This Bulletin announces a new diagnostic procedure for addressing NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) originating from the roof area.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Subaru Outback body problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Subaru Outback have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 9,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Outback | 17 |
| 2017 Outback | 20 |
| 2018 Outback | 12 |
| 2019 Outback | 21 |
| 2020 Outback (this page) | 17 |
| 2021 Outback | 6 |
| 2022 Outback | 7 |
1injury
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces availability of new door window regulator assemblies and door glass run channel seals in response to limited concerns of erratic operation of the anti-entrapment feature and / or the door glass either not closing or closing very slowly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change to the hood lock switch portion of the hood lock assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin announces diagnostic procedures to be followed when working with a Power Rear Gate (PRG).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Windshield cracking dominates these complaints. Multiple owners report spontaneous cracks appearing at highway speeds (50-70 mph) without any external impact—no rock, no debris, just a crack that starts at an edge or the lower section and spreads while the car is moving. One owner had two cracks within 8 days; another went through five windshield replacements in four years. One rear window shattered just from closing the car door at 2 weeks old. A sunroof glass exploded outward at 70 mph with no prior use for weeks and moderate temperature (63°F).
Liftgate issues come in two flavors: failure to open or close properly, with warning lights and refused latching; and random, unpredictable closure right after opening. Dealers have offered battery disconnects as a fix, which worked temporarily but the problem came back. Repair attempts at $170 and $991 quotes haven't solved it. One owner was trapped between the liftgate and a garage door, sustaining cuts and bruising.
Door trim has detached during normal driving and hasn't stayed reattached after dealer work. One sunroof reinforcement (suspected Part Number 53700AN03A9P) came loose and was rattling inside the roof structure, awaiting manufacturer authorization for repair.
Same Subaru Outback body reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield spontaneous cracking and shattering
Front windshield develops cracks without impact from road debris, rocks, or other external contact. Cracks originate from edges or lower sections and propagate while vehicle is in motion or stationary. Multiple owners report 2-5 replacements within 1-4 years. One rear window shattered when owner shut car door.
When: 3,000 miles; as early as 5 months ownership; recurring within 2-4 year periods
Symptoms owners cite: Cracks appear while driving at highway speeds (50-70 mph) without audible impact; Linear cracks originating from driver or passenger edge; Cracks originating from lower windshield section; Cracks propagate and expand while vehicle is in motion; Spontaneous cracking while vehicle is stationary in garage or driveway; Rear window shattering when door closed
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield replacement at glass repair facilities; some replacements performed at dealership. One owner reports $170 dealer charge for unrelated liftgate issue; another reports $991 quote for liftgate.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action lawsuit mentioned by one owner; manufacturer informed in some cases but no TSBs or recalls cited in narratives
Sunroof glass spontaneous explosion
Sunroof glass exploded outward while vehicle traveling on highway. Owner had not used sunroof in weeks and temperature was moderate (63°F). Glass broke into small squares and continued falling apart as vehicle was driven at lower speeds.
When: Approximately 2 years into ownership (5/10/2021)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loud noise while driving 70 mph on highway; Large section of glass missing (approximately 6" × 4"); Remaining glass shattered into small squares; Glass continued to disintegrate as vehicle drove at slower speeds; Glass fragments fell into cabin onto headliner slide cover
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner noted multiple online complaints of same issue on Outback and other Subaru vehicles
Rear liftgate malfunction and entrapment hazard
Rear liftgate fails to open with key fob or manual operation; fails to latch and close properly; randomly closes immediately after opening. Dealership troubleshooting limited to battery disconnection, which temporarily resolved issue but problem recurred. One owner sustained injury when inadvertently activated liftgate trapped them between liftgate and garage door.
When: 7,500 miles; recurring from February 2021 through May 2021 and beyond; multiple occurrences over 4-year period in another vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate fails to open with key fob; Liftgate fails to open manually; Liftgate fails to latch and close properly; Liftgate ajar warning light illuminated; Liftgate closes immediately after opening (occurs randomly); Accidental activation traps occupant between liftgate and garage door (injury reported)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership (Royal Moore Subaru) unable to diagnose failure; battery disconnection attempted but temporary fix; subsequent repairs quoted at $170 (Royal Subaru, Cortland NY—did not fix issue) and $991 (dealership quote pending); one owner reports issue not yet repaired despite multiple service visits over 4 years
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed of failure; issue described by owner as known manufacturing defect with numerous online complaints; no recalls or TSBs mentioned
Door trim detachment
Trim on front driver and passenger side doors detaches from vehicle body during driving. Trim was reattached at dealership but failure returned on driver's side door.
When: Approximately 14,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Trim on front driver's side door detaches while driving at slow speed; Trim on front passenger's side door detaches days later; Reattached trim on driver's side door fails again
Repairs/costs cited: Trim reattached by dealership; failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner contacted manufacturer online and completed survey; vehicle not repaired
Sunroof reinforcement detachment
Sunroof roof reinforcements came loose and detached from roof structure, producing audible noise. Part number suspected to be 53700AN03A9P.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Audible 'ping' noise like metal being flicked when opening sunroof cover; Roof reinforcements detached from roof structure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified loose reinforcements; awaiting reattachment (pending two weeks at time of report)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Awaiting Subaru authorization to reattach; no recall or TSB mentioned
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2020 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 3,700 and 14,000 miles, with the median around 9,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,700; a quarter make it past 14,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Subaru/Outback.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.