2020 Subaru Outback problems
Owners have filed 1,135 complaints about the 2020 Subaru Outback with NHTSA. Visibility/wiper accounts for 27.6% of them, narrowly the most common, ahead of electrical system at 22.9%.
Complaints1,135
Crashes37
Fires11
Injuries5
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Visibility/wiper 27.6% · 313
Electrical system 22.9% · 260
Unknown or other 13.2% · 150
Forward collision avoidance 6.4% · 73
Visibility 6.3% · 71
Engine 4.2% · 48
Power train 4.1% · 47
Lane departure 2.1% · 24
Severity
Of those complaints, 37 describe a crash, 11 describe a fire and 5 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 28 model years of the Subaru Outback in this data, 2020 ranks 2nd by complaint volume; 2019 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 133 in the last three years against 707 in the three before. The issues here may already have been addressed.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 6,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Subaru windshield continues to crack under suspect conditions. I am now on my third windshield in the first 5,000 miles of ownership. The first windshield cracked spontaneously while driving with no other cars around. The second windshield cracked when a miniscule rock hit it while driving. It is dangerous to have such weak glass in a modern car. There is no reason that windshields should be cracking this frequently. Visibility/wiper · reported at 5,000 miles
I was driving down the interstate with no cars around and my outback windshield cracked. I was far enough away from cars and I didnât see anything hit the window. I heard a loud pop. A soft but quick pop, not like the sound of a rock hitting but different. Then I drove on down the road and saw a large crack forming from the bottom of the passenger side of the window. And thereâs no dimple anywhere in the crack. Visibility/wiper
I leased my 2020 Outback 5 months ago and this is the second time the windshield easily cracks after a small object hit the glass and made a low subtle noise. I have encountered scenarios as such previously with other non-Subaru brand cars and none of the windshields cracked. Clearly the quality of the glass is terrible and defective. There even seems to be a big class action lawsuit regarding Subaru windshields. Visibility/wiper · reported at 5,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…