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Reliability report · 2020 Subaru Outback · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,150/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

The sixth-gen launch year — six recalls, a turbo CVT campaign, and a new thermal control valve, nearly all covered, so verify the work was done.

2020 is the launch year of the current Outback, and it shows: 890 complaints and six recalls, more than any other year here. The headliners are the turbo cars' CVT chain-slip recall (21V955, expanded by 22V485) and an occupant-detection-system airbag recall (24V227) where a cracked sensor could stop the passenger airbag deploying. It's also the first year of the thermal control valve — a Subaru specialist's stated reason to prefer an '18 or '19 — though Subaru extended that valve's warranty to 15 years/150,000 miles.

The redeeming pattern is that almost every 2020 problem has a free or extended remedy: the CVT recall, the thermal control valve extension, the windshield extension and settlement, the head-unit extension. The cars to avoid are the ones where none of it was done. Drive the transmission, confirm the six recalls by VIN, and check the coverage — this is a Squawking year because of the launch-year stack, not a broken design.

Evidence: 890 NHTSA complaints · 6 recall campaigns · 3 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Squawking

What that means: 890 federal complaints and six recalls as the redesigned sixth generation launches — including the turbo CVT chain-slip campaign and an occupant-detection airbag recall. This is also the first year with the thermal control valve, a repair a Subaru specialist calls expensive. Almost everything is covered; the redesign-year risk is buying one where the work was skipped.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

890

Federal complaints

6

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2020 Subaru Outback SUV AWD (NHTSA VehicleId 14808)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

Turbo CVT chain-slip — recalled, free, but confirm it was done

major
  • 2.4L turbo (FA24)

On the turbo (XT) cars, a Transmission Control Unit programming error could let the clutch engage before the CVT's drive chain was fully clamped, so the chain could slip or break and cause a loss of drive power. Subaru recalled it under 21V955 (Subaru code WRK-21) and expanded it with 22V485 (WRK-22): dealers reprogram the control unit, inspect the chain, and replace the transmission free if slippage is found. The federal file for 2020 is heavy with transmission-slip and loss-of-drive reports, and some owners describe long waits for the repair. On a turbo car, confirm the CVT recall shows completed by VIN — and if a car already had chain slip, make sure the transmission was actually replaced.

This is a 2.4L turbo (FA24) problem. The 2.5L boxer (FB25) doesn’t share it.

Which engine is in the one you found? →

CVT recall (reprogram / replacement if needed)

$0

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Subaru Outback (true count 890) · NHTSA recalls + manufacturer communications (CVT WRK-21/22, thermal control valve, windshield/head-unit extensions, recall documents)

Thermal control valve — expensive out of pocket, but covered 15 years/150,000 milesmoderate

The sixth generation introduced a thermal control valve (a coolant-flow valve, part of the thermostat system) that a Subaru specialist singles out as a 'problematic expensive repair' the 2018–2019 cars didn't have — enough that he'd trade a 2020 down to an older car to avoid it. The saving grace: Subaru extended its warranty to 15 years/150,000 miles. The federal file shows thermostat/coolant-valve leaks and check-engine reports. If the coolant system throws a code, this valve is a first suspect — and within that long coverage window the repair should be free. Confirm eligibility by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA recalls + manufacturer communications (CVT WRK-21/22, thermal control valve, windshield/head-unit extensions, recall documents) · Independent Subaru mechanic channel transcripts (thermal control valve, windshield, CVT)

$0

Under 15 yr / 150k warranty extension

expensive (mechanic)

Out of coverage

Six recalls including occupant-detection airbag and brake-pedal boltmajor

Beyond the CVT campaign, 2020 carries an occupant-detection-system recall (24V227) — a sensor capacitor can crack and short, potentially stopping the front-passenger airbag from deploying; dealers replace the sensors free. Others: a brake-pedal mounting bolt that may be missing or loose, deforming the mount and reducing braking (19V664); an over-the-air update that timed out and could shut off the rearview display (20V766); and the wide Denso fuel-pump recall (21V587). All are free. With six campaigns on one car, verify every one by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA recalls + manufacturer communications (CVT WRK-21/22, thermal control valve, windshield/head-unit extensions, recall documents)

$0

All recall work

FA24 turbo oil-pan seal leakminor

  • 2.4L turbo (FA24)

An owner of a 2020 turbo (Onyx/Limited/Touring XT, 2.4L FA24) reported an oil-pan-seal / sealant leak specific to that engine. It's a smaller item than the cam-carrier leak on the naturally-aspirated cars, but on a turbo 2020 it's worth checking the oil pan and lower engine for seepage during inspection.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Subaru Outback (true count 890)

Windshield and Starlink — fragile but coveredminor

The sixth-gen acoustic windshield cracks easily — sometimes from minor impacts or temperature — and replacement runs $500–$1,100 with EyeSight (the camera driver-assist) recalibration added. Subaru extended windshield warranty coverage for 2020–2022 and there was a class-action settlement. The Starlink infotainment head unit can go blank or freeze the rearview camera; Subaru extended head-unit warranty coverage for 2019–2022 and settled an EyeSight class action. Both are annoyances with coverage rather than expensive surprises — confirm any windshield/head-unit work and coverage eligibility.

Sources: NHTSA recalls + manufacturer communications (CVT WRK-21/22, thermal control valve, windshield/head-unit extensions, recall documents) · Independent Subaru mechanic channel transcripts (thermal control valve, windshield, CVT)

$0

Windshield under extension / settlement

$500–$1,100

Windshield out of coverage (+EyeSight recal)

The 2020 does have the thermal control valve on it, which is a problematic expensive repair, whereas 2018 and 2019 Outbacks did not have it.
3 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Subaru dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 21V955Turbo CVT chain-slip: a Transmission Control Unit programming error may let the clutch engage before the chain is fully clamped, so the chain may slip/break — loss of drive power (2020 turbo Legacy/Outback, 2019–2020 Ascent). Reprogram + inspect; replace transmission free if slippage found. Subaru code WRK-21.open
  2. 22V485Expansion of the CVT chain-slip recall to 2020–2021 turbo Outback/Legacy. Same free remedy. Subaru code WRK-22.open
  3. 24V227Occupant Detection System sensor capacitor may crack and short, potentially preventing front-passenger airbag deployment (2020–2022 Outback/Legacy). Sensors replaced free. Subaru code WRA-24.open
  4. 19V664Brake-pedal mounting bracket may have a missing or loose bolt, deforming the mount and reducing braking (2020 Outback/Legacy). Inspect/replace hardware free. Subaru code WUL-97.open
  5. 20V766An over-the-air software update may have timed out and corrupted data, shutting off the rearview display intermittently; FMVSS 111 (2020 Legacy/Outback, high/mid nav). Reprogram / replace control module free. Subaru code WRH-20.open
  6. 21V587Denso low-pressure fuel pump inside the tank may fail, stalling the engine (broad campaign incl. 2020 Outback). Pump replaced free. Subaru code WRG-21.open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2020 Outback

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

29 MPG combined (26 city / 33 highway) for the AWD, 2.5L on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 41569 (Outback AWD).
Other builds EPA lists: AWD, 2.4L turbo 26 MPG.

$2,150/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Crash losses

Insurers lose about 40% less on this vehicle than on the average car. Lower collision losses tend to show up in what you pay for coverage.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI collision losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report R-23). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Subaru Outback 4WD with EyeSight.

60 vs 100

40% below average

Theft

Stolen about 83% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report WT-22). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Subaru Outback 4WD with EyeSight.

17 vs 100

83% below average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

CVT recall (reprogram / replacement if needed)$0
Under 15 yr / 150k warranty extension$0
Out of coverageexpensive (mechanic)
All recall work$0
Windshield under extension / settlement$0
Windshield out of coverage (+EyeSight recal)$500–$1,100
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

Get the printable pre-purchase checklist and an alert if this year’s recall sheet changes.

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01On a turbo (XT) car, confirm the CVT chain-slip recall (21V955 / 22V485) shows completed by VIN — and if it ever slipped, that the transmission was replaced.
  2. 02Verify the occupant-detection airbag recall (24V227) and brake-pedal bolt recall (19V664) are closed.
  3. 03If the coolant system throws a code, suspect the thermal control valve and confirm 15-year/150,000-mile coverage eligibility by VIN.
  4. 04Check the six recalls total (add 20V766 rearview and 21V587 fuel pump) all show completed.
  5. 05On a turbo 2020, inspect the oil pan / lower engine for seepage.
  6. 06Ask about windshield and Starlink head-unit history; confirm any coverage/extension work was performed.

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