10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,711 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2020 Subaru Outback miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2020 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #139

Jul 022024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Rear trunk door won-??t lock when closed and open up while driving. It-??s unsafe as I have to constantly keep an eye in rear view mirror to see if door popped open by itself. Took to service station and they said it-??s tied to battery and it is preventing door to close because trunk door takes power to open. I do not understand how trunk door locking close cannot be independent of battery. It is quite unsafe for vehicle occupants and poses danger to other vehicles driving behind.

- Milpitas, CA, USA

problem #138

Jun 172024

Outback

  • miles
Spontaneous windshield cracking

- Berkeley, CA, USA

problem #137

May 252024

Outback

  • miles
As my husband & I were traveling to Augusta, GA on Memorial Day weekend with our niece, we approached the [XXX] outside Chattanooga, Tennessee in heavy traffic and heavy rain on Saturday [XXX] 2024 at approximately [XXX] When we stopped for a small accident ahead of us, the -??auto stop-start engine-?? feature stopped the car engine as normal. However, almost instantly, all of the electronics in the car appeared to fail and the car would not restart. The dashboard indicated that Eyesight and RAB were disabled and to "check the owner's manual." Normal traffic quickly resumed around us, but we were stranded in the #2 lane with several close calls of a rear-end collision--not to mention the cars at risk swerving to avoid us. My husband is a retired firefighter & our niece is a nurse in Los Angeles. Frankly, we were terrified! We were stranded on the interstate in the #2 lane for about 20 minutes before being pushed into the "gore zone" between [XXX] & [XXX] by a TDOT truck. We spent about 40 minutes in the gore zone where we were nearly hit twice by cars driving across the zone. We were finally towed to Crown Subaru in Chattanooga, TN and arrived there about 11:40 a.m. The general manager of the dealership, Keith Aviles, told us there was a sudden, massive failure of a battery cell controlling the electronics of the car, and the battery was replaced. We never had any indication or evidence prior to this incident that there were issues with the battery. Also, we have never received a notice from Subaru about battery problems. However, we are now aware that Subaru settled a class action lawsuit to avoid a recall of these batteries. I have notified six friends who own Subarus. Three have had issues with their batteries, but were also unaware of the class action lawsuit. This is absolutely shocking for a vehicle manufacturer that touts safety to sell vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #136

Mar 012024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The windshield has cracked every year since I purchased the vehicle in May 2020. I fortunately bought the insurance but that only covers the windshield once a year. The windshield cracks within a month or two of replacing every single year. The cracks generally start from the edge of the windshield and there is no indication that it was hit be a rock as the start of the crack is clean. There have been two incidents where I heard a pop prior to the start of the crack. I am currently on my fourth windshield.

- Longmont, CO, USA

problem #135

Apr 182024

Outback

  • miles
This vehicle is equipped with a driver monitoring system. This system will flash warnings and activate audible alarms directing the driver to keep his/her eyes on the road. At times this system malfunctions and blares warning after warning non-stop to keep eyes on the road when in fact the driver is absolutely looking straight ahead giving the road and traffic full attention. This erroneous non-stop alarm is distracting to the driver and will continue non-stop. Mostly the alarm can be ended by stopping the vehicle and shutting it off and then restarting the vehicle. The distracting nature to the driver is not the only issue. Is that false driver attention alarm being recorded to some black box to be recovered by any investigator, law enforcement or otherwise" If I should be in an accident while the vehicle erroneously has recorded that the driver was not attentive, then in fact I was, how could I prove otherwise" After all, the computer said otherwise. Once, the alarm begins, there is no way to safely stop the vehicle on the interstate, rush hour beltways and such. There is no way to safely stop the vehicle and turn off the ignition. My vehicle electronic system has been updated several times under the warranty period, yet this erroneous distracting safety alarm persists on an intermittent basis. I never know when. it is going to happen. There is reference in the manual to turning the system off, however I question whether just the alarm is turned off and the false data is till being recorded for anyone to find and place me in jeopardy should an accident occur. This is a known problem discussed in multiple forums and discussion groups. This has been and intermittent problem since 2020.

- Camp Hill, PA, USA

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problem #134

May 052024

Outback

  • miles
Spontaneous crack in windshield with no other signs of chips or damage. Car was sitting in the driveway when it occurred.

- Elkhorn, NE, USA

problem #133

May 032024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This was December2023Clicking noise when turning. "Rear swaybar bushing replaced (have gap in them when loaded)" also replaced 2 front Axle/CV Boots. Said they were worn. Additionally today, 5/3/2024 got in my car and there is a crack in my windshield that occurred overnight. Crack comes from bottom corning on drivers side up about 12 inches.

- Cedarburg, WI, USA

problem #132

Mar 202024

Outback

  • miles
Later today I am getting my 4th windshield, maybe my 5th, I don-??t remember. There is something wrong With these windshields. Nothing more than a small pebble has hit the windshield to cause the cracks and honestly that was only one incident. All the rest happened for no apparent reason. Again, my fourth or fifth windshield. This is ridiculous.

- Okemos, MI, USA

problem #131

Jan 012024

Outback

  • miles
The automatic lifting of the rear trunk opens as it should, but then will start to close on you out of no where without pushing the close button. It is terrifying because it doesn-??t sense a body there. The screen in the center console also will become inaccessible and black out making it impossible to use the touch screen. The usb ports/ connecting to iPhone will disconnect making Bluetooth unavailable. Extremely difficult when needing gps or on the freeway

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #130

Feb 182024

Outback

  • miles
Rear hatch opens while driving. It will not lock nor will it auto close. The dealer, Pine Belt Subaru, Lakewood, NJ, tried to fix it, but it happened again one week later. A very dangerous situation. A complete replacement of the hatch's lock may solve the problem.

- Whiting , NJ, USA

problem #129

Jan 152024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

- Driver and Passenger window stuck down (won't close) in extreme cold temperatures - I feel my safety is at risk because I had to drive my car miles in frigid temperatures with my window stuck open. - My dealership acknowledged the problem, but were not able to reproduce it as it was 59 degrees when I took it in. - My vehicle was not inspected by anyone other than the dealer - I had no warning of the problem I have a 2020 Subaru Outback Limited. Since I bought the car, there have been multiple incidents where the driver or passenger window got stuck open after being rolled down on very cold days. Several years ago, shortly after I bought it, my Subaru dealer explained to me this was happening because Subaru changed the rubber content in the window gaskets to a harder rubber. Then, when there is dirt on the insides of the gasket, the gasket drags on the window and the actuator opens the window because it thinks it detected it was closing on something it was not supposed to close on. The fix to be able to close my window was to take a screwdriver and a T-shirt or thin towel to clean the insides of the gasket that touches the window. Subaru knows about this problem. As this is a safety hazard and dangerous in cold weather, I do not understand why there has not been a recall. I took my car to the dealer today. I was told that it should not happen again if I keep the gaskets clean. As a Subaru is supposed to be made for offroading and extreme weather conditions, I would think that something as basic as being able to open and CLOSE a window is not too much to ask. Do you really expect me to clean the inside of window gaskets to keep my windows from sticking? That is just trying to normalize a problem that should not be not be normalized. My passenger window got stuck a couple of weeks ago and I had to drive home 7 miles with it open when it was 0 degrees out. I tried to clean the gaskets using a screwdriver and a rag, but it would not work. Please recall!!!

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #128

Jan 272024

Outback

  • miles
I sent a complaint yesterday, I would like to add this to the complaint [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Morris, IL, USA

problem #127

Sep 102023

Outback

  • miles
I am reporting defective windshield. I-??ve had windshield replaced 3 times when just the tiniest pebble tinged. My daughter also has a Subaru Outback and 3 windshields replaced. There must be a defect. Now that we have replaced the windshield several times, State Farm insurance has dropped us because of the number of claims. Most definitely a danger when a tiny people shatters the glass and pieces of the glass hit your face and eyes. If there is another agency I should report this, kindly let me know. Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Morris, IL, USA

problem #126

Dec 282023

Outback

  • miles
I noticed when the weather is wet, closing the front windows is slow. This kept advancing and now it won't close at all. Today, 12/28/2023 it wouldn't even come up more than half an inch then goes back down. Done some online research, and lots of people are reporting this with several Subaru models and dealers only say it needs lubrication.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #125

Nov 202023

Outback

  • miles
Thermo control valve broken. Leaves no heat to cabin.

- North Attleboro, MA, USA

problem #124

Oct 312023

Outback

  • miles
Rock hit windshield and cracked Need to be replaced

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #123

Jul 172023

Outback

  • miles
Thermocontrol valve

- Collinsville, OK, USA

problem #122

Aug 082023

Outback

  • miles
Windshield developed a crack for no apparent reason on the lower passenger side. Car was parked. Only unusual circumstance is that was a hot day.

- Claremont, CA, USA

problem #121

Jul 242023

Outback

  • miles
The windshield in my 2020 Subaru Outback has cracked spontaneously twice. I had 75K Bumper to Bumper Warranty, which the dealer would not honor the first time the window broke. He said that it was warranted for repair, not replacement. I argued until he gave me a 50% discount. My windshield broke again today. I had just pulled out onto the street and was traveling about 10MPH. No rocks or stone touched the windshield. The sound of the crack startled me. I thought that there had to be an issue. Consequently as I looked online, I have discovered this is a design flaw or something as the problem is widespread. Two cracks in year is not right and it is expensive.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #120

May 242023

Outback

  • miles
Over the course of the nearly three years I have owned my vehicle, the windshield has either spontaneously cracked or cracked from a very very small chip three times. Two of these occurred while I was driving, with no debris impact with the vehicle windshield. There have been several suits filed against Subaru for similar cases, including for the 2020 Outback model. This has been three times in about two and a half years, quadruple the amount for my previous vehicle. Not only is this a vision impairment while driving and a financial burden to fix, I also worry about more catastrophic failure should anything significant impact the windshield while driving. I have had the glass repaired twice, and both times the repair technicians could not understand how such a significant crack had occurred.

- Bozeman, MT, USA

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