2020 Subaru Outback
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 398 of 896 complaints (44%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 1,033 in 2019 to 896 in 2020.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,250–2,850 | 2,250–2,850 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–28 | 22–28 | 26–29 | 26–29 | 24–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–25 / 27–32 | 20–25 / 27–32 | 23–26 / 30–33 | 23–26 / 30–33 | 22–26 / 26–33 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 320–398 | 320–398 | 308–343 | 308–343 | 308–377 | |
| Complaints filed | 809 | 1,033 | 896 | 296 | 462 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 27 | 24 | 19 | 9 | 10 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 19 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru Outback have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Subaru Outback?
Visibility & Lighting: 398 of 896 NHTSA complaints (44%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Subaru Outback get?
EPA rates it 26–29 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Subaru Outback?
EPA estimates $2,150–$2,400 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 26 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,150 (low) | 308 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 23 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 343 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 46 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 15 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 258 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 72 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 398 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 152 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · Campaign 24V227000 · Mar 25, 2024
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.
Consequence: 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 number for this recall is WRA-24.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CHAIN/BELT · Campaign 22V485000 · Jul 8, 2022
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Consequence: 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 replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-22. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-955.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CHAIN/BELT · Campaign 21V955000 · Dec 10, 2021
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Consequence: 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 replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 21V587000 · Jul 30, 2021
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: 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 for this recall is WRG-21.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION · Campaign 20V766000 · Dec 11, 2020
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with "high" grade and "mid" grade multimedia navigation. The August 2020 over-the-air software update may have timed out without completing the installation, corrupting the data, and causing the rearview display to shutoff intermittently. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: 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 Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-20.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES · Campaign 19V664000 · Sep 19, 2019
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Outback and Legacy vehicles. The brake pedal mounting bracket may have a missing or insufficiently tightened bolt.
Consequence: 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 October 1, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUL-97.