2020 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 46owner reports
- 8,200median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
336 of the 899 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 46 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 46 reports
Stalling on other Outback years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (25 reports) and the fuel pump (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
All 6 recalls on the 2020 Subaru Outback, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 6,000 and 37,168 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“While driving my Subaru Outback, I encounter a problem where the Starlink Multimedia system abruptly goes black. Shortly after, the driver information center also goes black. Although the car continues to run, the cruise control, if engaged, and the EyeSight safety system shuts off as well. Both systems then undergo a reboot.”
Filed Jun 7, 2023
“Car has twice stalled out when driving slowly in hot weather. When trying to restart vehicle the engine turned over just fine, but wouldnât restart until much later after the car had a chance to cool down completely. Possible vapor lock or faulty fuel pump.”
Filed Aug 13, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 46 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Windshield cracks or distorts 375 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 210 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 65 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 28 reports