2018 Subaru Outback vs 2020 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Subaru Outback | 2020 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 807 | 894 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 423 | 600 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 27 | 19 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–28 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 18,000 mi | 6,250 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Outback | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 233 | 313 |
| Electrical System | 265 | 257 |
| Visibility | 41 | 70 |
| Engine | 36 | 47 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 18 | 49 |
| Power Train | 14 | 46 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 43 | 14 |
| Steering | 35 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Battery drain | 54 | 48 |
| Stalling | 46 | 42 |
| Won’t start | 11 | 32 |
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 16 |
2018 Subaru Outback
2020 Subaru Outback
Compare all Subaru Outback vs Subaru Outback years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.