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2020 Subaru Outback problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Subaru Outback. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 11% of relevant complaints.
Better than 96% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 Subaru Outback have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 98 of 899 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Outback concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (11%). For comparison, the 2019 scores 7% and the 2021 scores 13%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Subaru Outback
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Subaru Outback said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 98 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2020 Subaru Outback involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
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 will be performed free…
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.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
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 will be performed…
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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Subaru's number for…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Subaru Outback? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2020 Subaru Outback have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 98 of 899 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Outback concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (11%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2020 Subaru Outback involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 22V485000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), 21V955000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), 21V587000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru Outback years are better?
Among the Subaru Outback years we track, the 2019 (7%), the 2022 (9%) and the 2023 (9%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (11%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2020 Subaru Outback?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Subaru Outback shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.