10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,909 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #11

Mar 182020

Outback

  • 1,800 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the garage the contact was unable to start vehicle. The vehicle was previously taken to lafontaine Subaru (3055 E West maple rd, commerce charter twp, mi 48390) to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,800.

- Novi, MI, USA

problem #10

May 102020

Outback

  • 255 miles
My 2020 Subaru Outback was parked in my home garage from about noon on Tuesday until I tried to go at about 4 pm the next Sunday. The car would not start and there was no clear reason why. I called for road side service and made arrangements for them to come Monday morning to try a jump start and tow it into the dealer if needed. At that point, I had the car for 3 weeks and it had 2 mines on it. Monday morning I called the dealer to let them know of the problem. They suggested that I was not driving it enough and maybe I should get a battery tender to keep this from happening. I was not at all pleased with their suggestion and do not plan on following their advice. I did some additional research on the internet and found that this is a well known problem that Subaru and their dealers are unwilling to resolve. And, it seems that its not just the battery but several car components keep running after the car is shut off and that would run down any battery that is in the car. I need reliable transportation and this new car is not able to provide that.

- Papillion, NE, USA

problem #9

Apr 202020

Outback 4-cyl

  • 3,100 miles
After the car had sat for about 10 days, when we went to use it and initially we got a lot of bells and chirps going off along with numerous warning/indicator lights. But the starter would not turn over at all. We went back into the house to get the keys for our other vehicle, but decided to try and start the car a second time. This time the battery was completely dead - no instrument lights came on at all.(at the time the car had a little under 3200 miles total miles on it and was a little over 3 months old). I recharged the battery the next for a few hours and then drove it to the dealer the following day. They kept it for a few days but couldn't find anything wrong with the battery or charging system, and no action was taken by them. (note: I had also discovered a small oil leak at that time, which they fixed at that time) I have since discovered that there is a class action suit against Subaru regarding battery problems on Outback model vehicles. Today [5-11-20] when I went to drive to have a blood test taken I noted that the battery was somewhat low (I.e.: the engine turned over slower than normal).

- Big Bear City, CA, USA

problem #8

Apr 042020

Outback 4-cyl

  • 4,500 miles
Battery is inadequate for the electronics in this car and will be dead if not driven often. After being a unable to start my car twice within a month, the service manager admitted this was a design flaw, there is no other upgrade or replacement for the battery and that the factory recommendation is to drive the car every other day. This means that when I travel and leave my car in an airport parking lot for a week or more, I will not be able to start the car when I return. The service manager told me to disconnect the negative post at the airport, then reconnect the post when I return. I am a 65-year old woman and not a mechanic. This car is unreliable and is a safety risk for me when I return to a parking lot late at night and my vehicle will not start. It has less than 5,000 miles.

- Dearborn, MI, USA

problem #7

May 012020

Outback 4-cyl

  • 2,100 miles
We bought our 2020 Subaru Outback on 12/16/19. Did a road trip for 800 miles in Jan-2020 with no problems. The car currently only has 2,100 miles on it. On May 1st we went to start the car after it sat for a week or so and the battery was completely dead to where we had to use our emergency manual key to open the door. We had to jump it for quite awhile before it got enough of a charge to start. We took it on an hour drive to try and get the battery recharged. Monday May 4th we tried to start the car and it was dead again, jumped it and took it to the Subaru dealer. The dealer checked the electrical system and recharged the battery. I picked it up on Tuesday the 5th and they said they couldn't find anything wrong. Wednesday morning the car battery was dead again. Friday we had to jump it to drive it to the dealer. When we got home the dealer called to say that our car that we just left wouldn't start and they had to jump it. They are going to check it out on Monday and let us know what they find out.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #6

May 042020

Outback 4-cyl

  • 73 miles
I had my car for a week and it completely died. Brand new car and the battery drained. Called the dealership and they told me if I don't drive it for 7 days it is not uncommon for this to occur. The car has less than 70 miles on it and completely died. The car was stationary in a parking garage.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #5

Apr 012020

Outback

  • 2,200 miles
Front windshield cracked halfway across the glass after a pebble kicked up while driving on the highway. The crack spidered out on its own across the entire front windshield within five hours. Camera on windshield now has to be recalibrated otherwise will not function properly.

- Cos Cob, CT, USA

problem #4

Jan 022020

Outback

  • 1,322 miles
The car has a faulty electronic system that controls the stability and the adaptive cruise control. Transmission also needs replacement. Problems happen at high speed on freeways. Documented the problem with various youtube footage as follows: Https://www.youtube.com/watch"V=oxojdp_T9li https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=77wurjdtvzk https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=lgql63ldqvi&T=10S https://www.youtube.com/watch"V=0acrlyxyhqi&T=11S

- Chino Hills, CA, USA

problem #3

Dec 212019

Outback

  • 2,500 miles
Poor rear camera visibility, leading me to nearly hit gas pumps

- Ogden, UT, USA

problem #2

Dec 232019

Outback

  • miles
1. the backup and front camera are downgraded from previous models of Outback.Subaru of America denies this. The night visibility is dangerous. The dealership agrees. I have purchased four Outbacks in six years and I know what I am talking about. It is totally dangerous at night. Subaru will not tell me if they plan to change the cameras or upgrade the software. Also, the equalizer will not hold its setting every time you get in the car. I am sure this is a software setting as well. To change the setting, you either have to pull off the road or do it while driving which creates a dangerous maneuver.

- Richland Hills, TX, USA

problem #1

Oct 302019

Outback 4-cyl

  • 520 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. While the vehicle was at an intersection, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the electronic emergency brake engaged without warning. As a result, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to Subaru of bend (2060 ne hwy 20, bend, or 97701, (541) 389-3031) where it was currently being diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact's insurance company began an investigation. The failure mileage was approximately 520.

- Bend, OR, USA