The Lemon Index2020 Subaru Outback.
The 2020 Subaru Outback is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 794 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 551, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about wipers & visibility, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 26 to 29 mpg combined. The best Subaru Outback year is 2012.
Lemon alert. 5.5× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2012
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 900 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Subaru Outback year. 2020 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 11K miles on the car (443 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- wipers & visibility complaints mostly came at 2K–9K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 2K–8K miles
- visibility complaints mostly came at 6K–39K miles
Recalls 6
- airbags 2024
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.
- transmission & drivetrain 2022
A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
- transmission & drivetrain 2021
A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Show all 6 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2021
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- back over prevention 2020
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.
- brakes 2019
The brake pedal mounting bracket may have a missing or insufficiently tightened bolt.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Subaru told dealers about
Subaru sent dealers 620 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Announcement to Subaru Retailers regarding the preliminary settlement in a class action…
- Battery Drain Class Action Settlement- Warranty Extension Training
- Subaru Battery Drain Product Liability Litigation
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Outback SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Car will not start. Battery is dead. We drove it monday and it was fine. We did not use lights and made sure everything was off. Today, it would not start. Battery was dead!
2020 Subaru Outback owner · NHTSA complaint 11395632
More owner reports
Rearview mirror broke off of the windshield during normal use. At no time did I pull on the rearview mirror with excessive force.
NHTSA complaint 11431207
I got into my car one morning and the wind shield was cracked at the mid/lower bottom. Glass shards were present in 1 location and over time the crack spread and another location w/ chips/shards was present.
NHTSA complaint 11330089
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Subaru Outback reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 5.5× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 551; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Subaru Outback year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2020 Subaru Outback problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (38%), electrical (30%) and visibility (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru Outback have?
6 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Subaru Outback get?
26 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 Subaru Outback safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2020 Subaru Outback problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,300 and 11,400 miles. The middle report was at 5,700 miles, from 443 complaints.
Does the 2020 Subaru Outback have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2020 Subaru Outback cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Subaru Outback have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Subaru Outback year is better than the 2020?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2014 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works