NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Subaru Outback. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I purchased a 2020 Subaru Outback XT in March 2020 (approximately 14 months of driving at the time of this submission). The vehicle currently has almost 15k miles on it. I recently had my fourth (4th!) windshield installed. The first replacement windshield was installed after a pebble the size of a grain of rice (I saw kicked up by a truck in front of me) hit the windshield and caused a large lateral crack the propagated. The vehicle had approximately 1500 miles at the point. The first replacement (OEM) cracked after hitting another pebble on the highway. I did not see the size this time because it was on the part of the windshield obstructed by the side posts on the outside of the windshield. The crack propagated horizontally across the entire windshield. This occurred at approximately 8K miles. The second replacement (aftermarket made to OEM specs) cracked after hitting a bug! A picture taken immediately after bug impact is attached below. The crack propagated in a Y-formation and needed replacement. Although cicadas have recently begun coming out, this was not an overly large bug. It was approximately the size of a lightning bug, as I saw it hit. I also drive a VW Golf with 50k miles (over 5 years) and have never had a windshield issue.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BOTTOM LEFT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED. THE FIRST WINDSHIELD CRACK OCCURRED 3 MONTHS PRIOR AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME GLASS WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER FAILURE WITH THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,500.
CONTINUAL BATTERY PROBLEMS. HAD TO JUMP AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER BUYING THE CAR NEW. FINALLY WOULDN'T TAKE A JUMP AND DROPPED OFF THE CAR AT THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE 2020 SUBARU. THEY SAID THERE WERE KNOWN BATTERY PROBLEMS BUT I NEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR AT LEAST EVERY 2 DAYS TO KEEP THE BATTERY OPERATIONAL. THE SOLUTION WAS A NEW BATTERY AND AN ECM UPDATE.
SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED OUT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. HAPPENED AT 7 A.M. 5/10/2021 IN MECHANICSVILLE VA. NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ABOUT 63 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAVEN'T USED THE SUNROOF IN WEEKS. IT MADE NO SINCE. I GOOGLED AND SAW WHERE THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM ON THEIR OUTBACK AND SOME OTHER VEHICLES TOO. I THANKFULLY HAD THE INSIDE COVER PANEL SLID FORWARD SO NONE OF THE GLASS CAME DOWN ON ME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK HOME BUT AS I DROVE SLOWER, THE GLASS KEPT COMING APART. AT FIRST IT WAS A SQUARE AREA ABOUT 6" X 4" MISSING WHEN I FIRST STOPPED AND THE REST WAS ALL SHATTERED LIKE LITTLE SQUARES BUT IN PLACE. THEN AS I DROVE HOME AT A SLOWER SPEED ON THE SIDE ROADS, IT CONTINUED FALLING IN ONTO THE HEADLINER SLIDE COVER.
PARKED THE CAR AT LAKESIDE PARK AND WENT FOR A HIKE. RETURNED 2 HOURS LATER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. NO LIGHTS OR DOORS WERE LEFT OPEN. FINALLY CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO JUMP START THE CAR. THERE WAS NO REASON THE BATTERY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD
THE 2020 OUTBACK HAS DIED 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 5 WEEKS (ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP). AFTER THE SECOND TIME (AT THE DEALERSHIP) THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THREE DAYS LATER THE NEW BATTERY IS DEAD.
IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP OF MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY GLITCHES IN THE OPERATION OF THE ELECTRONICA SAFETY DEVICES. THE LATEST HAS BEEN RETURNING TO THE CAR AND FINDING THE BATTERY FULLY DISCHARGED DESPITE NOTHING BEING LEFT IN THE ON POSITION. YESTERDAY, AFTER FULLY CHARGING THE BATTERY, FOUR HOURS LATER THE BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE FULLY DRAINED. I BOOSTED THE CAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE IT WHEN AT THE FIRST TRAFFIC LIGHT THE AUTO-START-STOP FEATURE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND I COULD NOT RE-START IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION.
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.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE CRACKING. CRACK BEGAIN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PORTION WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS PAINTED. ONGOING ISSUE WITH 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS.
With in the first few months of ownership it would not start. I used roadside assistance to get a jump. A couple of moths later same thing. Same driver from road side assistance jump started me and stated, " all I have been doing lately is jumping Subarus". It soon died again, the dealership tested battery and found it defective and had to wait for a new "stronger" battery. 4 days later I get it back. It was still under warranty.
MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A MASSIVE CRACK (ABOUT 6 IN VERTICAL AND 8 IN ACROSS) SPONTANEOUSLY. MY FIANCEE AND I WERE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS AND STOPPED INTO A SHOP. DURING THE DRIVE TO THE SHOP, WE DID NOT HEAR OR SEE ANY ROAD DEBRIS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN WE PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD WAS INTACT AND COMPLETELY NORMAL. ONCE WE COMPLETED OUR SHOPPING (ABOUT 30 MINUTES FROM THE TIME THAT WE PARKED), WE RETURNED AND FOUND OUR VEHICLE HAD THIS LONG, RIDICULOUS CRACK. TO REITERATE. MY CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND PARKED. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS AT LEAST 200 YARDS AWAY FROM THE NEAREST ROAD. NOW, I HAVE TO GET MY WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY REPLACED IN ORDER TO SEE CLEARLY. INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, AND THIS OUTBACK HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR WRECKS. MY FIANCEE AND I ARE THE ONLY DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE.
I purchased the car new in the fall of 2020. In May, the vehicle did not start and the battery had to be jumped in order to get it running. I purchased a portable battery charger to keep in the car so that I would not be stranded again. Over the summer there were numerous times where the car would not start and I had to jump it………I became an expert. Recently, it got to the point where I was jump starting it on a daily basis! The Subaru dealership in a Norwalk, CT. replaced the battery under warranty last week. The car has about 5k miles on it. It is my understanding that multiple Subaru Outback owners have had similar battery issues that have required early replacement. Thank you!
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WINDSHIELD JUST STARTED CRACKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FROM BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BELOW THE WINDOW TRIM. WITHIN MINUTES IT WENT FROM A 3-4 INCH CRACK TO ENCOMPASSING THE MAJORITY OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS WINDSHIELD. IN DECEMBER A SMALL PEBBLE BARELY TAPPED THIS DRIVER'S SIDE AND CAUSED AN INSTANT GOUGE.
While driving the car the car's computer/radio/navigation system will randomly shut down. This has been occurring since approx 6500 miles. When this occurs all of the safety systems/HVAC/Rear Camera/Radio/Navigation systems all will fail with the associated warning lights. The car now has approx 9000 miles, this appears to be random occurrences about every 200-250 miles. Dealer states that they are aware of the problem and was told to contact back late June/early July that SOA was going to release a software fix. Well time has passed and nothing has occurred. When driving this car and the failure occurs all of the safety systems are totally inoperable thus the computerized safety systems are not functional. So, far I have been able to maintain full control of the car. The time for the systems to comeback online is highly variable and sometimes I have to stop, and turn the car off for approximately 10 minutes to have the systems return to being functional. For example, the automated cruise control if in operation will fail to operate, the backup camera will be inoperable, the side space warning will fail, lane assist will fail, and so on for all of the safety systems that this particular car has will all fail. Fortunately, I have been able to safely find a safe place to stop, but what happens when this failure occurs and there is not a place to stop/pull over to rest the car/computer. I can't be the only owner/driver that is having this problem(s) they are all interrelated when the master computer shuts down all of the other systems then follow. It is only a matter of time that a potential crash with associated injury and or loss of life can potentially occur. Dealer is unable to replicate and therefore unable to repair/replace parts. Once this failure can be rectified/corrected this is a wonderful car. At this point, I am unable to determine the cause nor am I able to prevent these failures.
Issue started at 8,000 miles. Dealership blames my driving habits (about 15 miles a day for the most part, with more on the weekends) and states there are no issues with the battery. Walmart. Autozone, etc. tests indicate faulty battery. I've been stranded countelss times until I purchased a portable starter. Before a software update that allowed me to disable the auto start/off function, I got stranded a few times in the middle of the road, having to get out in moving traffic to jump the car.
THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED ON OUR NEW OUTBACK 2020 AFTER ONLY 10,000 MILES. HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED ALREADY. I READ TODAY THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST SUBARU IN NEW JERSEY WHERE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLEAND ITS ON MY MODEL AND YEAR FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY GETTING DRAINED. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WHEN I RETURNED, IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. HAD TO GIVE IT A JUMP AND WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN I CALLED MY NEAREST SUBARU DEALER AND TOOK IT IN, AND HAD IT REPLACED.
The TomTom navigation system quits unexpectedly while driving and if the Adaptive Cruise Control is on it will stop working and the car will begin to slow down. The computer screen will go black and then a message will come on saying the Navigation System is starting. The system will then reboot. This has been reported to Subaru and Subaru tried to replicate the problem at the dealership, but they were unsuccessful. Subaru Corporate has acknowledged the problem, but offers no solution. Safety was impacted because you suddenly start to slow down and any car following you may not know you are slowing down because the brake lights do not come on.
TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP 4/21/21, THEY REMOVED BATTERY CHARGED IT AND TESTED IT, STATED BATTERY WAS GOOD. TODAY, 4/27/21, TRIED TO TAKE CAR OUT AND IT WON'T START.
HAD THE CAR 18 MONTHS BATTERY WENT DEAD; UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOME KIND OF NATIONAL ISSUE WITH SUBARU BATTERIES DRAINING PREMATURELY
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY OUTBACK CRACKED WITH NO WARNING OR IMPACT. I HAD PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS JUST BEGINNING TO MOVE FORWARD ON MY STREET WHEN I HEARD A SOUND IN THE CABIN. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT LOOKED AROUND AS I REACHED A NEARBY STOP SIGN. THERE IS A LARGE Y-SHAPED CRACK FROM THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD, PARTIALLY HIDDEN BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.
MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK IS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DEAD TWO TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS GARAGED AND NOTHING WAS LEFT ON TO DRAIN THE BATTERY
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AND WITH NO ANTECEDENT ROCK OR OTHER IMPACT, WINDSHIELD INCURRED LARGE DIAGONAL CRACK. AT THE TIME, CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A HGHWAY IN GOOD WEATHER.
A 12 INCH CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED AFTER I HEARD A LOUD SHARP SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING 55 MPH ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY (BRILEY PARKWAY) IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
I HAVE A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE WINDSHIELDS KEEP BREAKING. I JUST HAD THE THIRD (3RD) WINDSHIELD INSTALLED IN THIS 2020 VEHICLE AND IT WAS CRACKED BEFORE IT WAS TWO WEEKS OLD. THE LAST WINDSHIELD I HAD WAS SPIDER WEBS OF CRACKS - I DROVE IT LIKE THAT FOR MONTHS WAITING ON SUBARU TO FIX THE GLASS ISSUE. IT IS NOT FIXED. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS IN THIS AREA FOR TWO DECADES AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE NEW SUBARU WINDSHIELDS. SMALL DEBRIS WILL HIT THE CAR ON HWY/INTERSTATE THAT WOULD NOT USUALLY CRACK GLASS AND IT CRACKS. IT CHIPS VERY EASY AND THEN CRACKS TO A LENGTH THAT IS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. I THINK SOME OF THE CRACKS JUST APPEAR. BIZARRE. A FAMILY MEMBER HAS 2021 ASCENT AND JUST HAD TO REPLACE HER WINDSHIELD ALSO.
BATTERY DIED AFTER LEAVING UNUSED FOR JUST 9 DAYS. OCCASIONALLY STARTER BUTTON DOES NOT WORK, RETRY AND IT STARTS.
WINDSHIELD FORMED A LARGE CRACK AT 2495 MILES (APPROX. 2/15/20) FROM LEFT BOTTOM CORNER TO CENTER ABOVE DRIVER POSITION. ONLY INDICATED CAUSE A 1/8 INCH SHALLOW SCRATCH. WINDSHIELD AGAIN CRACKED, ALMOST IDENTICAL SIZE AND POSITION AT 8934 MILES (APPROX.4/20/21), ONLY INDICATED DAMAGE A SMALL PIT AT LEFT BOTTOM. CRACKS ONLY APPEARED AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE---NOTHING NOTICED PRIOR. EMAIL WITH GM AT DEALER PRODUCED NO RESPONSE. TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENTS $979.10. NO DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELDS OF 2 OTHER VEHICLES DRIVEN ON THE SAME ROUTES. IN MY OPINION, BOTH WINDSHIELD MARKS WERE EXTREMELY MINOR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PRODUCED WINDSHIELD FAILURE.
THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ELECTRONICS THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS 4 TIMES IN THE YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE LAST REPROGRAMMING WAS DUE TO A NHTSA RECALL. THE SYSTEM WAS BETTER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE THE LAST REPROGRAMMING BUT ON MONDAY 4/19/21 AT 5:58 PM THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURRED THE ELECTRONIC SCREEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH WENT BLACK AS I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH SOUTHBOUND ON I-95 IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND. THE SCREEN AND ALL IT FUNCTIONS WERE OFF FOR 4 MINUTES UNTIL IT RESTARTED WITH THE INITIAL SCREEN THAT APPEARS WHEN I START THE CAR. IT IS A WARNING SCREEN WITH A GREEN AREA TO PRESS THAT I AGREE WITH THE WARNING. FOR 4 MINUTES I WAS DRIVING WITH NO ACCESS TO THE CONTROLS THAT ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION FO THE MAIN SCREEN. THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME I SHOULD TAKE A VIDEO OF THE DASH IF THIS HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT IS HARD TO TAKE A VIDEO WHILE DRIVING IN THE EXPRESS LANES AT 65 MPH. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT AFTER ALL THESE REPROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED. WHEN THE DEALER HAD INSTALLED THE REVISED PROGRAMING I ASKED WHAT TO DO IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE A VIDEO THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WELL IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN. I IMAGINE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO FIND THIS REOCCURRING BUT I CAN'T BE SURE OF THAT. IT IS MOST DISCONCERTING TO THINK THAT ALL OF THE SAFETY CONTROLS THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO OBTAIN ARE OUT OF USE FOR 4 MINUTES AS I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE RADIO ON WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY IT WENT OFF I LOOKED DOWN AT THE SCREEN AND IT WAS BLACK COMPLETELY OFF. I ASSUME THAT ALL OF THE SAFETY FUNCTIONS THE SCREEN CONTROLS ALSO WERE OFF. IT STAYED THAT WAY FOR 4 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED AS IF I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT KEEPS RECURRING.
PROBLEM WITH A DEAD BATTERY ON A CAR LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD
WENT TO GET IN MY CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK WHERE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN SINCE SUNDAY THE 11TH AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM MIDDLE AND UP A SIGNIFICANT WAY BEFORE IT SPLIT INTO A WIDE 'Y' SHAPE.
SMALL ROCK HIT WINDSHIELD ON INTERSTATE, LEAVING A NICE CHIP WITH FIVE LINES COMING OUT. IN THE AM FOUND 2 LINES EXPANDED SEVERAL INCHES OUTWARD. -THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAD A WINDSHIELD BREAK IN THE THIS CAR (IN THE LAST YEAR)! MILEAGE IS AT 19000, OWNED NEW 1.5 YRS.
Large, long windshield crack. No rocks or debris, nothing hit the windshield. I went out to my car one morning and there is a long crack in my windshield starting at the middle edge.
SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK. LOWER EDGE OF DRIVERS SIDE CRACK. 25 MPH ZONE WITH NO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME. BECOMING LARGER TOWARDS PASSENGER SIDE, EACH DAY, CURRENTLY MID WINDSHIELD. I HAVE HAD TO MAKE A CLAIM WITH INSURANCE TODAY.
BATTERY REPEATEDLY DIES AFTER VERY SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, NO LIGHTS LEFT ON OR DOORS LEFT OPEN. VEHICLE BATTERY HAS DIED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS WHEN LEFT OVERNIGHT.
WE HAD (3) BROKEN WINDSHIELDS DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING SINCE NOVEMBER. (2) IN LAST 8 WEEKS. MY WIFE HAS TRAVEL SAME SECTION OF HIGHWAY M-F FOR LAST 8 YEARS WITH NO BROKEN WINDSHIELDS WITH (2) PREVIOUS VEHICLES.
THE BATTERY KEEPS DYING. SUBARU TESTED THE BATTERY IT'S FINE. TOLD ME TO GET A BATTERY TENDER OR TO DRIVE FOR AN HOUR OR SO EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS FOR THE ALTERNATOR TO CHARGE UP. IN LESS THAN A WEEK THE CAR BATTERY HAD TO BE JUMPED 5 TIMES. STARTED 4/15/2021 THRU TODAY 4/21/2021.
BATTERY IS DEAD. CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND NOT USED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT ON WED APRIL 14, 2021 THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. NO LIGHTS HAS BEEN LEFT ON. ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED WHEN CAR NOT IN USE.
EXPERIENCING A DEAD BATTERY. 3RD TIME THIS MONTH. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 7090 MILES ON IT, ONCE JUMPED LASTS A WEEK OR 2 AND THEN REPEATS PROBLEM. DEALER JUST SAYS TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.
THE WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS NOT CRACKED WHEN I PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE ONE NIGHT. THE NEXT AFTERNOON WHEN WE GOT IN TO DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE, THE WINDSHIELD HAD AN UNEXPECTED CRACK APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES LONG, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN FROM THE TOP, GOING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK CAME SEEMINGLY OUT OF NOWHERE. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN STATIONARY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS. THIS CRACK APPEARED ON SUNDAY AND IS HUGE, WE WILL NEED THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED.
I LEFT MY CAR PARKED FOR 6-7 DAYS AND IT'S COMPLETELY DEAD
AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR 1 TO 2 DAYS WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN THE BATTERY IS COMPLETELY DRAINED. AFTER RECHARGING THE BATTERY AND GETTING THE CAR STARTED THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING LEFT ON (I.E. DOME LIGHTS) OR OPENED (I.E DOOR AJAR) WHICH WOULD HAVE CREATED A SLOW DRAIN ON THE BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE JAN 2021
WE JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR. USED, LESS THAN 7K MILES. I HAVEN'T EVEN MADE A PAYMENT YET. MY WIFE CALLED ME FROM THE TURN LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH HUNDREDS OF CARS SPEEDING PAST. SHE WAS DRIVING AND STOPPED TO TURN LEFT AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN SHE WENT TO GO, THE CAR TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT START - ALTHOUGH IT APPEARED THERE WAS POWER; RADIO, LIGHTS, ALL WORKING. A POLICE OFFICER AND A PASSER-BY PUSHED HER INTO A PARKING LOT AFTER 20 MINUTES. WHEN I ARRIVED, IT APPEARED THE BATTERY WAS NOT CRANKING THE STARTER. I HAD HER GET JUMPER CABLES AND YES, IT STARTED RIGHT UP. NO INDICATION THAT THE BATTERY WAS HAVING ISSUES, NO WARNING LIGHTS. I TURNED THE AUTO STOP-START OFF WHILE I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO COULDN'T EVEN TALK TO ME BECAUSE THEY WERE TO BUSY. FORTUNATELY, IT STARTED UP AND MADE IT HOME. TOOK MY SON TO HIS BASEBALL GAME AND AFTER SITTING FOR 3 HOURS, WOULD NOT START, GOT A JUMP. TOOK IT HOME, LET IT RUN A BIT, IN THE MORNING, WOULD NOT START. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT SUBARU AND THIS EXACT ISSUE. THIS SOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN BASICALLY A NEW CAR.
WINDSHIELD HAS CHIPPED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH AS OF 4/7/21 ON OUR 2020 OUTBACK, FROM EXTREMELY LIGHT AND TINY ROAD DEBRIS/ROCK STRIKES. NOW HAS A 4TH, LARGER CHIP NEAR THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITH A 18" CRACK THAT GREW OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW HOURS. ALL OCCURRED WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAYS. ALL DURING MILD WEATHER. ALL WERE FROM ROCKS ALMOST TOO SMALL TO SEE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH OUR 2018 SUBARU. SUBARU NOW OFFERS WINDSHIELD COVERAGE AT ADDITIONAL CHARGE. SALESMAN NOTED THAT IT WAS "BECAUSE THEY USE THINNER GLASS DUE TO THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM". THIS WOULD SUGGEST SUBARU KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM.
ON 3 OCCASIONS THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, RADIO WORKED, BUT NO STARTER OR ENGINE NOISE. SUBARU SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR OR BATTERY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON SUBARU PROBLEM.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact became aware of a crack on the center of the front windshield. The contact stated that there was no impact to the windshield to cause the crack. The vehicle was not inspected, and the windshield was not replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 47,900.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE PROBLEM THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH MY CAR. THE CAR'S CCM WOULD OCCASIONALLY FREEZE; SAY APPLE CARPLAY IS UNAVAILABLE AND RESTART; THE CCM WOULD GO BLANK, BUT STILL BACKLIT; OR JUST FREEZE ATTEMPT TO RESTART, BUT NOT TURN BACK ON RENDERING ITEMS IN THE CAR USELESS, LIKE VOICE CONTROL AND JUST EVERYTHING!! SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG AND I JUST HAVE A GRIEVANCE. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S THE CASE, WHEN THERE'S VIDEO EVIDENCE. I HAVE A LOANER CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AND TURNED OFF THE DISPLAY (I DIDN'T KNOW THAT COULD BE DONE), BUT THE VOICE CONTROL WORKED IN THE LOANER THAT WAS NOT HAVING A PROBLEM AS OPPOSED TO MINE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS WRITTEN IN WITH THAT COMPLAINT. OF NOTE, I'VE BEEN GOING INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE OCTOBER 2020, AND I'VE ONLY OWNED THE CAR SINCE JUL 2020. I HAD IT CHECKED IN VIRGINIA AND OKLAHOMA CITY. I RECEIVED A LOANER CAR ON THURSDAY, 8 APR 2020, FOR THE PROBLEM ONLY AFTER I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A TEXT STATING THAT THE CAR WAS READY, BUT NO RESPONSE AS TO WHAT WAS DONE. AGAIN, I RECEIVED THE 'SOFTWARE IS UP TO DATE'. BE AWARE THAT WHEN THE SCREEN GOES BLANK, YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANYTHING, NOT EVEN VOICE CONTROL. I DID TEST THAT WHILE MY CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING A D ALSO DISPLAYING THAT EYESIGHT AND REAR ASSIST BRAKING WERE ALSO NOT FUNCTIONAL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE I WAS UTILIZING NAVIGATION SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING AT THE TIME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME DURING NAVIGATION THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. ALTHOUGH I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE FROM THE CAR VIA TEXT ON EASTER SUNDAY, THE MY SUBARU APP SENT AN 'ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONAL' FOR 30 DAYS, BUT I JUST HAD ERRORS A FEW DAYS PRIOR. IT'S LIKE THE HEALTH REPORT IS ONLY FOR THAT MOMENT IN TIME AND NOT REALLY FOR 30 DAYS.
CAR WOULDN'T START, DEAD BATTERY REQUIRING 4 JUMPS BY 9-10 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING NEW. RESULTED IN MULTIPLE STRANDINGS. NO KNOWN REASON FOR RECURRENT DEAD BATTERY.
MY CAR BATTERY FAILED IN SEPTEMBER THEN AGAIN IN OCTOBER. I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE BACK:BACK. THEN AT THE END OF FEBRUARY- 5 DAYS IN A ROW I HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY JUMPED. DEALER SAW IT AND CLAIMED IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY AND ONLY NEEDED CHARGING. AT THE END OF MARCH (TODAY), THE CAR'S BATTERY FAILED AGAIN. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO SUBARU. THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO AN ANALYSIS ON THE BATTERY. A TOWING SERVICE CAME TO JUMP MY CAR. AT ALL TIMES, WITHOUT A JUMP THE CAR WILL NOT TURNOVER. I ALSO NOTICED- MAYBE RELATED MAYBE NOT- THE CAR'S CALCULATION FOR MILEAGE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. SPECIFICALLY, WITHIN 30 SECONDS IT CAN GO FROM 3 MPG, 55 MPG, 7 THEN SEVERAL HUNDRED; IT MAKES NO SENSE.*DT
WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF I-15 IN MONTANA ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 6:30PM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK RANDOMLY CRACKED FROM LOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. ROAD CONDITIONS SEEMED SMOOTH AT THE TIME OF THE CRACK AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AROUND MID 40 DEGREES F. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR SEVERAL HOURS SO THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STABLE WITH NO WILD TEMPERATURE SWINGS. INSPECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE EVENT SHOWS NO SIGNS OF CHIPS OR IMPACTS NEAR THE CRACK. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES NOTED.
Driving north on the interstate with no other vehicles on the road. Windshield spontaneously cracked from passenger side defrost to middle of windshield. Took the car into the dealer, and they claimed a rock hit it because they could run their fingernail into the crack. I strongly disagree with Subaru’s maintenance division as I was there when it happened and there is no chip or star shaped damage from an impact of any object. The crack quickly spread across the entire length of the windshield.
THE FRONT WINDOW CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK STARTED ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY UP THE WINDOW, IN A J SHAPE FASHION. VERY NARROW CRACK. THE CAR WAS IN MY GARAGE WHEN I WENT OUT TO START IT I SAW THE CRACK. HAD NOT BEEN THERE BEFORE BUT THE EYE SIGHT SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING THE DAY BEFORE WHEN DRIVING THE CAR.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026