2020 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out
- 28owner reports
- 6,000median miles
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Mar 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
28 of the 899 complaints on this car describe false collision warning.
Tick what matches of 28 reports
False collision warning on other Outback years
No other Outback model year has enough reports of false collision warning for a sheet of its own. See every Outback year.
What this problem usually is
This group is about the forward collision warning itself. Owners describe alarms with nothing ahead, a forward camera that fails or reports itself blocked, and other safety features shutting off at the same moment. A lot of them happen at highway speed, and a lot end with a dealer who couldn't reproduce it.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the windshield (7 reports), the forward camera (6 reports) and the software (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,000 and 7,000 miles, from the 9 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“I was parking my car slowly until it suddenly accelerated. I hit a wall and car got totaled.”
Filed Mar 19, 2026
“I was driving and car accelerated without warning. Hit partially open garage door, only stopped after hitting and damaging back wall of garage. Significant damage to car, items in the garage and garage wall. There was no warning whatsoever. As of yet the car has not been assessed as to the cause of the malfunction.”
Filed Sep 17, 2023
“The car set overnight (was fine) next AM no electrical. Everything locked except driver's door and passenger door. No battery charge at all. Everything DEAD.”
Filed Aug 15, 2022
“Windshield cracked causing a problem with "Front Eyesight Collision" Right side does not see Large Vehicles in Right Lane. Left side works fine.”
Filed Sep 9, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 28 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 46 reports