2020 Subaru Outback: Problems & Reliability
YEAR TO AVOIDThe 2020 Subaru Outback has 905 NHTSA owner complaints, 587 manufacturer service bulletins, and 6 recall campaigns on federal record, led by visibility/wiper and electrical system issues. Among the 12 Subaru Outback model years with federal records, it ranks 2nd by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid.
Sources: NHTSA complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-11-05 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
905
NHTSA complaints
587
Service bulletins
6
Recall campaigns
—
Avg. buyer-paid
Most-reported problem areas on the 2020 Subaru Outback
Visibility/Wiper — 313 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Electrical System — 259 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Unknown Or Other — 152 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
How the 2020 compares to adjacent years
| Model year | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,036 | 410 | 3 | — |
| 2020 (this page) | 905 | 587 | 6 | — |
| 2021 | 299 | 455 | 4 | — |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Subaru Outback years to avoid.
Know what to pay for the right 2020 Subaru Outback — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
Is the 2020 Subaru Outback reliable?
The 2020 Subaru Outback has 905 NHTSA owner complaints, 587 manufacturer service bulletins, and 6 recall campaigns on federal record, led by visibility/wiper and electrical system issues. Among the 12 Subaru Outback model years with federal records, it ranks 2nd by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Outback?
The most-reported problem areas for the 2020 Subaru Outback in NHTSA owner complaints are visibility/wiper, electrical system, unknown or other. Service bulletins (587 on file) show what the manufacturer issued repair guidance for.
Does the 2020 Subaru Outback have recalls?
Yes — 6 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2020 Subaru Outback. Recall completion is VIN-specific: run the exact VIN to see whether the work was actually done on the car you're considering.
Is the 2020 Subaru Outback a good year to buy?
The 2020 is one of the Subaru Outback years to avoid by complaint and bulletin volume — the 2024 and 2025 model years show cleaner records. If the price reflects the risk and the specific car checks out by VIN, informed buyers still do fine; just don't pay clean-year money for it.
How do I check a specific 2020 Subaru Outback before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.