Subaru Outback 2020–2025 problems by year and mileage
6th generation (BT)
NHTSA data through 18 October 20261,939 complaints, 574 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2020 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 5,500 mi
- Complaints filed
- 900
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2020
- Visibility/wiper313 reports · median 5,000 mi
- Electrical system259 reports · median 4,500 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise152 reports · median 4,500 mi
Recall areas Air bags — sensor · Power train — driveline · Fuel system, gasoline — delivery
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2021 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 3,500 mi
- Complaints filed
- 298
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2021
- Visibility/wiper97 reports
- Electrical system76 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise66 reports
Recall areas Air bags — sensor · Power train — automatic transmission · Power train — driveline
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2022 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 14,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 465
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2022
- Visibility/wiper255 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise87 reports
- Electrical system52 reports
Recall areas Air bags — sensor · Power train — automatic transmission · Visibility — windshield
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2023 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 89
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2023
- Forward collision avoidance22 reports
- Electrical system17 reports
- Visibility/wiper16 reports
Recall areas Power train — automatic transmission · Power train — driveline
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2024 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 104
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2024
- Problems owners could not categorise29 reports
- Visibility/wiper22 reports
- Forward collision avoidance18 reports
The 2025 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 83
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2025
- Forward collision avoidance21 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise18 reports
- Lane departure15 reports
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2022; earliest: the 2021, and the 2021 is 1 year older (part of the gap is age). 3 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2020–2025 Subaru Outback reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 6,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 29,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 574
- Recalls
- 11
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints came after 2020, so its median likely runs low (why).
Most reported
- Visibility/wiper36.5% of complaints · median 5,000 mi
- Electrical system22.3% of complaints · median 5,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise18.9% of complaints · median 3,500 mi
Owners filed 1,939 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020–2025 Subaru Outback; visibility/wiper leads with 36.5% of them, and half of the 574 that record an odometer reading came by 6,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
75% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 1.4 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. On a generation this new that is expected: few examples have been driven further yet, so the timing says little about design or wear so far.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2020–2025 Subaru Outback last?
The newest model years (2024–2025) are too young to have reached high mileage; most reports with an odometer reading come from the earlier years of the generation.
On the 2020–2025 Subaru Outback, half of the 574 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 6,000 miles and 90% by 29,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
4 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 3 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Outback reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Subaru Outback 2020–2025 · 574 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 387 complaints
- First 12,000 miles — 75% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 3 complaints (0.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 578
- 25%
- 2,000
- Median
- 6,000
- 75%
- 12,000
- 90%
- 29,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 387 | 67.4% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 96 | 16.7% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 34 | 5.9% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 16 | 2.8% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 17 | 3.0% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 8 | 1.4% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 4 | 0.7% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 5 | 0.9% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 2 | 0.3% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 1 | 0.2% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 1 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 3 | 0.5% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Outback problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Subaru Outback 2020–2025
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Problems owners could not categorise367 reportsmedian 3,500middle half 2,000–8,000
- Visibility/wiper708 reportsmedian 5,000middle half 2,000–8,000
- Electrical system433 reportsmedian 5,000middle half 2,000–9,500
- Forward collision avoidance162 reportsmedian 6,000middle half 900–12,000
- Engine106 reportsmedian 10,000middle half 6,500–17,000
- Visibility equipment111 reportsmedian 12,000middle half 4,000–30,000
- Transmission and driveline94 reportsmedian 22,000middle half 3,000–45,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 708 | 36.5% | 5,000 | 2,000–8,000 |
| Electrical system | 433 | 22.3% | 5,000 | 2,000–9,500 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 367 | 18.9% | 3,500 | 2,000–8,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 162 | 8.4% | 6,000 | 900–12,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 111 | 5.7% | 12,000 | 4,000–30,000 |
| Engine | 106 | 5.5% | 10,000 | 6,500–17,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 94 | 4.8% | 22,000 | 3,000–45,000 |
| Lane departure | 61 | 3.1% | 6,500 | 1,000–12,000 |
| Airbag system | 53 | 2.7% | — | — |
| Brakes | 49 | 2.5% | — | — |
Known problems with the 2020–2025 Outback
Infotainment 2020–2022
Starlink 11.6-inch multimedia unit freezing, rebooting and losing the backup camera display; addressed through repeated software updates.
Fuel System 2019–2020
Denso low-pressure in-tank fuel pump impeller deformation causing rough running and stalling; large cross-manufacturer recall.
Body 2020–2025
Windshield cracking complaints persist from the previous generation.
Before you buy a 2020–2025 Outback: the 3-minute check
Generated from 574 mileage-tagged complaints, 11 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 11 campaigns cover this generation.
- Ask for visibility/wiper repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 5,000 miles — a newer example may not have reached that mileage yet, so ask what was repaired under warranty and what the warranty still covers.
- Ask for electrical system repair records. Same question here: a median of 5,000 miles.
- Check infotainment on 2020–2022 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check fuel system on 2019–2020 cars.
- Check body on 2020–2025 cars.
- Years differ here: from 83 to 900 complaints a year — compare them by model year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Outback problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi97% below | At 90k mi99% below | At 120k mi99% below | At 150k mi99% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 2,000–8,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 2,000–9,500 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 2,000–8,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Forward collision avoidance | 900–12,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility equipment | 4,000–30,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 6,500–17,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 3,000–45,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Subaru Outback 2020–2025 · 574 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2020–2025 Subaru Outback recalls (11)
NHTSA records 11 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around the transmission and driveline (5), the airbag system (1), visibility equipment (1) (why one area can repeat).
Mar 2024 · 2020–2022 · Air BagsAn air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. 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…
What can happen. An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.…
Nov 2023 · 2021–2023 · Power TrainAn inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
What can happen. An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for…
Sep 2023 · 2023 · Power TrainSeparation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
What can happen. Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's…
Sep 2022 · 2022 · VisibilityAn insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Impreza and Outback vehicles. The incorrect paint clearcoat may have been applied, which can cause the windshield to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply…
What can happen. An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Subaru will offer owners a vehicle exchange or repurchase, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at…
Jul 2022 · 2020–2021 · Power TrainAn improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
What can happen. An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs…
Jul 2022 · 2022 · Engine and Engine CoolingA loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Outback vehicles. The engine wiring harness may have been damaged, resulting in a loose electrical connection to the engine control unit (ECU).
What can happen. A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the engine wiring harness and ECU, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at…
Dec 2021 · 2020 · Power TrainAn improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
What can happen. An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs…
Jul 2021 · 2020 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
What can happen. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614.…
Jan 2021 · 2021 · Power TrainA loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.
What can happen. A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, tighten the nut, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at…
Dec 2020 · 2020 · Back Over PreventionThe intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with "high" grade and "mid" grade multimedia navigation. The August 2020 over-the-air software update may have timed out without completing the installation…
What can happen. The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software and, if necessary, replace the Cockpit Control Module, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru…
Sep 2019 · 2020 · Service Brakes, HydraulicA missing or loose bolt may cause the brake pedal mounting area to deform over time, which can reduce braking…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Outback and Legacy vehicles. The brake pedal mounting bracket may have a missing or insufficiently tightened bolt.
What can happen. A missing or loose bolt may cause the brake pedal mounting area to deform over time, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal mounting bracket hardware and replace the hardware or brake pedal assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 1,939 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 56 (2.9%)
- Fires
- 18
- Injury reports
- 18
- Fatality reports
- 0
Outback problems by model year
The 2020 drew the most complaints of this generation, 900, most of them about visibility/wiper, and the 2025 the fewest, 83. A typical year drew about 201.
That makes the 2020 stand out at roughly 4.5 times a typical year (what a yearly count can and cannot say).
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 900 | 443 | 5,500 | Visibility/wiper (313) | 6 |
| 2021 | 298 | 61 | 3,500 | Visibility/wiper (97) | 4 |
| 2022 | 465 | 39 | 14,000 | Visibility/wiper (255) | 4 |
| 2023 | 89 | 12 | under 30 reports | Forward collision avoidance (22) | 2 |
| 2024 | 104 | 9 | under 30 reports | Problems owners could not categorise (29) | 0 |
| 2025 | 83 | 10 | under 30 reports | Forward collision avoidance (21) | 0 |
What Outback owners reported
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving on the freeway in stop-and-go traffic with the automatic braking system activated, the vehicle erroneously reversed and failed to immediately stop while depressing the brake pedal. The contact shifted out of drive(D) and then back to…
2025 · 14,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that during an alignment, it was discovered that the rear suspension geometry caused an excessive negative camber, resulting in premature inner treadwear on the rear tires. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle could not be repaired without…
2024 · 27,000 miles · Suspension
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that on various occasions upon bringing the vehicle to a stop or upon acceleration the vehicle had experienced a total loss of automotive power, and all of the warning lights would remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it diagnosed…
2020 · 19,000 miles · Engine
The contact owned 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH turning a right hand corner into a shopping center, the vehicle began to accelerate without the contacts consent. and the contact proceeded to frantically apply the brakes. The vehicle came to a stop upon impact with a brick wall…
2021 · 70,000 miles · Throttle and speed control
Built from 574 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Outback generations
- Outback 1995–1999 155 reports with mileage, most about the engine and its cooling system
- Outback 2000–2004 418 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Outback 2005–2009 761 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Outback 2010–2014 1,292 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Outback 2015–2019 2,165 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system