Subaru Outback problems
889 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. No active recalls — patterns come from the complaint record.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
The TomTom navigation system quits unexpectedly while driving and if the Adaptive Cruise Control is on it will stop working and the car will begin to slow down. The computer screen will go black and then a message will come on saying the Navigation System is starting. The…
The vehicle experienced a ~12" crack vertical crack in the windshield. The vehicle was parked and stationary when the windshield cracked. No known pebble, rock, or debris was known to have stuck the windshield. There was a relatively loud "pop" sound and the crack appeared in…
Windshield cracked in a relatively new (1-year-old) vehicle. I discovered the crack in the morning when the vehicle was stationary. I believe it wasn't there yesterday when I last parked the car.
After a 650 mile drive with no impacts to windshield or perceptible cracks, parked the car overnight. In the morning, a crack had developed from the lower driver side of the windshield moving up and to the passenger side. With no further driving, the crack continued to grow…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2020 Subaru Outback reliable?
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 889 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Subaru Outback has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2020 Subaru Outback?
The 2020 Subaru Outback is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is visibility, with 354 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 14,320 miles. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The visibility is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 14,320 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Subaru Outback has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2020 Subaru Outback?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 889 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $350, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.