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2020 Subaru Outback Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 6 NHTSA recalls and 901 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
20/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2020 Subaru Outback

The 2020 Subaru Outback shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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6
NHTSA Recalls
6 recalls on record
901
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
19
Crash Reports
7 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Subaru Outback (6)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Back Over Prevention: Display Function
The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #20V766000
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #21V955000
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #21V587000
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Pedals And Linkages
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.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #19V664000
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #22V485000
🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification: Front Passenger
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #24V227000
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Most Common Problems — 2020 Subaru Outback

Based on 901 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Visibility/wiper
284
Electrical System
246
Unknown Or Other
125
Visibility
70
Power Train
48
Engine
17
Structure
17
Air Bags
15
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Subaru Outback — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2020 model year is highlighted.

2014 208 complaints 2015 509 complaints 2016 642 complaints 2017 919 complaints 2018 816 complaints 2019 1,036 complaints 2020 901 complaints 2021 298 complaints 2022 465 complaints 2023 89 complaints 2024 99 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2014, 2023, 2024 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Subaru Outback

Is the 2020 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Subaru Outback has 6 recall campaigns and 901 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru Outback have?
The 2020 Subaru Outback has 6 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Outback?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 Subaru Outback are: Visibility/wiper, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Visibility. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2020 Subaru Outback safe to buy?
The 2020 Subaru Outback has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 6 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Outback should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Outback are: 2014, 2023, 2024. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.