-18 · campaign 19V664000 · 3,467 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (620)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Power Train 2026-09-28 · SubaruNet Announcement (T · Other
this announcement provides information on an enhancement of the techshare cvt diagnostic assitance application.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Electrical System 2026-09-18 · 18-244-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"this bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following dtcs: dtc c1956: rh actuator circuit dtc c1957: lh actuator circuit"
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 620 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-29 · Power Train“i was driving my 2020 outback and all of a sudden, i heard a thump, like something dropped and it shut down. i was on a major highway and it totally scared me. thankfully, the car right behind me swerved, preventing a collision. i have around 160,000 miles on it. it was then towed. adventure subaru in fayetteville, ar looked it over. the transmi…”
2026-10-29 · Power Train“1. what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the rear differential assembly completely failed, disabling the vehicle's all-wheel-drive capability. the component was replaced by shingle springs subaru, so the original failed part is no longer available for physical inspection, but all diagnost…”
2026-10-27 · Structure:body“on 25 oct 26 at 1030, the hood latch on my 2020 subaru outback failed while driving on i 75 at exit 220, causing the hood to fly up and smash into the windshiled causing other damage to the car. there was no warning, the safety latch, did not function, the hood just flew up.…”
2026-10-19 · Steering · 36,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 subaru outback. the contact stated that upon starting the engine, the power steering assist failed to operate, and the power steering, eyesight, and various other warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact applied excessive force to steer the vehicle until normal operation resumed. the vehicle was taken …”
2026-10-14 · Power Train“i have a 2020 subaru outback with just over 70,000 miles on it. well before hitting 70,000 miles, there were two occasions where a loud, unusual noise occurred while reversing out of my garage. additionally, i occasionally hear a strange noise when shifting into reverse from park. i also sometimes notice a whining or humming sound when accelerating…”
2026-09-28 · Power Train“noticed minor hesitation in the reverse down our driveway aug 2024. by aug 2026, the transmission hesitation has turned into very noticeable shudder and slip. in reverse down the driveway, the tr580 cvt was showing premature initial failure resulting in unexpected loss of motive power control as well as acceleration hesitation in forward. this tr…”
2026-09-27 · Unknown Or Other“unknown. best assessment between 2:09 and 2:15 pm on the xxx pass outside of [xxx] heading west. there were wind gusts up to 27 mph. i was traveling highway speeds 75-80mph. i had been driving highway speeds since 10:30 am coming from [xxx] no warning. as in: no flutter of the hood, hood not popped, no warning lights. the hood flew open and smashe…”
2026-09-20 · Unknown Or Other“9/20/26 my 2020 subaru outback experienced repeated electrical failures followed by loss of power-steering assistance. the underlying failed component is unknown. the vehicle is parked and available for inspection. while driving, the vehicle intermittently lurched/jerked as the center display went completely black and restarted and eyesight repeate…”
2026-08-19 · Engine · 19,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 subaru outback. the contact stated that on various occasions upon bringing the vehicle to a stop or upon acceleration the vehicle had experienced a total loss of automotive power, and all of the warning lights would remain illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it diagnosed and the contact was advised tha…”
2026-08-11 · Electrical System“in the first 2 weeks after financing vehicle it started having passenger window issues when it rained it caused window to not wat to go up or would try coming down when trying to let it up when it rained next qas battary kept killing my battery i've replaced 4 batteries in 2.5 years and then my rear gate door would sometimes not want to open til it…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.