Model year 2020 · Subaru

2020 Subaru Outback recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 6 safety recall campaigns for the 2020 Subaru Outback. The most recent was reported on March 22, 2024. Campaigns are matched by the model names in NHTSA's records: OUTBACK.

NHTSA data through October 6, 2026 · How these pages are built

Campaigns at a glance

Recall campaigns for the 2020 Subaru Outback, newest first
NHTSA number	Reported	Component
24V227000	March 22, 2024	Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger
22V485000	July 8, 2022	Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/PCM/Tecm)
21V955000	December 9, 2021	Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/PCM/Tecm)
21V587000	July 29, 2021	Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
20V766000	December 10, 2020	Back Over Prevention › Display Function
19V664000	September 18, 2019	Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages

Systems involved: Power Train (2) · Air Bags (1) · Back Over Prevention (1) · Fuel System, Gasoline (1) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1)

Recall records

NHTSA 24V227000Manufacturer no. WRA-24

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger

Report received by NHTSA: March 22, 2024
Owner notification: February 3, 2025
Recall initiated by: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Units potentially affected: 118,723 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record: OUTBACK

Defect summary

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.

Safety risk

An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 24V227000, filed by Subaru of America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 22V485000Manufacturer no. WRK-22

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/PCM/Tecm)

Report received by NHTSA: July 8, 2022
Owner notification: August 24, 2022
Recall initiated by: Manufacturer
Units potentially affected: 182 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2020 Subaru Outback: May 21, 2019 – August 3, 2020
Model names in the NHTSA record: OUTBACK

Components: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/PCM/Tecm); Power Train › Driveline › Chain/Belt

Defect summary

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.

Safety risk

An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-22. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-955.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 22V485000, filed by Subaru of America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 21V955000Manufacturer no. WRK-21

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/PCM/Tecm)

Report received by NHTSA: December 9, 2021
Owner notification: August 19, 2022
Recall initiated by: Manufacturer
Units potentially affected: 198,255 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2020 Subaru Outback: July 15, 2019 – August 13, 2020
Model names in the NHTSA record: OUTBACK

Components: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/PCM/Tecm); Power Train › Driveline › Chain/Belt

Defect summary

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.

Safety risk

An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 21V955000, filed by Subaru of America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 21V587000Manufacturer no. WRG-21

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump

Report received by NHTSA: July 29, 2021
Owner notification: September 24, 2021
Recall initiated by: Manufacturer
Units potentially affected: 175,968 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record: OUTBACK

Defect summary

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Safety risk

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 21V587000, filed by Subaru of America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 20V766000Manufacturer no. WRH-20

Back Over Prevention › Display Function

Report received by NHTSA: December 10, 2020
Owner notification: January 22, 2021
Recall initiated by: Manufacturer
Units potentially affected: 7,741 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record: OUTBACK

Defect summary

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with "high" grade and "mid" grade multimedia navigation. The August 2020 over-the-air software update may have timed out without completing the installation, corrupting the data, and causing the rearview display to shutoff intermittently. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Safety risk

The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.

Remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software and, if necessary, replace the Cockpit Control Module, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-20.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 20V766000, filed by Subaru of America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 19V664000Manufacturer no. WUL-97

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages

Report received by NHTSA: September 18, 2019
Owner notification: October 1, 2019
Recall initiated by: Manufacturer
Units potentially affected: 3,467 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2020 Subaru Outback: July 30, 2019 – August 29, 2019
Model names in the NHTSA record: OUTBACK

Defect summary

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Outback and Legacy vehicles. The brake pedal mounting bracket may have a missing or insufficiently tightened bolt.

Safety risk

A missing or loose bolt may cause the brake pedal mounting area to deform over time, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal mounting bracket hardware and replace the hardware or brake pedal assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUL-97.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 19V664000, filed by Subaru of America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

Records reproduce NHTSA's published text for each campaign. Last record date for this page: March 25, 2024.