general problems of the 2020 Subaru Outback

The automatic braking system detection the rb system as it’s identified on the Subaru dash heater, failure airbag deployment, all disabled repeatedly removal of the battery connections for a period of 30 minutes reset it but failure has repeated.

I was driving and car accelerated without warning. Hit partially open garage door, only stopped after hitting and damaging back wall of garage. Significant damage to car, items in the garage and garage wall. There was no warning whatsoever. As of yet the car has not been assessed as to the cause of the malfunction.

While we were at a speed of about 55 mph on a state highway, I had just selected cruise control when all the lights went on in the dash--including the warning lights for the brake, the check engine light--and power shut down in the vehicle as if we'd run out of gas. We were able to keep a very slow speed of about 20-25mph, but had to activate the 4-way flashers to alert other drivers that we were losing speed. We managed to get over to the shoulder and call for a tow. We feel this was a catastrophic failure of the vehicle, which endangered both of us. At least we still had power steering. At the dealer, the techs advised us that the issue was likely due to a failure of the electronic thermostat control. The car was in the shop for a week, and was repaired at no cost to us. The thermo control valve and all related parts were replaced. If not under warranty, this would have cost over $2k. We had no warning that this component was failing.

While driving my Subaru Outback, I encounter a problem where the starlink multimedia system abruptly goes black. Shortly after, the driver information center also goes black. Although the car continues to run, the cruise control, if engaged, and the eyesight safety system shuts off as well. Both systems then undergo a reboot.

While driving on the nys thruway (i90), I started to pass a tractor trailer, I put my blinker on and began moving to the right to pass. There were 2/3 cars in back of me also passing. I was using cruise control and I began to put my foot on the accelerator to finish my passing and move over to the right hand lane to let the other vehicles pass me. However, upon accelerating, my car started to drop power, multiple lights displaying simultaneously indicating a potential problem. (eyesight assist, vehicle dynamic control, brake & engine lights), the vehicle started jerking back and forth and I lost all but maybe 5 miles of power. My choice at that time was put my blinker on and try and move to the right - letting the tractor trailer pass me on the right and hope there was not another vehicle behind so I could move over safely at that crawling speed or go to the left into the gully. This could have been a multiple car collision and maybe fatalities due to the speed and loss of control of my vehicle. After towing to the nearest dealer, they determined it was the thermo control valve. I see now that there is a "service bulletin" and design change of this component and that other Subaru drivers have been affected the same way. This is a very serious situation. I ask, why no recall from Subaru. I have been without my vehicle now for 4 days and may not have it back until next week. I am very fearful of driving that vehicle again.

When we started vehicle, a wide array of systems shut down including cruise, eye sight, lane detection, auto high bean, adaptive light cornering - essentially anything “automated” or assisted - along with the heating. The car ran at a higher rpm at idle - 2000 vs a usual 700-800 - and rough shifted at speed. Again, as if the automatic transmission lost its sync. The water temp gauge was also off. Have since learned this was the “thermo control valve” and somewhat of a known fault on Outbacks of this year. We were lucky to reach home from the long trip we were on and to the dealership. At the dealership, the service team did not admit this was wide spread. Nor did they tell us there is an updated part from Subaru available. They intend to install the oem part, which concerns us that in another 40-50k we will face the same $2k problem. We are unlucky that we just went over 60k miles, so this will not be covered under Subaru’s 60k drivetrain warranty. That Subaru is covering a cooling system problem under the guise of being drive train tells me they know they have something to keep quiet.

I pulled into my driveway, came to a stop and planned to back up a short distance to be nearer the front walkway. Before I could shift into reverse the car started to accelerate forward. I slammed my foot onto the brakes which had no effect on the acceleration. The car stopped when the lower bumper hit and ran up onto a large boulder on the edge of the driveway. The car was partially wedged on the top of the boulder but I was able to back it off the boulder, park and turn off the car. I have scheduled an appointment with the service department on February 1st, at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle in June 2020. Of note, I had a routine oil change and service check at this dealership on January 16 with no engine problems noted.

•driver’s window failing to properly and completing retract. This has been particularly troublesome in the bitter cold of northern minnesota. On each visit to Subaru I have requested that the window be repaired. All efforts have been unsuccessful. •battery failure without cause or prior warning signs. On previous visits the service center failed to address and resolve the battery problem that I brought. In my most recent visit they referred me to a legal settlement action which prevents them from further addressing the battery issue. I brought the vehicle in twice for repair/replacement of the battery. Not resolved. •eyesight driver assist malfunction. Upon presenting the issue, the service manager suggested that the cause was sunlight hitting the sensors and he did not work on the issue. Even when I noted that the problem happened in the evening as well as during the daytime, no response. •check engine warning indicator signifying any number of important malfunctions while also causing cruise control, eyesight, rab, and other critical, electronic systems to deactivate. More importantly, the Subaru service center informed me that there is a life-threatening risk associated with the underlying cause of this check engine light appearing, and, consequently, they would not permit me to drive the car from the service center until necessary repairs and part replacements were made. I have been waiting over two months for the automobile to be repaired and returned to me. I had previously brought the vehicle in specifically for this issue. At that time the service center failed to correct the problem and suggested it would disappear on its own (the warning light would turn off after a number of ignition starts). When I requested that they clearly understand the problem and fix the lighlight warning, the manager refused to continue to work on the vehicle.

On April 13th 2022, me and my wife were returning home. We were at a complete stop on a left only turn intersection red light (spring-cypress rd & telge rd in cypress, TX. Coordinates: 29. 985660988461188, -95. 65465736615674). There was a vehicle ahead of us and also behind us at the light. It was raining lightly and the roads were wet. When the light turned green we started slowly accelerating making our left turn and as we were doing so, the vehicle skid causing uncontrolled acceleration, non-responsive braking and non responsive steering. I tried my very best to save us from running over the curb into the ditch ahead and succeeded to do so resulting in the vehicle hitting the curb at probably 15-20 mph. The steering and brakes were non-responsive and it took a lot of effort on my part to save us from running over the curb into the ditch ahead. This accident resulted in the right front passenger wheel, suspension, axle etc. To break. No other vehicle was involved in the accident. No warning or safety lights were displayed to the best of my knowledge. The vehicle was disabled and could not run, it was blocking the intersection and traffic. I called the police who then arrived to redirect traffic and also help with the tow. Currently, my car is being repaired through my insurance. My vehicle was purchased in Jan 2020 and has approx. 9500 miles on it. The reason I brought a Subaru was because of its capability to handle most weather conditions and also its great safety ratings. This unfortunately wasn't the case for me and wife and we were left stranded in the road because of some safety feature/software/mechanical malfunction of the vehicle. I request the NHTSA administration to look into this issue with Subaru and help me reach closure on the safety of this vehicle. Thank you.

My 2020 Outback touring has had several issues including the infotainment system rebooting and turning off all safety features: abs, forward collision warning, eyesight, adaptive cruise control randomly turning off (not just adjusting speed), I lose control of all electronics including the digital speedometer. A new infotainment system had been installed and the problems still exist. The date below was the most serious as I was on the highway traveling at high speeds when the system decided to fail and the screens went black. Subaru of America has been informed of these issues but there is no resolution.

The head unit (entertainment center) of my car will re-boot several times while driving. This re-boot process will also disable eyesight, speed control, lane departure warning, and other safety systems on my car while driving. These safety systems will not re-enable without pulling over, turning off the car, then turning the car back on again.

On Tuesday 9 February, 2021 I was returning home from picking my two children up from school (age 4 and 6). As I approached the drive way the brakes functioned properly to allow me to turn into the driveway, but suddenly the brakes stopped functioning and the car accelerated driving straight through my closed garage door. I was able to control steering but regardless of my foot pressing firmly on the brake pedal, the car continued to accelerate. Thankfully, installed in the cement was a rogue r3 weight rack that was bolted into the cement at four locations. The car proceeded forward until colliding with the weight rack, a mere 3 feet from our hvac system and the home structure. I immediately turned the vehicle off. If the weight rack did not stop the vehicle myself and my two children could have been significantly injured, not to mention, if my husband or two small children were in the garage at the time, this could have potentially resulted in death. My air bogs did not deploy, the auto collision safety mechanism failed. This is a very dangerous situation. We bought this vehicle with extended warranty in hopes to keep this as a family vehicle for many years to come, primary reason for purchase was safety. This vehicle is not safe and I am afraid to drive it. My vehicle was immediately towed to rpm performance in burlington washington for inspection. Later, brought to dwayne lanes Subaru (purchase location) for inspection. Findings were that the vehicle operated as designed and driver is at fault. This vehicle is defective. Dangerously unsafe and this must be made highest priority to prevent future accidents and potential deaths.

Auto on-off function shuts off engine when vehicle stops in traffic for any reason. The engine is to restart when driver steps on accelerator. . . However this is not always the case. Many times the engine fails to start which causes the driver to believe the accelerator needs more pressure. When the engine does finally start the car leaps forward since it is still in forward gear. This forward leap is very dangerous since ithe leap is totally unexpected. Most drivers turn off this function however the driver turn off selection is voided once the car is turned off. The driver must remember to cancel this auro-off function every time the car is started Subaru has received many complaints about this function and has decided to relocate the off-on icon to a front screen rather than the previous 3rd screen. The correct fix would seem to be once the driver selects to shut off this function it should not override the off selection unless initated by the driver. Once I shut off my radio it stays off until tirned on again. Subaru service program wri-20 janurary 2021.