This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Subaru Outback powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Subaru Outback have filed 45 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 23,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
45
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Outback | 45 |
| 2017 Outback | 42 |
| 2018 Outback | 14 |
| 2019 Outback | 14 |
| 2020 Outback (this page) | 45 |
| 2021 Outback | 10 |
| 2022 Outback | 14 |
| 2023 Outback | 4 |
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What stands out
Owners have filed 45 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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 announces a correction to the diagnostic procedures for certain CVT related DTCs, including P0730, P0746, P0747, P0841, P0846, P0867, P1867, P1894, and P2723.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change to the TR690 CVT control valve body which features an enhanced line pressure sensor O-ring, designed to prevent abnormal sensor readings caused by O-ring leakage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Powertrain Warranty coverage for the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) on the above listed models and model years from the original five (5) years or sixty thousand (60,000) miles (whichever comes first) to ten (10) years or one-hundred thousand (100,000) miles (whichever comes first).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report systematic failures in the 2020 Outback's CVT transmission and thermal control systems. The transmission fails completely (no gears, no movement), slips into neutral at highway speeds, spontaneously shifts from Drive to first gear, and grinds or clunks during turns—often before 50,000 miles. Several owners had transmissions replaced under NHTSA Campaign 21V955000, only to have identical slipping occur again. The thermal control valve fails and disables the entire EyeSight safety suite (pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise, lane-keeping) without proportional warning, leaving drivers stranded on busy highways with no propulsion and no safety net.
The recall repair program itself is broken: Subaru issued Campaign 21V955000 in February 2022, but owners report parts remain unavailable into June 2022 and beyond, forcing them to keep driving potentially unsafe vehicles. Dealers deny responsibility when slipping occurs after recall work, claiming the issues are unrelated. Battery drains strand owners after the vehicle sits for hours. The auto start-stop feature fails nine times out of ten and occasionally kills the engine while the car is positioned in front of oncoming traffic. A cabin computer reboots randomly, dropping EyeSight offline mid-drive; four software updates have not fixed it.
One transmission failure occurred at 21,869 miles and required three separate clutch pack replacements. One owner was denied warranty coverage for a complete transmission failure at 90,023 miles due to VIN exclusion. Repair estimates exceed $7,000–$12,000. Owners describe being lucky to escape accidents and fear continued operation.
Same Subaru Outback powertrain reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Thermal Control Valve Failure
Thermal control valve assembly fails, triggering Check Engine light and disabling EyeSight, pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle control, and cabin heat. Owners report being stranded on highways with loss of propulsion capability and safety features.
When: Varies; one report at unspecified mileage, another at 54,400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminates; EyeSight functions disabled; Pre-collision braking disabled; Pre-collision throttle control disabled; Loss of cabin heat; Loss of cruise control; Vehicle becomes undrivable
Repairs/costs cited: Thermal Control Valve replaced; one owner paid $1,185.87 out of pocket
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued warranty extension letter (May 1, 2024) covering the Thermal Control Valve; TSB referenced (TSB number redacted)
CVT Transmission Clutch Binding and Grinding
CVT transmission develops grinding, binding, and clunking sounds during low-speed driving and turns. Occurs even after transmission clutch kit replacement under recall 21V955000 and multiple subsequent clutch pack replacements.
When: As early as 21,869 miles; another report at 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding sound while driving at slow speeds and making turns; Abnormal clunking noise; Transmission slipping and vibrating; Vehicle shudders when turning; Transmission shudders when accelerating
Repairs/costs cited: TCM software update performed; transmission clutch kit replaced under NHTSA Campaign 21V955000; multiple clutch pack replacements (at least four documented at different dealers); one estimate for repair kit at another dealer quoted $12,000; one transmission fully replaced at approximately 50,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V955000 issued; some dealers claim issue unrelated to recall; others indicate engineer is addressing known transmission problem
CVT Chain Slippage and Guide Breakage
CVT chain slips or guide breaks, causing loss of power transmission. Recall 21V955000 issued (WRK-21 transmission control unit component failure), but parts unavailability has delayed repairs for months past the recall notice.
When: As early as 23,000 miles; reports through 100,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of ability to engage any gear (Drive, Reverse); Loss of motive power; Vehicle immobilized; CEL illuminated after failure
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required; one owner cited $7,000+ estimate; recall repair (NHTSA Campaign 21V955000 / WRK-21) pending parts availability; one dealer estimated $12,000 for chain guide repair kit
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V955000 / WRK-21 issued December 15, 2021; multiple owners report parts unavailability exceeding reasonable timeframe; Subaru denied CVT warranty coverage on one vehicle citing VIN exclusion and prior service gaps
Transmission Shifts to Manual Mode Unexpectedly
CVT transmission spontaneously shifts from automatic Drive to manual 'Auto-stick' mode without driver input, landing in first gear at highway speeds (approximately 30 mph). Creates violent deceleration and near-miss collision risk.
When: Occurs randomly; reported three times within 32,000 miles on one vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shifts to manual mode without input; Vehicle lands in first gear at 30 mph; Violent sudden deceleration; No warning lamps or error messages; Gearshift remains in Drive position
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce issue; diagnostic computer connected but no problems witnessed during 46-mile test drive; no repairs performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim they have never heard of or seen this issue; require reproduction of defect before undertaking repairs; owners cite blog posts on Edmunds.com showing this exact issue reported by Subaru owners since 2011 with no resolution in new vehicles
Transmission Complete Failure (Loss of All Gears)
CVT transmission loses ability to engage any forward or reverse gear, rendering vehicle completely immobile. Occurs suddenly during normal low-speed maneuvering.
When: At 70,158 miles; at 90,023 miles; during reversing out of driveway
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of ability to select Drive or Reverse; Vehicle stalls during acceleration from stop; No gear engagement possible; Unknown warning lights illuminated; CEL illuminates after failure
Repairs/costs cited: Complete transmission replacement required at dealer; internal CVT failure confirmed; no repairs completed on one vehicle; Subaru denied CVT warranty coverage citing VIN exclusion and prior service gaps
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru reviewed case and denied coverage citing VIN exclusion; no warranty coverage offered on vehicle at 70,158 miles; manufacturer not notified in some cases
Transmission Slipping with Loss of Power
While accelerating on highway or during normal driving, transmission slips and loses power, causing multiple warning lights (EyeSight, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Brake, Engine) and violent jerking. Vehicle power drops to near-stall, creating collision risk on multi-lane highways.
When: During highway passing maneuver at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Power loss during acceleration; Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously (EyeSight, VDC, Brake, Engine); Transmission slipping; Violent jerking back and forth; Vehicle crawls at 5 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed as Thermal Control Valve failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin and design change issued for Thermal Control Valve; no mention of recall at time of complaint
Auto Start-Stop System Malfunction
Auto start-stop feature fails to engage reliably, requires excessive brake pedal pressure, disengages prematurely (limited to 20 seconds), and causes abrupt engine restarts with steering wheel kick. In one case, feature unexpectedly stalls engine while vehicle is positioned in front of oncoming traffic.
When: From beginning of ownership; ongoing throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Feature will not engage nine times out of ten; Icon displays feature is disengaged; Requires extra brake pressure to engage; Engine shuts off and immediately restarts with rumbling and steering wheel kick; Stop duration limited to 20 seconds maximum; Abrupt engine stalling at traffic lights
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; feature dysfunction ongoing
Recall 21V955000 Parts Unavailability
NHTSA Campaign 21V955000 (Power Train) issued for TCU component failure, but repair parts remain unavailable months after recall notice issued. Owners unable to get vehicle serviced despite recall, leaving them operating potentially unsafe vehicles.
When: Recall notice February 2022; parts still unavailable as of June 2022 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall issued but parts unavailable; Extended delay in recall repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Parts unavailability confirmed via VIN tool and dealer statements; eight separate owners reported this issue with no remedy available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V955000 issued; parts distribution disrupted; no alternate remedy offered; Subaru told at least one owner parts not available with no estimated arrival; recall notice did not include expected parts availability timeline
Battery Drain
Battery drains completely within hours or days despite no electrical components left on. Occurs multiple times, leaving owners stranded. One owner reported battery died within 20 minutes while parked at grocery store.
When: At 10 months old; multiple instances over ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Battery completely drained; No electrical equipment left on; Vehicle unable to start; Rapid battery discharge while parked
Repairs/costs cited: Battery recharged initially, but failed again two weeks later; battery replaced; underlying electrical drain cause not diagnosed
Cabin Computer (Cockpit Control Module) Reboot
Cabin computer reboots randomly, disabling EyeSight safety system until reboot completes. Multiple software updates issued but problem persists across multiple update versions.
When: Issue present from 2020 model year; updates issued February 2021, December 2021, January 2022, April 2022, still ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Cabin computer reboots randomly; EyeSight safety system disabled during reboot; Safety system offline until boot cycle completes
Repairs/costs cited: Cockpit control module software updated multiple times (Feb 2021, Dec 2021, Jan 2022, April 2022); issue persists after multiple updates
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Software updates released but do not resolve issue; problem ongoing after four documented updates
Rear Wheel Bearing Failure
Right rear wheel bearing fails at 45,000 miles, well below typical service life expectations. No warning lights present; noise only audible at highway speeds.
When: At 45,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Audible bearing noise at 20+ mph; Noise increases with speed; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired under 5-year/60,000-mile warranty; failed part not retained for inspection
Sudden Unintended Acceleration into Building
While parked in driveway, vehicle suddenly accelerates into owner's home with no foot on accelerator. No airbags deploy, no identifiable electrical cause at time of inspection.
When: At 54,400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver input; While parked in driveway; Sustained acceleration into structure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to identify cause initially and planned further diagnostic tests; vehicle not repaired as of report date
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware at time of complaint
Transmission Shifts to Neutral at Highway Speed
Transmission spontaneously shifts to neutral while cruising at highway speed (62 mph), leaving vehicle coasting without brakes applied. No brake lights warn following traffic. Occurs after previous transmission recall (WRK-21) failed to resolve issue.
When: Two occurrences: once on city street, once at 62 mph on interstate
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shifts to neutral unexpectedly; No warning lights; Loss of propulsion at highway speed; No brake lights to warn following vehicles; Vehicle coasts in neutral
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; vehicle has previous WRK-21 transmission recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: WRK-21 recall previously performed but did not correct slipping/shifting issue
EyeSight Safety System Disabled by Check Engine Light
Check Engine light triggered by unrelated component failure (Thermal Control Valve) causes entire EyeSight safety system suite to disable, including pre-collision braking and throttle control. Creates hazardous condition on busy highways with no proportional response.
When: Triggered during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminates; EyeSight functions automatically disabled; Pre-collision braking disabled; Pre-collision throttle control disabled; All safety features offline simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Thermal Control Valve replacement required to restore safety system function
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru could not or would not explain why Check Engine condition disables entire safety system; warranty extension issued for Thermal Control Valve but did not address software logic issue
Synthesized from 45 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 45 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 21,207 and 54,400 miles, with the median around 23,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 21,207; a quarter make it past 54,400. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.