2020 Subaru Outback electrical problems
261 of the 899 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Outback name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 376 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 261 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 3 · 2020: 64 · 2021: 101 · 2022: 56 · 2023: 18 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 4
Half of the 115 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 2,000 and 9,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
899 complaints in all about the 2020 Subaru Outback, 4 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Outback electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Our seven month old 2020 Outback battery has died three times. Our latest dead battery revealed extremely concerning statistics according to our aaa service technician
With only 170 miles on the odometer, I went to start my Outback and it would not start. Had roadside assistance come and jump the car, which resulted in the car starting. I then parked it in my garage overnight. When I went to start it in the morning, the battery was completely dead and I could not even unlock the doors with the remote.
We bought the car new and the battery has fully drained three times since the purchase a month ago. We took it in to be evaluated and were told the battery was fine. We now have had to jumpstart this car three times and it has less than 200 miles on it
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the garage the contact was unable to start vehicle. The vehicle was previously taken to lafontaine Subaru (3055 e west maple rd, commerce charter twp, mi 48390) to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure.
After the car had sat for about 10 days, when we went to use it and initially we got a lot of bells and chirps going off along with numerous warning/indicator lights. But the starter would not turn over at all. We went back into the house to get the keys for our other vehicle, but decided to try and start the car a second time.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications376 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 15-261-20R Service bulletinAug 31, 2026
- This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4 Denso CP1 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 15-308-23R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2A16 P0087 P0842 U0254 B1788 B2256 B2A20 P0016
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Subaru Outback names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Subaru Outback
Source: the same files- engine problems 51 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 261 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (29% of everything owners filed about it), and 376 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 6 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2020 Subaru Outback?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 5,000 miles; half of them between 2,000 and 9,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.