YearToAvoid

2020 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 61 engine complaints for the 2020 Subaru Outback, 7% of its 897 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 6,883. No engine recalls are linked to this model year. Owners most often described sudden unintended acceleration and stalling.

Engine complaints
61
7% of 897
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
6,883 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe the car suddenly accelerating on its own while parking or slowing down, with the brakes failing to stop the forward motion.
  • Some drivers report the engine compartment catching fire while driving, without warning lights or gauge changes beforehand.
  • Several owners report the engine stalling at a stop or red light and then failing to restart.
  • One owner reported the auto start/stop system cannot be disabled, causing cabin heat buildup when the engine shuts off in hot weather.

When 2020 Subaru Outback engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 30, 2019, latest Aug 19, 2026.

2020 Subaru Outback engine complaints: complaints filed per month5Oct 2019Sep 2020May 2021Apr 2022Jan 2023Sep 2023Jul 2025
61 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2019 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2023 (5).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Subaru Outback

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Outback model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201077 (22%)
  2. 2011113 (17%)
  3. 201259 (20%)
  4. 201388 (30%)
  5. 201449 (24%)
  6. 201574 (15%)
  7. 201674 (12%)
  8. 201769 (8%)
  9. 201857 (7%)
  10. 201964 (6%)
  11. 202061 (7%)
  12. 202137 (13%)
  13. 202226 (6%)
  14. 20233 (3%)
  15. 202410 (10%)
  16. 20258 (10%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2020 Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA lists 61 engine complaints for the 2020 Outback, which is 7% of the 897 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an engine recall for the 2020 Subaru Outback?
No related recalls are listed for the engine problem area on the 2020 Outback in NHTSA data.
At what mileage do 2020 Outback engine problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on this model year is 6,883 miles.
What kind of engine issues do 2020 Outback owners report?
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, stalling at stops, and in some cases under-hood fires; NHTSA data also records 7 crashes and 3 fires tied to this complaint area.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.