2020 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
896 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
5,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 443 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 313 of 896 complaints (34.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 218 | 24.3% |
| Braking behavior | 53 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 32 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 23 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 21 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 313 |
| Electrical System | 252 |
| Unknown Or Other | 150 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 64 |
| Engine | 48 |
| Power Train | 44 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 28 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 26 |
Visibility/Wiper: 313; Electrical System: 252; Unknown Or Other: 150; Visibility:Windshield: 64; Engine: 48; Power Train: 44; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 28; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 396 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 30 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 396; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (396). 453 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 244 |
| 2021 | 284 |
| 2022 | 176 |
| 2023 | 74 |
| 2024 | 59 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 16 |
2019: 16; 2020: 244; 2021: 284; 2022: 176; 2023: 74; 2024: 59; 2025: 27; 2026: 16
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 218 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11323313 · 2020-05-05 (May 5, 2020)
I HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK AND IT COMPLETELY DIED. BRAND NEW CAR AND THE BATTERY DRAINED. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IF I DON'T DRIVE IT FOR 7 DAYS IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS TO OCCUR. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 70 MILES ON IT AND COMPLETELY DIED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING GARAGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 73 miles reported. Look up ODI 11323313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11323861 · 2020-05-08 (May 8, 2020)
WE BOUGHT OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK ON 12/16/19. DID A ROAD TRIP FOR 800 MILES IN JAN-2020 WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE CAR CURRENTLY ONLY HAS 2,100 MILES ON IT. ON MAY 1ST WE WENT TO START THE CAR AFTER IT SAT FOR A WEEK OR SO AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD TO WHERE WE HAD TO USE OUR EMERGENCY MANUAL KEY TO OPEN THE DOOR. WE HAD TO JUMP IT FOR QUITE AWHILE BEFORE IT GOT ENOUGH OF A CHARGE TO START. WE TOOK IT ON AN HOUR DRIVE TO TRY AND GET THE BATTERY RECHARGED. MONDAY MAY 4TH WE TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT WAS DEAD AGAIN, JUMPED IT AND TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11323861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11277145 · 2019-10-30 (October 30, 2019)
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 WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF BEND (2060 NE HWY 20, BEND, OR 97701, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 520 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11342057 · 2020-07-29 (July 29, 2020)
WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS THERE IS A CRACKING SOUND IN THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION OR BRAKE AREA, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN GOING AT HIGH SPEEDS JUST SMALL BUMPS AND BRAKING.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11342057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319969 · 2020-04-01 (April 1, 2020)
THE CAR HAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE STABILITY AND THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. TRANSMISSION ALSO NEEDS REPLACEMENT. PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAYS. DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS YOUTUBE FOOTAGE AS FOLLOWS: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=OXOJDP_T9LI HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=77WURJDTVZK HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=LGQL63LDQVI&T=10S HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=0ACRLYXYHQI&T=11S
Owner-reported narrative. 1,322 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11360268 · 2020-09-21 (September 21, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED OUT OF PARK INTO GEAR, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOORS LOCKED WHILE THE REAR HATCH UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE REAR HATCH UNLOCKED THE DOME LIGHT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. W&L SUBARU (535 POINT TOWNSHIP DR, NORTHUMBERLAND, PA 17857 [phone removed]) WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE REAR HATCH MECHANISM WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11360268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11278627 · 2019-11-07 (November 7, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING. MILLER HILL SUBARU (4710 MILLER TRUNK HWY, DULUTH, MN 55811, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 600.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11278627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287450 · 2019-12-06 (December 6, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I HAD ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND LANE CENTERING TURNED ON. I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL JUTTED LEFT VERY HARD. I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT WAS UNPREPARED FOR IT. THIS CAUSED ME TO VERGE INTO THE MEDIAN. I CORRECTED THE VEHICLE STEERING AND CONTINUED DRIVING. A FEW MINUTES LATER, MY VEHICLE DID THIS AGAIN WHILE STILL ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF HIGHWAY CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME. I STOPPED USING LANCE CENTERING AFTER THIS OCCURRED AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11352025 · 2020-08-29 (August 29, 2020)
WAS DRIVING SUBARU OUTBACK, CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND CAR STOPPED AS IT'S DESIGNED TO DO. WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN, CAR STALLED AND NEVER STARTED AGAIN LEAVING ME ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY CALLED ROUTE 19 IN HUDSON FLORIDA.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11352025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11353957 · 2020-09-09 (September 9, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE THEN STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE, OIL AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK QUICKLY. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE WITH NO SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WAITED THIRTY SECONDS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE STARTED TO SHAKE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REYNOLDS' SUBARU…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11353957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361540 · 2020-09-28 (September 28, 2020)
DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD, MADE A STOP AT A LIGHT. WHEN I GOT THE GREEN ARROW TO TURN LEFT, CAR JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. WAS FORTUNATE, 4 GOOD INDIVIDUALS JUMPED OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES TO PUSH US OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND AVOID COLLISION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CALLED SUBARU FOR A TOW. DURING THE 2 HOUR WAIT, TRIED TO START A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH NO LUCK. WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, WAS TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, SO ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN, WHICH IT DID. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP. STAYED THERE FOR 2 AND A HALF WEEKS. THEY REPLACE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11429023 · 2021-08-13 (August 13, 2021)
Car has twice stalled out when driving slowly in hot weather. When trying to restart vehicle the engine turned over just fine, but wouldn’t restart until much later after the car had a chance to cool down completely. Possible vapor lock or faulty fuel pump.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11429023 at NHTSA ↗