Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2020 Subaru Outback
NHTSA data on file today
The 2020 Subaru Outback has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 905 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V227000 Air Bag May Not Deploy NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V485000 Drive Chain May Break Causing Loss of Drive Power NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V955000 Drive Chain May Break Causing Loss of Drive Power NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V587000 Fuel Pump May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V766000 Rearview Camera may Shut Down/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V664000 Loose or Missing Brake Pedal Mounting Bracket Bolt NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 313 complaints
- Electrical System 259 complaints
- Unknown or Other 152 complaints
- Visibility 70 complaints
- Engine 50 complaints
- Power Train 50 complaints
Of the 905 complaints on file, 19 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 905 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2020 Subaru Outback has notable recalls, especially for airbag sensors and power train issues. However, many owner complaints focus on non-critical components like the visibility system, suggesting moderate reliability concerns overall.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| visibility system | 30,000–60,000 miles | $150–$400 | very common |
| electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| fuel pump | 20,000–40,000 miles | $500–$800 | occasional |
| brake pedal bracket | 40,000–70,000 miles | $200–$400 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil change every 6,000 miles
- replace brake pads every 40,000 miles
- replace cabin air filter annually
- inspect tire alignment annually
- replace spark plugs every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- unusual clunking noises
- delayed transmission response
- stalling or surging engine
- dim or flickering lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2020 Subaru Outback at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.