18 problems related to warnings have been reported for the 2020 Subaru Outback. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2020 Subaru Outback based on all problems reported for the 2020 Outback.
The Subaru front camera incorrectly detected a hazard. The automatic braking system engaged and locked the steering. I skidded off the pavement, causing damage to the car. At the time of the accident, the blind sight warning lights flashed on the dash signaling that they were disabled. I was going very slow in a driveway. No personal damage just property damage and damage to the car. I have let the insurance company know about the issue and the collision center. I have had periodic instances where the warning signals of blind sight disabled have come on the vehicle. I informed Subaru in August 2024 about the issue at my last maintenance appointment. There is also a software update required on the vehicle. I asked Subaru to update the software in August 2024, but I was told by a service technician that it was not possible to update . I had to make a separate appointment for the software update as it took a long time.
A small horizontal crack recently appeared on my Outback's front windshield while it was sitting in a garage overnight. The crack started from the passenger side and has now crept over to the middle of the windshield. Previous to this incident, the car had been sitting unused for over a month, so there was no opportunity for rocks or other debris from the road to cause the crack. This is the second time that the windshield has developed a crack out of thin air. I have replaced the windshield at least five times since owning the vehicle, in addition to having small chips from rocks repaired twice. These incidents are potentially dangerous and could possible interfere with the vehicle's automated systems such as collision detection and cameras.
Per Subaru there is something wrong with the cockpit control module (ccm) that is causing a constant / parasitic draw on the battery. This results in the battery being dead within 4 hours, leaving us constantly stranded. Because the ccm also controls the electrical system, many of the safety features (auto breaking, lane departure, etc) turn off randomly. This is the diagnosis from our local Subaru dealership: cockpit control module is drawing 2 amps. With cockpit unplugged there is still a 1 amp draw. Will need to replaced ccu then figure out where the other 1 amp draw is. Unable to diagnose with multiple systems drawing I have opened a case with Subaru of America, but with no resolution.
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 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.
Blind spot warning does not turn on when there is actually a vehicle truly in the blind spot. Visibility in new cars via windows is blocked and insufficient, and the blind spot warning does not activate at the right time. Drivers could easily cut someone off with less than a foot in front of the car in the blind spot, because there is no proper warning. Warning only turns on when vehicle could hit another car when switching lanes. Not before when visibility is limited by vehicle structure and mirrors. Also, touch screens are a huge hazard in cars. Having to look at a touch screen in order to control air or other items is a huge safety hazard. Tactile controls and buttons are much safer. Not to mention touch screens and screens do not work during heatwaves. Car sitting in temperatures above 80 degrees, have major issues with computer screens working. Forward collision and driver monitor warning is also a hazard. Forward collision warning occasionally turns on when there is fog or smoke. Additional warnings distract drivers from actually looking at the road. Driver monitor warning turns on when looking through turns, causing drivers to be distracted and look at why the vehicle is beeping at them instead of paying attention to where they are driving.
The touch screen control panel randomly crashes and reboots, disables safety features while being rebooted. Happening every other day.
Head unit shuts off while driving with no warning, and no clear cause. All safety features shut off including eyesight and rear brake assist (shows as off in instrumental panel). It has happened multiple times in the past several months ( at least seven times) head unit then appears to restart while underway, as if I had just entered and started the vehicle. Contacted dealer who said “the radio sometimes shuts off”. I explained that it was the entire head unit and safety features. It was simply left with them saying they have know of it happening, but no action or follow up was recommended. Time of incident is an estimate. Electronics seem to be slow to start when vehicle is first started. Was not able to get photos while driving.
I heard a pebble tap the windshield and I immediately saw a crack from the passenger side to the middle of the windshield. I just had the windshield replaced on 6 Aug 2021. It costs $600 just to calibrate the cameras. Then the cost of replacing the windshield. This isn't right. I've had plenty of vehicles and this is the worst windshield I have seen. The windshield didn't last 1600 miles. And this is the first time I have been back on the interstate since getting the windshield replaced in August. I am not happy and I think this is a safety hazard.
Windshield cracked causing a problem with "front eyesight collision" right side does not see large vehicles in right lane. Left side works fine.
The electronic controls black out while driving the entire center screen and electronics shut down disabling the warning lights and I think also the electronic systems that function to control the safety warnings and functionality. This has been a problem on an ongoing basis since the purchase of the vehicle. This has been "repaired" multiple times by the dealer under the direction of Subaru. There was a recall earlier this year that was supposed to correct the problem it added some functionality, but primarily this recall reprogramming of the electronics was supposed to correct the blacking out of electronics and the disabling of the safety systems. The recall reprogramming has not corrected the problem. When I complained to Subaru they suggested that I take a video of the failure when it happened. I explained that this was not possible because I was driving at 70 mph when it happened and could not just grab my phone and start a video while driving on I-95. Last week I was able to get a video of the failure as it happened while my wife was driving and I was a passenger. The entire panel blacked out and she pulled to the side of the road and I took a video of the 4 minutes the system was out. I will attach this video to this report. In addition there is an additional problem that occurred related to the lane keep assist function. There are four options to configure this function they are: 1> off 2> warning buzzer only 3> lane keep function only 4> all functions. My understanding of the operation of this system has one function that shuts the system off that is obviously the off function. #2 although only a buzzer has the system on, #3 has the functionality working but no warning buzzer (my preferred choice) and #4 that has all functions operating both warning buzzer and lane keep functions. My concern is that if you use #3 the system shows a warning light on the dash that shows the system if off. I have video of the electronics but don't know how to upload it.
Ever since the recall for the cockpit control system software was updated on my 2020 Subaru Outback touring on March 1, 2021 the console randomly reboots. It has happened 6 times in 3 weeks. On a recent trip on Thursday March 25, 2021 the console rebooted 3 times in a little over an hour. When that happens the safety functions are disabled - pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision throttle management, lane departure and sway warning with lane keep assist, etc.
Windshield developed a progressive crack from edge on passenger side for no apparent reason. The crack was not there on Friday, 2/26/2021 at the end of the day. However, when I went to drive it on Saturday morning, 2/27/2021 there was a 6-8 inch crack. The crack has continued to spread across the windshield. I did not hit anything nor did anything hit the windshield.
My 2020 Subaru Outback has had a 2nd incident with a windshield crack that dramatically spread more than a foot long across the windshield, starting from a pin-needle-sized hole near the bottom left corner, I. E. , on the passenger side of the windshield. I was driving on the freeway around speed limit when a pebble hit it, causing the tiny hole, which only erupted into a huge crack after I parked it. I've only had the car for exactly 1 year when it happened and it's only been driven for less than 6,000 miles. The windshield seems thin and not durable.
Hairline crack in windsheild.
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.
When apple carplay is being used, the multimedia display has frozen several times and when it freezes, the resets itself to a black screen. Once it resets to a black screen, the eyesight is disabled and rab (reverse automatic braking) is disabled. I have had a moment where the screen was completely black and both things were disabled for over 15 minutes while I was driving. Until the moment I turned off the car did it stop showing the issue but this wasn't the first instance of it happening. The moment I do need the eyesight would be too late since it's disabled. I've recorded several videos of this happening and I've taken it to the dealership but they tell me nothing can be done since they can't duplicate the issue and that the video recording is "hypothetical. " I've uploaded some of the videos I've recorded onto youtube for you to check and verify. . Read more...
Cracked windshield which we had repaired on 10/1/2020 for $821. 71. Crack appeared seemingly from nowhere on the morning of 9/22/20.