2020 Mazda CX-5 vs 2020 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Mazda CX-5 | 2020 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 106 | 896 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 447 | 612 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 19 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–28 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 6,300 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mazda CX-5 | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 313 |
| Electrical System | 30 | 258 |
| Visibility | 0 | 70 |
| Engine | 17 | 48 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 11 | 49 |
| Power Train | 8 | 46 |
| Service Brakes | 13 | 15 |
| Structure | 6 | 21 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 8 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 48 |
| Stalling | 0 | 42 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 32 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 16 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 8 |
| Overheating | 0 | 5 |
2020 Mazda CX-5
2020 Subaru Outback
Compare all Mazda CX-5 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.