Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Subaru Outback owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the contact heard a minor ding on the windshield. The ding was a small pebble that hit the windshield which caused a crack to form from the driver's side to the passenger's side of the windshield. The crack obstructed his vision while driving. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the windshield was replaced out of pocket. Eight months later, the same failure occurred again while driving, at the exact spot on the replacement windshield. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and denied knowing any information about failures with windshields in similar vehicles. The contact also stated that several electrical failures had occurred in the vehicle such as the infotainment screen and eyesight system not operating as designed. …
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the battery was completely drained. The contact stated that he was able to jumpstart the vehicle and continued to operate the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become more frequent. The contact stated that he had not replaced the battery which was the original OEM battery. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that he needed to drive the vehicle more frequently. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure reoccurred and the contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer who advised that there were no electrical failures and that he should return after one month to reprogram the computer. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH on the highway, the contact was alerted by the message "Eyesight Technology Failure", before the battery shut down, causing the steering wheel to seize, forcing the contact to come to a complete stop in the middle of the highway. The check engine, air bags, and oil warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that several other unknown warning lights and alerts were displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was jump-started, and the contact was escorted by a tow truck operator to the nearest dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 37,168. The VIN was invalid.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the battery was replaced several times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was determined that the battery was not big enough for the turbocharger installed in the vehicle. The battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact also stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the driver's side seat moved forward and backward unexpectedly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the battery failed. The contact stated that after the vehicle was driven for over one hour, the contact parked the vehicle turned the engine off. When the contact attempted to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start-up due to the battery failure. The contact stated that the battery failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 15,700.
The contact's husband owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start intermittently, but was able to be jump-started. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Advance Auto, where the contact was informed that the battery and the alternator were in good condition. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the vehicle failed to start-up after multiple attempts. The contact had the vehicle jumpstarted and the engine resumed normal operation. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where she was informed that the failure was caused due to the vehicle not being driven enough. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the battery was drained very quickly, which caused the contact to frequently recharge the battery. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the mechanic could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 720. The consumer stated the vehicle failed to start on two separate occasions.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while turning off the vehicle, the Data Communication Module (DCM) remained running, causing the battery to become drained twice. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. The VIN was not available.
After leaving this car in an airport parking lot for 4 weeks, it would not start. I also noticed that all of the doors except the hatchback were unlocked. I coincidentally had a jumper battery unit in the car and was able to start it with the external battery jumper. When I drove the car the 30 minutes to my home, I found that the battery had not charged at all. This meant that until Subaru fixed this on warranty, I could drive the car but would have to raise the hood, hook up the external jumper unit, start the car, disconnect the jumpers, close the hood and finally drive where I was going. This procedure grows old after doing it repeatedly to shop for supplies after being away for 4 weeks. The Subaru dealer fit me in the following day and confirmed the battery had been destroyed by the car sitting unused for 4 weeks. …
Electrical complaints in other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA has 259 complaints about the electrical system of the 2020 Subaru Outback, 29% of the model year's 901 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Subaru Outback electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2020 Subaru Outback, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2020 Subaru Outback electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 5,000 miles, and 95% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.