What 891 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Outback Wilderness

The Subaru front camera incorrectly detected a hazard. The automatic braking system engaged and locked the steering. I skidded off the pavement, causing damage to the car. At the time of the accident, the blind sight warning lights flashed on the dash signaling that they were disabled. I was going very slow in a driveway. No personal damage just property damage and damage to the car. I have let the insurance company know about the issue and the collision center. I have had periodic instances where the warning signals of blind sight disabled have come on the vehicle. I informed Subaru in August 2024 about the issue at my last maintenance appointment. There is also a software update required on the vehicle. I asked Subaru to update the software in August 2024, but I was told by a service technician that it was not possible to update . I had to make a separate appointment for the software update as it took a long time.

NHTSA ODI 11634070

After completing an OTA software update the screen would not load and entered continuous buffering disabling all environmental and safety functions.

NHTSA ODI 11627582

I purchased the lease for the vehicle in January 2020. I first notified Subaru in Austin of an obvious "glitch" with the computer operating system in April 2020. The "glitchy" OS challenges came and went, I would notify Subaru and they would remedy the issue with a "patch" update at the service center. On April 29 2022 a clear night and a suitably clean vehicle, the RAB system completely failed to recognize/notify/respond to a mailbox behind me, upon impact the mailbox broke the rear windshield. on June 28 2022 the vehicle fails to start, and is "surging" completely draining a new jumper box, and then promptly burning it out, the box will no longer operate. Put in a new battery(#1), make an appointment for service on the vehicle. The dealership replaces the battery(#2), computer updates are completed. Vehicle goes to the body shop for the rest of the work to be completed. 28 days later, I arrive to pick up my vehicle, all work is complete. However the vehicle will not start (again) Auto body shop replaces the battery(#3).on 9/23/2022 after dark, my Subaru Outback 2020 Limited, stops and puts its Parking break on., all dials spike, then dies, rear hatch signal goes off continuously, regardless of its actual state of open/close. The vehicle refuses to jump with a new jumper box. Outback 2020 is successfully jumped by a newer vehic. New battery installed(#4). 9/29/2022 another appointment at Subaru service center to look at my vehicle, they swap out the battery(#5) and update computer. Upon pickup vehicle is without trailer lights, 3 airbag lights on, ABS light on/off. 10/17/2022 appointment at a different service center for an Oil change service, 10/18/2022 diagnostic check appt, 3 blown fuses found. 11/16/2022 Austin service, found many lost comm. codes.- reprograms , engine control module. Outback 2020 intermittently has problems opening and closing hatch/windows, display loading issues, many warning/hazzard lights & signals on/off (from April 2022- present day.)

NHTSA ODI 11536710

Electrical problems cause frequent battery replacement and for the battery to drain at an alarming rate. The car has to be jump-started to be used, and the car battery will drain immediately as soon as the drive is over( even if it's hours). There is/was a class action lawsuit against Subaru of America, as the action says that Subaru failed to recall the vehicles and fix the problem. I'm paying a note on a 28k car that I can't get out of the driveway without jump-starting the car, and if I stop to run in a store when I return, the vehicle will not start. It's completely unsafe and ridiculous. I've taken this to the dealership (Ken Fowler of Ukiah, CA) and other mechanics, and no one has known about this issue or been able to fix it. Someone, please help.

NHTSA ODI 11496859

Blind spot warning does not turn on when there is actually a vehicle truly in the blind spot. Visibility in new cars via windows is blocked and insufficient, and the blind spot warning does not activate at the right time. Drivers could easily cut someone off with less than a foot in front of the car in the blind spot, because there is no proper warning. Warning only turns on when vehicle could hit another car when switching lanes. Not before when visibility is limited by vehicle structure and mirrors. Also, touch screens are a huge hazard in cars. Having to look at a touch screen in order to control air or other items is a huge safety hazard. Tactile controls and buttons are much safer. Not to mention touch screens and screens do not work during heatwaves. Car sitting in temperatures above 80 degrees, have major issues with computer screens working. Forward collision and driver monitor warning is also a hazard. Forward collision warning occasionally turns on when there is fog or smoke. Additional warnings distract drivers from actually looking at the road. Driver monitor warning turns on when looking through turns, causing drivers to be distracted and look at why the vehicle is beeping at them instead of paying attention to where they are driving.

NHTSA ODI 11482205

Purchased the vehicle new and from the beginning the passenger side blind spot detection has been inconsistent in alerting for vehicles in or approaching the blind spot. Had it checked when new and on 11/2/21 and the dealer reported it was operating according to specifications and no fault codes were shown. The dealer did not test drive the car. In a recent test of about 100 miles, about 20% of the time the BSD FAILED TO EITHER DETECT, or detected too late, a vehicle that was being passed or one approaching from behind on the passenger side. Remarkably it seems to fail more often when passing a semi. It caused a near miss at night when it was difficult to see through the deeply tinted windows and when the BSD failed to recognize a vehicle squarely in the blind spot as I tried to merge into the right lane. An internet search found at least one post which matches the experiences I have had. The driver's side BSD works fine.

NHTSA ODI 11439325

I heard a pebble tap the windshield and I immediately saw a crack from the passenger side to the middle of the windshield. I just had the windshield replaced on 6 Aug 2021. It costs $600 just to calibrate the cameras. Then the cost of replacing the windshield. This isn't right. I've had plenty of vehicles and this is the worst windshield I have seen. The windshield didn't last 1600 miles. And this is the first time I have been back on the interstate since getting the windshield replaced in August. I am not happy and I think this is a safety hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11433656

Windshield cracked causing a problem with "Front Eyesight Collision" Right side does not see Large Vehicles in Right Lane. Left side works fine.

NHTSA ODI 11432268

Without warning or repeatable cause the "infotainment" system will reboot causing the Bluetooth, LKAS, forward watching camera, emergency braking, and RAB to also stop working and reboot. This problem has occurred numerous times over the past several months. It happens without any predictability and I have not been able to find a common factor that triggers it. In May it happened once on a 4 hour drive west, but on the return trip it happened 4 times in a 2 hour window. The problem did not occur again until the first week of June and happened multiple times over a 3 day period. The software for the car has been recalled and reinstalled twice and the problem still occurs without warning or explanation. I have reported the issue in mid-August to Subaru's customer service and was told "a software update" was 2 weeks away. I do not believe this report from their customer service because no other documentation was provided other than a call back. I followed-up with a call back and an email to Subaru asking for more details for which I have not gotten an answer. The incidence of it happening on Aug 20, 2021 occurred as I was entering into traffic from Baggage Road to Hwy 220 South in Rockingham County, NC. The system rebooted as I was entering traffic and created a distraction at a crucial moment I was crossing 4 lanes to turn left to proceed south on Hwy 220. Presently the system's issues seem to be limited to a reboot of Bluetooth, radio and all safety related systems. If the system had triggered a shutdown of the car or if the safety systems had caused the car to stop I would have been in the middle of a US Highway with traffic approaching from both directions at 60+mph. I am disappointed by Subaru for not addressing this issue with a formal company statement and promises of an update have not materialized.

NHTSA ODI 11431892

When passing semi’s on highway they are not detected by the blind spot detection (the light on the mirror does not turn on). It does not pick up the semi even when I am only halfway passed the semi. The blind spot detection does work when passing cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles on the highway. I reported this issue to the dealer (CleoBay Subaru, Killeen,TX). They tested the vehicle and told me they did not experience any issues. I immediately left the dealership and went out on the highway and still experienced the same issue. I believe this is a significant safety issue. Thank you for you time

NHTSA ODI 11431372

The electronic controls black out while driving the entire center screen and electronics shut down disabling the warning lights and I think also the electronic systems that function to control the safety warnings and functionality. This has been a problem on an ongoing basis since the purchase of the vehicle. This has been "repaired" multiple times by the dealer under the direction of Subaru. There was a recall earlier this year that was supposed to correct the problem it added some functionality, but primarily this recall reprogramming of the electronics was supposed to correct the blacking out of electronics and the disabling of the safety systems. The recall reprogramming has not corrected the problem. When I complained to Subaru they suggested that I take a video of the failure when it happened. I explained that this was not possible because I was driving at 70 MPH when it happened and could not just grab my phone and start a video while driving on I-95. Last week I was able to get a video of the failure as it happened while my wife was driving and I was a passenger. The entire panel blacked out and she pulled to the side of the road and I took a video of the 4 minutes the system was out. I will attach this video to this report. In addition there is an additional problem that occurred related to the lane keep assist function. There are four options to configure this function they are: 1> OFF 2> Warning Buzzer Only 3> Lane Keep function Only 4> All Functions. My understanding of the operation of this system has one function that shuts the system Off that is obviously the OFF function. #2 although only a buzzer has the system on, #3 has the functionality working but no warning buzzer (my preferred choice) and #4 that has all functions operating both warning buzzer and lane keep functions. My concern is that if you use #3 the system shows a warning light on the dash that shows the system if OFF. I have video of the electronics but don't know how to upload it.

NHTSA ODI 11418739

THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ELECTRONICS THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS 4 TIMES IN THE YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE LAST REPROGRAMMING WAS DUE TO A NHTSA RECALL. THE SYSTEM WAS BETTER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE THE LAST REPROGRAMMING BUT ON MONDAY 4/19/21 AT 5:58 PM THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURRED THE ELECTRONIC SCREEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH WENT BLACK AS I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH SOUTHBOUND ON I-95 IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND. THE SCREEN AND ALL IT FUNCTIONS WERE OFF FOR 4 MINUTES UNTIL IT RESTARTED WITH THE INITIAL SCREEN THAT APPEARS WHEN I START THE CAR. IT IS A WARNING SCREEN WITH A GREEN AREA TO PRESS THAT I AGREE WITH THE WARNING. FOR 4 MINUTES I WAS DRIVING WITH NO ACCESS TO THE CONTROLS THAT ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION FO THE MAIN SCREEN. THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME I SHOULD TAKE A VIDEO OF THE DASH IF THIS HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT IS HARD TO TAKE A VIDEO WHILE DRIVING IN THE EXPRESS LANES AT 65 MPH. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT AFTER ALL THESE REPROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED. WHEN THE DEALER HAD INSTALLED THE REVISED PROGRAMING I ASKED WHAT TO DO IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE A VIDEO THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WELL IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN. I IMAGINE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO FIND THIS REOCCURRING BUT I CAN'T BE SURE OF THAT. IT IS MOST DISCONCERTING TO THINK THAT ALL OF THE SAFETY CONTROLS THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO OBTAIN ARE OUT OF USE FOR 4 MINUTES AS I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE RADIO ON WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY IT WENT OFF I LOOKED DOWN AT THE SCREEN AND IT WAS BLACK COMPLETELY OFF. I ASSUME THAT ALL OF THE SAFETY FUNCTIONS THE SCREEN CONTROLS ALSO WERE OFF. IT STAYED THAT WAY FOR 4 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED AS IF I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT KEEPS RECURRING.

NHTSA ODI 11413186

I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE PROBLEM THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH MY CAR. THE CAR'S CCM WOULD OCCASIONALLY FREEZE; SAY APPLE CARPLAY IS UNAVAILABLE AND RESTART; THE CCM WOULD GO BLANK, BUT STILL BACKLIT; OR JUST FREEZE ATTEMPT TO RESTART, BUT NOT TURN BACK ON RENDERING ITEMS IN THE CAR USELESS, LIKE VOICE CONTROL AND JUST EVERYTHING!! SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG AND I JUST HAVE A GRIEVANCE. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S THE CASE, WHEN THERE'S VIDEO EVIDENCE. I HAVE A LOANER CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AND TURNED OFF THE DISPLAY (I DIDN'T KNOW THAT COULD BE DONE), BUT THE VOICE CONTROL WORKED IN THE LOANER THAT WAS NOT HAVING A PROBLEM AS OPPOSED TO MINE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS WRITTEN IN WITH THAT COMPLAINT. OF NOTE, I'VE BEEN GOING INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE OCTOBER 2020, AND I'VE ONLY OWNED THE CAR SINCE JUL 2020. I HAD IT CHECKED IN VIRGINIA AND OKLAHOMA CITY. I RECEIVED A LOANER CAR ON THURSDAY, 8 APR 2020, FOR THE PROBLEM ONLY AFTER I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A TEXT STATING THAT THE CAR WAS READY, BUT NO RESPONSE AS TO WHAT WAS DONE. AGAIN, I RECEIVED THE 'SOFTWARE IS UP TO DATE'. BE AWARE THAT WHEN THE SCREEN GOES BLANK, YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANYTHING, NOT EVEN VOICE CONTROL. I DID TEST THAT WHILE MY CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING A D ALSO DISPLAYING THAT EYESIGHT AND REAR ASSIST BRAKING WERE ALSO NOT FUNCTIONAL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE I WAS UTILIZING NAVIGATION SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING AT THE TIME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME DURING NAVIGATION THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. ALTHOUGH I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE FROM THE CAR VIA TEXT ON EASTER SUNDAY, THE MY SUBARU APP SENT AN 'ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONAL' FOR 30 DAYS, BUT I JUST HAD ERRORS A FEW DAYS PRIOR. IT'S LIKE THE HEALTH REPORT IS ONLY FOR THAT MOMENT IN TIME AND NOT REALLY FOR 30 DAYS.

NHTSA ODI 11407736

MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS HAD A 2ND INCIDENT WITH A WINDSHIELD CRACK THAT DRAMATICALLY SPREAD MORE THAN A FOOT LONG ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING FROM A PIN-NEEDLE-SIZED HOLE NEAR THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER, I.E., ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AROUND SPEED LIMIT WHEN A PEBBLE HIT IT, CAUSING THE TINY HOLE, WHICH ONLY ERUPTED INTO A HUGE CRACK AFTER I PARKED IT. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR EXACTLY 1 YEAR WHEN IT HAPPENED AND IT'S ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR LESS THAN 6,000 MILES. THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS THIN AND NOT DURABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11398927

WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A PROGRESSIVE CRACK FROM EDGE ON PASSENGER SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE ON FRIDAY, 2/26/2021 AT THE END OF THE DAY. HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT ON SATURDAY MORNING, 2/27/2021 THERE WAS A 6-8 INCH CRACK. THE CRACK HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING NOR DID ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI 11398226

RETURNED TO CAR FOUND FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO EVENT OCCURRED TO MY RECOLLECTION TO CAUSE THIS

NHTSA ODI 11397335

MY CAR WAS PARKED AND I DISCOVERED ABOUT A FOOT LONG CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A REASON FOR CAUSE, NO CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD OR ACCIDENTS WITH THE CAR. IT'S MOSTLY GARAGE KEPT AND HAS LESS THAN 12000 MILES OVER 14 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11394613

MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD ITS WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE TRAVELING ON A TEXAS HIGHWAY (SOUTH PADRE - AUSTIN) ON DEC 27, 2020. THE CRACK STARTED SMALL AND GREW QUICKLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE TRAVEL TO ALMOST 20 INCHES. THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS EXPENSIVE, CONSIDERING THE EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED. I HAVE TRAVELED OVER 200K MILES IN THE US IN MULTIPLE CARS BUT NEVER EXPERIENCED A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY AS IT HAPPENED ON THE SUBARU OUTBACK. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COULD BE A ONE-OFF EXPERIENCE BUT READING MORE ABOUT THE PENDING LAWSUIT ON DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS MADE ME SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI 11388169

THIS 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING XT RAN WELL FOR THE FIRST 10,000 MILES. WE WERE INFORMED IT HAD A RECALL AND THIS WAS CORRECTED 1/06/2021 BY CARBOONE'S SUBARU IN UTICA, NY. AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WHEN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE AND ADAPTIVE STEERING ARE ENGAGED IF THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO LEAVE ITS LANE THE WARNING MESSAGE IS 'PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL'. BEFORE THIS IT WAS 'LANE DEPARTURE'. IF THE ADAPTIVE STEERING IS NOT ENGAGED THE WARNING REMAINS 'LANE DEPARTURE'. THIS BEHAVIOR HAPPENS ON ALL ROADS WHEN THE ADAPTIVE STEERING AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CAN BE ENGAGED. IT OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS WARNING TO PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL OCCURS WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE ON THE WHEEL AND IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING (LANE DEPARTURE) NOR WHAT THE VEHICLE WARNINGS ARE WHEN NOT USING THE ADAPTIVE STEERING. THIS PRESENTS A CONFUSING PICTURE TO THE DRIVER AND COULD LEAD TO AN INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SUBARU'S RESPONSE TO THE CHANGE OF WARNINGS IS 'THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR'.

NHTSA ODI 11387288

CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHICH WE HAD REPAIRED ON 10/1/2020 FOR $821.71. CRACK APPEARED SEEMINGLY FROM NOWHERE ON THE MORNING OF 9/22/20.

NHTSA ODI 11376521