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Your vehicleHome›Subaru›2020 Subaru Outback› transmission and drivetrain problems
Owner complaints · Power Train

2020 Subaru Outback transmission and drivetrain problems

51 of the 905 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Outback name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 80 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls. 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.

51 complaints 6% of this model year’s 2 reports a crash

What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain

Source: NHTSA complaint database
51complaints name the transmission and drivetrain

2 of the 51 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.

Filed per year: 2020: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 23 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 9

Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.

6%of this model year’s complaints

905 complaints in all about the 2020 Subaru Outback, 9 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Subaru Outback transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue.
Power Train May 12, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11464339
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available.
Power Train May 12, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11464346
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Power Train Apr 19, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11461374
Transmission broke while vehicle was in motion. I was unable to move the vehicle any further and drifted to a complete stop in the middle of the roadway
Power Train Apr 19, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11461397
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that he received a recall letter from the manufacturer. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing a software update.
Power Train at 23,000 miles Feb 14, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11451940

What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recalls filed under this heading

80 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

The 8 newest are listed (the model year’s page has its newest of every kind). Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Trouble codes named on this system

P0842

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
From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Are transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2020 Subaru Outback?

They are documented: NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (6% of everything owners filed about it), and 80 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2020 Subaru Outback?

Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 22V485000, 21V955000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2020 Subaru Outback?

Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.

What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?

The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.