This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers). (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Subaru Outback engine problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Subaru Outback have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Outback | 33 |
| 2017 Outback | 14 |
| 2018 Outback | 15 |
| 2019 Outback | 16 |
| 2020 Outback (this page) | 18 |
| 2021 Outback | 7 |
| 2022 Outback | 8 |
1crash
1fire
1injury
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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 updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers). (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the design change made to the exhaust manifold flange nut material that has been changed from stainless steel to medium carbon steel. This change also necessitates a revised tightening torque specification. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"This bulletin provides a new diagnostic procedure for vehicles equipped with a Denso CP 1, 1.5 and 2.5 head units to provide an enhanced version of the troubleshooting steps for Sound does not come out from the speaker."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2020 Subaru Outback carries multiple engine-system defects documented in owner complaints. The most frequent issue is premature failure of the factory oil pan seal on turbo (FA24) models, where defective RTV sealant breaks down and allows oil to leak onto the transmission. Subaru dealership technicians have explicitly told owners this is a "known manufacturing issue," yet no recall exists. Repair costs exceed $1,100, and owners report that the degrading sealant material can be sucked into the oil pickup tube, starving the engine of lubrication.
The thermo control valve—a plastic component managing coolant circulation—also cracks prematurely, typically around 90,000 miles but sometimes earlier. Failure disables the EyeSight safety system along with cabin heating and risks engine overheating. A technical service bulletin exists for a redesigned metal valve, but again, no mandatory recall. Repair costs near $1,900.
Multiple owners report engine stalling, no-start conditions, and loss of power during normal driving; diagnostic attempts involving fuel pump, high-pressure fuel pump, and ECM replacement have failed to resolve the problem in some cases. One owner reported sudden uncontrolled acceleration with unresponsive brakes at 44,000 miles, resulting in a crash.
The EyeSight system also randomly disables itself, particularly after Android Auto connections. These are unverified consumer allegations, but the pattern and dealer admissions suggest systemic defects rather than isolated incidents.
Same Subaru Outback engine reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Engine Oil Pan Seal Failure / RTV Sealant Breakdown
Factory oil pan seal made with RTV sealant fails prematurely, allowing engine oil to leak from the pan. Oil is forced rearward toward the transmission by airflow during operation. Owners report RTV material degrading and pieces being sucked into the oil pickup tube, potentially starving the engine of oil.
When: 31,000 miles to 90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking from rear of oil pan; Oil accumulation at transmission joint; Oil saturation of transmission assembly; Seepage visible after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repair quote exceeded $1,100. Replacement part uses metal construction instead of composite plastic. Dealers have waived diagnostic fees in some cases, acknowledging the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership admitted this is a 'known manufacturing issue' with the FA24 engine. No recall or extended warranty has been issued despite Subaru National Customer Service advising owners to file NHTSA complaints.
Thermo Control Valve Failure
Factory-installed thermo control valve, made from composite plastic, cracks or fails under heat and pressure from the cooling system. Valve controls antifreeze flow to the heater core and is attached to metal fittings. Failure causes coolant leaks and engine overheating risk. Disables the EyeSight safety system when it fails.
When: 90,000 miles; also reported under 4 years old; one failure at 3 years / 28,175 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Antifreeze leaking onto engine; Reduced heat output to cabin; Engine overheating risk; EyeSight system shutdown; Safety features disabled
Codes mentioned: P26A5
Repairs/costs cited: Repair requires removal of numerous components to access valve. Replacement valve is metal construction. Repair cost estimated near $1,900 in one case. One owner reported repair was covered under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: A technical safety bulletin exists outlining a redesigned TCV, though details are redacted. Manufacturer has not issued a recall.
Engine Stalling / No-Start / Fuel Delivery Issues
Vehicle stalls or fails to start during normal driving, at traffic lights, or when exiting highways. Multiple warning lights illuminate (check engine, oil, battery, brake, stability control). Engine shakes before stalling. In one case, fuel pump and high-pressure fuel pump were replaced, then ECM was replaced, yet the problem persisted. In another case, dealership could not reproduce the fault.
When: 9,846 miles; 10,950 miles; 23,000 miles; various other instances
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while driving; Loss of power / inability to accelerate; Check engine light illuminates; Multiple warning lights (oil, battery, brake, stability control); Engine shaking before stall; Difficulty restarting after stall; Vehicle unable to exceed 15 MPH after failure
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump replaced, high-pressure fuel pump replaced, Engine Control Module (ECM) replaced in at least one vehicle—problem persisted. Computer reprogrammed in another case—failure continued. Some cases remain undiagnosed as dealers cannot reproduce the fault.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified and opened cases in multiple complaints. One owner was advised by Subaru National Customer Service to file NHTSA complaint. Dealership returned vehicle due to inability to duplicate failure.
Unintended Acceleration / Brake Failure
Vehicle suddenly accelerates without driver input while turning into a parking space or slow-speed maneuvering. Brake pedal becomes unresponsive with no resistance. Engine races when vehicle is turned on. Vehicle continues to accelerate despite braking attempts, resulting in loss of vehicle control and collision.
When: 44,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration without pedal input; Brake pedal unresponsive / no resistance; No warning signs prior to event; Engine races at startup; Complete loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle struck trees after 80-foot acceleration. Currently in body shop; mechanics have not determined if safe to work on. Airbag did not deploy.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership service department stated they have never heard of this issue and suggested owner fault. Dealership offered diagnostic at owner's expense after body damage repair, but expected diagnostic would show nothing.
EyeSight System Failures / Malfunction
EyeSight driver-assistance system randomly fails to load or initialize after engine startup. System disables Rear Automatic Braking and other safety features. Failure often occurs within 30 seconds of startup, particularly when connecting Android Auto phone. Problem is random and difficult to reproduce.
When: Not specified; seems to occur early in drive cycle
Symptoms owners cite: EyeSight system fails to load; Warning message displayed: 'EyeSight and other safety features not available'; Rear Automatic Braking unavailable; Random occurrence, difficult to reproduce
Auto Start/Stop System - No Permanent Disable Option
Vehicle's auto start/stop system cannot be permanently disabled. In high-temperature climates (over 95°F in Florida), the car heats up rapidly after shutdown, causing discomfort and health issues for occupants with breathing problems. Disabling the feature requires navigating multiple menu screens on the infotainment system each time the car starts.
When: All driving conditions in hot climates
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid interior heating after engine shuts off (10-15 seconds); Health risk for occupants with breathing issues; Feature cannot be permanently disabled
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer confirmed no permanent disable option is available. Subaru has not moved the disable feature to a main menu screen.
Coolant Bypass Valve Failure / Frequent Coolant Replenishment
Coolant bypass valve fails or coolant system develops a leak requiring frequent replenishment. In one case, a pressure test at the dealership did not identify the issue. Unclear if this is related to the thermo control valve failures.
When: Unknown mileage for frequent replenishment issue; bypass valve failure noted
Symptoms owners cite: Frequent coolant loss requiring replenishment; Coolant bypass valve failure
Repairs/costs cited: Pressure test performed at dealership but no failure found. Repair not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but offered no assistance.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The EyeSight system will randomly not load at times and need to be reset for Rear Automatic Braking and other EyeSight safety features to become available. This usually only occurs within 30 seconds of engine startup but always occurs when plugging in a phone with Android Auto (a phone with Apple Car Play has never been used for verification). Warning message is displayed on driver's side…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 18 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 24,616 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.