Vehicle Data Hub

2020 Subaru Outback engine problems

Owners reported engine problems in 52 complaints for the 2020 Subaru Outback, 5% of the complaints on file.

At a glance

Complaints
52 5% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
8,000 miles 18 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
3 and 3
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2020 Subaru Outback Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 8,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 16 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 1 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 0 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 0 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 8,000 miles
Based on 18 complaints that include mileage. 94% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles16
20k to 40k miles1
40k to 60k miles0
60k to 80k miles0
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 18 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 8,000 miles, and 94% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 3 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

On 12/6/2023, as I slowly turned right into a parking space, my car suddenly surged forward and accelerated without my input to the gas pedal. The brakes did not work, and there was no resistance from the brake pedal when I repeated to push it. The car continued to accelerate for about 80 ft as I focused on steering to avoid hitting other cars parked in the lot. The car ran over a curb, up a grassy area, and crashed into a row of trees. The airbag did not deploy.

December 2023 CrashInjury

Wife reported car stalled when making a turn after stopping. While turning she said it felt like the car was not getting any gas and had no power. She let the vehicle roll to a stop on the side of the road. She said it took several attempts for the car to start back up. This happened 3 times today during a trip to the dentist in the city of lynchburg, virginia. I called terry subaru of lynchburg when she got home and reported the problem. They told me to bring it in tomorrow to have it checked out.

Reported at 7,800 miles, December 2020

Other problems reported for the 2020 Subaru Outback

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Subaru models