VehicleVerdict

2020 Subaru Outback electrical system problems

The 2020 Subaru Outback has 262 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 23% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

262

Electrical System complaints

23%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Outback electrical system complaints by model year396 complaints1996: 1 complaints1997: 7 complaints1998: 7 complaints1999: 11 complaints2000: 8 complaints2001: 3 complaints2002: 4 complaints2003: 9 complaints2004: 10 complaints2005: 40 complaints2006: 52 complaints2007: 26 complaints2008: 38 complaints2009: 24 complaints2010: 34 complaints2011: 74 complaints2012: 41 complaints2013: 29 complaints2014: 36 complaints2015: 131 complaints2016: 313 complaints2017: 396 complaints2018: 272 complaints2019: 375 complaints2020: 262 complaints2021: 72 complaints2022: 47 complaints2023: 17 complaints2024: 15 complaints2025: 10 complaints2026: 3 complaints
Outback electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY THREE MONTHS, AND THE ENGINE HAS FAILED TO START >5 TIMES, WHILE STATIONARY. I HAVE HAD TO GET SEVERAL JUMP STARTS, AND THE BATTERY WILL RUN AGAIN FOR A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS BEFORE SEEMING TO DIE AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTOSHOP AND THEY SAID THE BATTERY SEEMED FINE TO…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 16, 2020 · crash

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2020 Subaru Outback have?

NHTSA has 262 complaints about the 2020 Subaru Outback electrical system — 23% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.