2020 Subaru OUTBACK

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Subaru OUTBACK has 1125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 14.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: windshield cracked spontaneously while in garage overnight.. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 26 crash reports 4 injuries

1125

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

14.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

384 complaints

34%

• WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT.
• 2 SEPARATE INCIDENT WINDSHIELD CRACKS WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF NEW PURCHASE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD FORMED AN 8'' CRACK ON THE OUTSIDE STARTING FROM THE EDGE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. DIABLO SUBARU OF WALNUT CREEK (2646 N MAIN ST, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94597) INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED. THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

259 complaints

23%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE
• 1. THE BACKUP AND FRONT CAMERA ARE DOWNGRADED FROM PREVIOUS MODELS OF OUTBACK.SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIES THIS. THE NIGHT VISIBILITY IS DANGEROUS. THE DEALERSHIP AGREES. I HAVE PURCHASED FOUR OUTBACKS IN SIX YEARS AND I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. IT IS TOTALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. SUBARU WILL NOT TEL
• POOR REAR CAMERA VISIBILITY, LEADING ME TO NEARLY HIT GAS PUMPS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

152 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE
• ALL FOUR FRONT VENTS IN DASH BOARD RATTLE WHEN GOING ABOUT 40 MPH ON SLIGHTLY ROUGH SURFACE. ALSO LOUD SOUND THAT SOUNDS LIKE POPCORN POPPING ON PASSENGER SIDE THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OR DASH BOARD. THE POPCORN SOUND STARTS WHEN DRIVING AT 65 TO 70
• I EXPERIENCED TWO INCIDENTS WITH THE LIFT GATE ON MY 2020 OUTBACK LIMITED XT WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. THEY BOTH HAPPENED ON 11/23/2019. FIRST INCIDENT: THE CAR WAS IN AN INDOOR PARKING GARAGE, BACKED UP TO THE WALL WITH ABOUT 4 FT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE CLOSED LIFT GATE A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 2 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

89 complaints

• CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHICH WE HAD REPAIRED ON 10/1/2020 FOR $821.71. CRACK APPEARED SEEMINGLY FROM NOWHERE ON THE MORNING OF 9/22/20.
• CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHICH WE HAD REPAIRED ON 10/1/2020 FOR $821.71. CRACK APPEARED SEEMINGLY FROM NOWHERE ON THE MORNING OF 9/22/20.
• THIS 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING XT RAN WELL FOR THE FIRST 10,000 MILES. WE WERE INFORMED IT HAD A RECALL AND THIS WAS CORRECTED 1/06/2021 BY CARBOONE'S SUBARU IN UTICA, NY. AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WHEN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE AND ADAPTIVE STEERING ARE ENGAGED IF THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO LEAVE ITS LANE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 9 crashes

“CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHICH WE HAD REPAIRED ON 10/1/2020 FOR $821.71. CRACK APPEARED SEEMINGLY FROM NOWHERE ON THE MORNING OF 9/22/20.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

48 complaints

• BATTERY IS INADEQUATE FOR THE ELECTRONICS IN THIS CAR AND WILL BE DEAD IF NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AFTER BEING A UNABLE TO START MY CAR TWICE WITHIN A MONTH, THE SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THERE IS NO OTHER UPGRADE OR REPLACEMENT FOR THE BATTERY AND THAT THE FACTORY RECOMMENDATION IS
• THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM. IN FLORIDA THE TEMP CAN GET OVER 95 DEGREES. AFTER 10-15 SECONDS OF THE CAR BEING OFF THE CAR STARTS TO HEAT UP. MY WIFE WHO HAS BREATHING PROBLEMS STARTS HAVING PROBLEMS. I HAVE ASK THE DEALER TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE THIS FEATURE BUT THEY SAID N
• ELECTRICAL ISSUES, FLICKERING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS, UNABLE TO UNLOCK/ LOCK DOORS. CAR WON'T START, DEAD BATTERY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“BATTERY IS INADEQUATE FOR THE ELECTRONICS IN THIS CAR AND WILL BE DEAD IF NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AFTER BEING A UNABLE TO START MY CAR TWICE WITHIN A MONTH, THE SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THERE IS NO OTHER UPGRADE OR REPLACEMENT FOR THE BATTERY AND THAT THE FACTORY RECOMMENDATION IS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1125 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHICH WE HAD REPAIRED ON 10/1/2020 FOR $821.71. CRACK APPEARED SEEMINGLY FROM NOWHERE ON THE MORNING OF 9/22/20.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)