Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Outback, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility/wiper313
- Electrical system259
- Unknown or other152
- Visibility70
- Engine49
- Forward collision avoidance49
- Power train48
- Structure21
- Lane departure20
- Air bags18
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 36 2020 Outback vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 10 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2020 Subaru Outback failed the safety check 1.09% of the time — 7% less often than the average 2020 passenger car (1.18%). Median odometer at inspection: 35,002 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2020
3,592 new Subaru Outback cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2020; the largest markets were Sweden (860), Germany (568), Norway (274).
- Average mass
- 1,678 kg
- Average CO₂
- 193 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 129 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 100%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
95 first registered in 2020 are on Dutch roads; 55% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €54,491.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde16
- Band beschadigd8
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht7
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt7
- Band onvoldoende profiel5
- Waarschuwingsinrichting controlesysteem bandenspanning geeft5
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm4
- Schokdemper aanwezig die lekkage vertoont2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
251 cars built in 2020 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 2 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 246 of these cars first registered in 2020 took their annual MOT test. 92% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2020 the figure was 88%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 4.1% | 4.9% |
| Brakes | 2.0% | 1.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2.0% | 3.0% |
| Visibility | 0.8% | 2.8% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
209 of these cars first registered in 2020 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 90,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
711 2020 cars are on the New Zealand register; 3% arrived as used imports, 97% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; 1 of 1 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Subaru Outback SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 18.5 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- Lane departure warning
- Standard
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 8.2–9.1 L/100 km (about 26–29 mpg US), CO₂ 192–213 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outback AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 9.0 | 7.1 | 8.2 |
| Outback AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.1 | 7.9 | 9.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 2020 Subaru Outback.
| 2024546 15 Aug 2024 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" a… |
| 2024190 22 Mar 2024 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, an electrical component in the sensors for the occupant detection system (ODS) may not have been manufactured properly and could c… |
| 2021745 10 Dec 2021 | Powertrain Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem in the transmission control unit (TCU) may cause the drive chain to slip or break. If this happens while the ve… |
| 2021466 29 Jul 2021 | Fuel System Issue: On certain vehicles, the low-pressure fuel pump could fail. If this happens, then engine may run rough or may not start and the check engine light may … |
| 2020607 10 Dec 2020 | Visual System Issue: On certain vehicles, a software update could cause the Centre Information Display ("CID") to go blank. When this happens, the cockpit control module (… |
| 2019536 25 Oct 2019 | Accessories Issue: Certain vehicles were shipped with the incorrect floor mat bracket. As a result, the floor mats may not be properly attached. A driver’s floor mat that… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Subaru told its dealers about the 2020 Subaru Outback: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11010932 | "This bulletin announces availability of new reprogramming files developed to address the two symptoms described below: SYMPTOM 1: A jerk or judder sensation felt from the powertrain during braking with the air conditioning on. SYPMTOM 2: A shudder is felt from the powertrain along with a screeching type of sound. NOTE: Both of these symptoms are not related with a fault code." |
| 11010925 | This annocement is to inform dealers to the Gen 3.1 Head Unit OTA will be available via Wi-Fi. The update will take place in multiple batches with the first beginneing November 15th and the last being Decemeber 3rd. This update is for approximatelt 714,000 VINs. |
| 11010916 | This bulletin announces a design change made to the front brake pads developed to reduce any brake pulsation and/or vibration felt during brake operation. |
| 11010914 | This bulletin provides instruction for use of a new reprogramming procedure to optimize the Denso Gen 4 Audio and Navigation system utilized in the models listed. |
| 11010910 | This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed. |
| 11010905 | This bulletin announces the initialization service procedures to be followed when diagnosing and/or repairing Power Rear Gate (PRG) systems. |
| 11009701 | This bulletin details an important regulation issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which impacts the way some vehicles with accessories are sold. This regulation applies to any automobile retailer installing accessories on a vehicle prior to its first sale. |
| 11009699 | This bulletin announces availability of new reprogramming files developed to address symptoms which a jerk or judder sensation can be felt from the powertrain during braking with air conditioning on, or a shudder felt from the powertrain along with a screeching type of sound. |
| 11009694 | This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed. |
| 11009692 | This bulletin provides instruction for use of a new reprogramming procedure to optimize the Denso Gen 4 Audio and Navigation system utilized in the models listed. |
| 11009685 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models. |
| 11009683 | This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4 Denso CP1 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed. |
| 11008283 | This Service Information Bulletin announces the preferred practices to be used when handling vehicles equipped with Gen2 Telematics which are enrolled in the Subaru STARLINK Security Plus Service featuring Stolen Vehicle Recovery Plus with Immobilizer. |
| 11008282 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models. |
| 11008281 | This Service Information Bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines. |
| 11008280 | This Service Information bulletin is being released as guidance for proper testing and charging of vehicle batteries. |
| 11008279 | This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. |
| 11008276 | The CP1.5 RCs OTA is available for all mid and high grade CP1.5 head units. |
| 11008275 | "In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the Warranty coverage time period for the fuel pump impeller to 15 years." |
| 11008273 | Denso low pressure fuel pump warranty extension. |
| 11008267 | This bulletin announces availability of the NEW genuine Subaru engine oil filter. |
| 11008259 | This bulletin outlines the judgment criteria to be used when inspecting front transverse link bushings to reduce unnecessary bushing replacement. |
| 11008258 | This bulletin announces the availability of new oxygen sensors developed to address Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) detected by the Engine Control Module. |
| 11006935 | This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure for 2025MY vehicles. |
| 11006934 | The purpose of this bulletin is to provide replacement key and immobilizer information along with an overview of the Subaru Lock Information web-site. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)