NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
A capacitor inside the front passenger seat's occupant detection sensor may crack and short circuit, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying during a crash.
This page covers 8 recalls, 889 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2020 Subaru Outback.
26–29 mpg combined
8.1–9 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2020 Subaru Outback centers on visibility and wiper-related issues, which account for by far the largest share of reports. Owners frequently describe problems with the EyeSight camera system, fogging, condensation buildup, or obstruction behind the windshield that disables driver assistance features and triggers warning lights. Wiper performance, streaking, and poor wet-weather visibility also come up repeatedly. The electrical system is the second most-reported area, with owners describing warning lights illuminating, system resets, and features cycling off unexpectedly. A smaller but recurring group of owners reports CVT-related concerns, including loss of drive, hesitation, and transmission warning codes appearing, sometimes alongside complete loss of vehicle movement. A handful of reports also describe oil pan seal failures on the 2.4L turbocharged engine, with fluid accumulation noted at the transmission joint.
889
Total Complaints
19
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2020 Subaru Outback has 8 recalls, with the most serious involving a transmission control unit programming error that can allow the drive chain to slip and break, causing sudden loss of drive power while moving.
A separate drivetrain concern involves the low-pressure fuel pump inside the tank, which can fail and stall the engine while driving. There is also a floor mat issue where an incorrect bracket may allow the driver's mat to shift and interfere with the accelerator or brake pedals.
On the safety equipment side, a capacitor in the front passenger seat sensor can crack and short circuit, preventing the passenger airbag from deploying in a crash. The brake pedal mounting bracket may also be missing a bolt or have one insufficiently tightened, which can deform the mounting area over time and reduce braking performance.
Two recalls affect rear camera visibility: a failed over-the-air software update can corrupt the rearview display and cause it to cut out intermittently, and a separate software issue can cause the center display to go blank and reboot on a loop every three minutes, dropping the camera image during each restart. These camera recalls only affect vehicles with mid or high grade multimedia navigation systems.
At a glance
What can fail
A capacitor inside the front passenger seat's occupant detection sensor may crack and short circuit, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying during a crash.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the occupant detection sensors on the front passenger seat at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the transmission control unit may cause the clutch to engage before the drive chain is fully secured, risking chain slippage.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the transmission control software, check for chain damage, and inspect the chain guide. If damage is found, the transmission will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the transmission control unit may cause the clutch to engage before the drive chain is fully secured, risking chain slippage.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the transmission control unit software, check for chain slippage, and inspect the chain guide. If damage is found, the transmission will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, which could prevent fuel from reaching the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software update may cause the center information display to go blank and the cockpit control module to repeatedly restart every 3 minutes, making the rearview camera image disappear during restarts.
What the fix does
Dealers will update your vehicle's software. If the center display still malfunctions, the cockpit control module will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An August 2020 software update may have failed to install completely, corrupting data and causing the rearview display to turn off and on unpredictably.
What the fix does
Dealers will reinstall the software and replace the control module if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The floor mat bracket installed on some vehicles is incorrect, which means the driver's floor mat may not stay secured. A loose floor mat could shift and interfere with the accelerator or brake pedals.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the floor mat bracket and replace it if the incorrect part is found.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolt securing your brake pedal mounting bracket may be missing or not tightened enough, potentially causing movement or failure of the brake pedal.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the brake pedal mounting bracket hardware and replace it or the brake pedal assembly as needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
