2020 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2020 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Subaru Crosstrek | 2020 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 69 | 896 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 398 | 612 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 19 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–35 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 5,800 mi | 6,300 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Crosstrek | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 30 | 313 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 258 |
| Visibility | 4 | 70 |
| Power Train | 9 | 46 |
| Engine | 5 | 48 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 49 |
| Structure | 2 | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 18 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 7 | 42 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 48 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 32 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 16 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 8 |
| Overheating | 0 | 5 |
2020 Subaru Crosstrek
2020 Subaru Outback
Compare all Subaru Crosstrek 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.