2020 Honda CR-V 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 | 2020 Honda CR-V | 2020 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 339 | 894 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 208 | 600 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 21 | 19 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 29–38 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 17,500 mi | 6,250 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda CR-V | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 313 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 257 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 75 | 49 |
| Engine | 35 | 47 |
| Visibility | 2 | 70 |
| Air Bags | 46 | 18 |
| Power Train | 18 | 46 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 35 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 18 | 16 |
| Stalling | 15 | 42 |
| Loss of power | 10 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 6 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 8 |
| Battery drain | 5 | 48 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 32 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 7 |
2020 Honda CR-V
2020 Subaru Outback
Compare all Honda CR-V 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.