2020 Subaru Outback: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2020 / subaru / outback
known issues7 clusters (reviewed 2026-06-14)
complaints896 on file (2019-10-30 → 2026-08-19)
recalls6
investigations0
fars17 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Windshield cracking without impactVISIBILITY/WIPER48 complaints2022-09 → 2025-05 (sample of 200 most-recent of 889 total)outback-2020-windshield-cracking
  • 11611877 I have 2020 Subaru Outback and have had 14 windshield replacements/repairs. The windshield has spider cracked out of nowhere and has been unable to take the smallest impact without cracking in multiple locations. I have submitted multiple complaints to Subaru and was informed…
  • 11630375 The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact became aware that there was a 12-inch-long crack on the windshield starting from the driver’s side of the windshield. The contact stated that there was no impact to…
  • 11628153 Defective windshields. The vehicle has been in my possession for 4 years. During these 4 years i've had 5 windshield replacements. 2 of which have been from rocks. 3 of which I have no idea what caused the damage, it seemingly happened out of nowhere while driving. This is well…
  • 11659737 I am on my third windshield in les than a year. The tiniest pebble will crack the windshield, or sudden changes to weather has now caused a stress crack. Seems to be poor weight distribution on the design. There is extensive customer complaints on line with the same issue.
Air bag recall parts and SRS faultsAIR BAGS13 complaints2024-08 → 2026-01 (sample of 200 most-recent of 889 total)outback-2020-airbag-recall-srs
  • 11665050 The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…
  • 11660895 I received a safety recall notice (Campaign Number: 24V227000 / Subaru Code: WRA24) for my Subaru Outback. I contacted multiple Subaru dealerships in my area, and they all told me that the repair parts are not available and there is no clear ETA for when they will arrive.
  • 11713606 I am reporting a safety-related defect involving the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) on my 2020 Subaru Outback with approximately 20,480 miles. Multiple SRS and occupant detection system warning lights illuminated. Dealer diagnostics showed multiple SRS-related faults…
  • 11648270 Air bag sensor light came on. Took to dealership - Suburban Subaru, Troy, MI. $189 to diagnose....then received this note: Air Bag - Control Module: scanned vehicle using ssm4 and found codes B1185, B1195 and B1196. per subaru diagnostics, replacement of the SRS module is…
CVT and transmission failurePOWER TRAIN13 complaints2024-10 → 2026-05 (sample of 200 most-recent of 889 total)outback-2020-cvt-transmission
  • 11714318 On December 28, 2025, my 2020 Subaru Outback lost the ability to engage any gear (Drive, Reverse, or otherwise) while maneuvering at low speed to make a U-turn. The vehicle became inoperable immediately and was towed to the dealer. The dealer confirmed via text and written…
  • 11732229 I was reversing out of a residential driveway onto a county highway when the I had a complete loss of movement. Shortly after the total loss of power, the CEL illuminated. If I had been on the highway, the driveway is near a blind curve, I would've been sitting in the road with…
  • 11642099 The car shifted (transmission) into neutral when cruising down the interstate at 62 MPH and stayed in neutral until the ignition was turned off. With no brake light cars were not worn and was nearly hit from behind. 2 weeks earlier the same happened on a city street. There was a…
  • 11618767 The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer to be serviced, the dealer informed the contact that the transmission was binding and making an abnormal grinding sound while driving at slow speeds and making turns. The dealer…
Battery drain and stallingELECTRICAL SYSTEM18 complaints2024-07 → 2026-01 (sample of 200 most-recent of 889 total)outback-2020-battery-drain-stall
  • 11618271 We are on our 3rd battery in < 4 years. Subaru is well aware of this issue in their engineering in the parasitic drain from the Starlink module. AAA won’t even replace these batteries anymore because the problem is so prevalent. Meanwhile, I’m about to have to buy a 4th battery…
  • 11643787 For our 2020 Subaru Outback, we are on our 3rd battery at only 49k miles. The car died again today. Thankfully AAA was able to jump it after a friend tried unsuccessfully. We suspect all of this battery drain, failure and replacement has been due to the known Data Communications…
  • 11710788 The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH on the highway, the contact was alerted by the message “Eyesight Technology Failure”, before the battery shut down, causing the steering wheel to seize, forcing the contact to come to a complete…
  • 11603195 The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the battery was replaced several times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was…
Thermo control valve and EyeSight shutdownENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7 complaints2024-07 → 2025-09 (sample of 200 most-recent of 889 total)outback-2020-thermo-control-valve
  • 11602880 On [XXX], I was driving east on [XXX] on the North side of Toledo Ohio close to the intersection with [XXX] . The "Check Engine" warning came on, all the vehicle "Eyesight" functions were automatically turned off, and Pre collision braking and Pre collision throttle control…
  • 11609935 The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the thermo-control valve. The vehicle was not…
  • 11604582 The Thermal control valve went out in May while I was traveling though Texas, I took it to a dealership right away to see what the issue was and was told once again it was the thermal control valve. When it goes out you have the check engine light come on, the eyesite, and…
Power liftgate closing unexpectedlySTRUCTURE3 complaints2025-03 → 2025-05 (sample of 200 most-recent of 889 total)outback-2020-power-liftgate
  • 11661599 2020 Subaru Outback rear auto liftgate randomly automatically closes after opening. It has hit me, the owner, in the head as I was attempting to place items in the rear. It has hit various store personnel as they were attempting to load products in the rear. I have reported this…
  • 11648691 I have owned the 2020 Subaru Outback since December 2020. Staring in 2021 there have been problems with the lift gate not opening to where it now closes immediately after opening it. This occurs randomly and causes a dangerous situation where one never knows when it will happen.…
Exterior mirror detachmentVISIBILITY2 complaints2024-11 → 2025-01 (sample of 200 most-recent of 889 total)outback-2020-side-mirror-detachment
  • 11635838 The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side mirror had started to detach from the vehicle without an impact to the vehicle, and the mirror had become inoperable. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor…
  • 11624532 Problem component: exterior mirror on driver side It was raining, I was driving, I heard what sounded like a loud explosion by my driver side window. After the initial shock, I thought a tire had blown out, but car drove ok and no tire warning light came on. It was a rural road…

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
8962019-10-302026-08-19197VISIBILITY/WIPER:313; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:258; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:150; VISIBILITY:70; FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE:49

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
20V76600010/12/2020BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTIONSubaru 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.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.
21V95500009/12/2021POWER 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.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.
21V58700029/07/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPSubaru 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.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.
19V66400018/09/2019SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGESSubaru 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.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.
22V48500008/07/2022POWER 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.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.
24V22700022/03/2024AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERSubaru 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.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.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202417legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2020 Subaru Outback vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/subaru/outback
@misc{wrenchpro_2020_subaru_outback_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2020 Subaru Outback},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/subaru/outback}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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