SubaruOutback2020Overview/subaru/outback/2020/base/

2020 Subaru Outback

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Outback.

The 2020 Subaru Outback is defined by an engine oil specification of 4.8 quarts with a 0W-20 viscosity, situating this model within a broader historical dataset covering 1995 to 2026. For this specific year, 891 total owner complaints and six recalls were registered, with visibility and wiper functionality emerging as the top complaint area. While this complaint volume remains below the peak recorded in 2019, it is substantially higher than the lowest count from 1995. This positioning places the 2020 model between the extremes of the vehicle's long-term trajectory.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque88.5 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 620 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 620 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size225/65R17 102HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width74.8 in
Overall height66.5 in
Wheelbase108.3 in
Curb weight3649 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/54

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Outback of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.1–8.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.10 sec — 2020 Onyx Edition XT
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020Onyx Edition XT 2.4L Turbo F-46.10 sec14.80 sec260 hpAWD
2020Touring XT 2.4L Turbo F-46.30 sec14.80 sec260 hpAWD
2020Touring XT 2.4L Turbo F-46.30 sec14.90 sec260 hpAWD
2020Touring 2.5L F-48.50 sec16.70 sec182 hpAWD
2020Limited 2.5L F-48.70 sec16.60 sec182 hpAWD
2022Wilderness 2.4L Turbo F-45.80 sec14.60 sec260 hpAWD
2022Wilderness 2.4L Turbo F-45.80 sec14.40 sec260 hpAWD
2022Wilderness 2.4L Turbo F-46.10 sec14.70 sec260 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 88.5 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 30.8 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidSubaru CVTF Oil for Lineartronic II
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity12.1 - 12.6 Qts.
Automatic Transmission FluidSubaru High Torque CVTF LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity12.3 - 12.8 Qts.
Brake FluidDOT 3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantSubaru Super Coolant Diluted
Engine Coolant Capacity9.2

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs13.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.8 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.8 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts88.5 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)675 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)850 AC Speed up rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)±100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)800-885 AC Speed Up rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity.93 - 1.05 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND-12
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance620 cca

Service checks

Engine Compression196-254 PSI @ 200-300 RPM's psi
Engine Compression152-203 PSI @ 200-300 RPM's psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 18.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 100 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.023; Rear: .590

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
189.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 18.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90-95°89 in
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
170.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60°±5°70 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 120°±5°15 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
114.8 ft. lbs., Step 2: 73.8 ft. lbs., Step 3: Loosen 360°, Step 4: 14.8 ft. lbs., Step 5: 31.0 ft. lbs., Step 6: 98-102°, Step 7: Bolts 1 & 2: 98-102°, Step 8: Bolts 3, 4, 5 & 6: 48-52°14.8 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
121.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30-35°21 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Inside Bolts 1-1026 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 72,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 137,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2020 Subaru Outback sits at the tail end of a clear complaint peak for this generation, registering 891 NHTSA complaints — slightly below the 2019 high of 1,029 but well above the 638 logged in 2016 and a steep drop from the 291 recorded in 2021, suggesting a generational reset after a redesign. Recall activity in 2020 also ticked up to 6, double the 3 recalls issued in each of 2018 and 2019, though investigations remained at zero and TSBs at 597 were the highest in the recent run, indicating active manufacturer service campaigns alongside formal recalls. Within the 891 complaints, visibility/wiper defects dominate at 272, followed by electrical system issues at 190 and a general "unknown or other" bucket of 99, while 19 crash and 7 fire complaints were tallied — modest in absolute terms but worth noting given the visibility cluster. The data does not specify the root cause of the wiper/visibility surge, but its concentration is striking and is the single most important flag for a used-buyer to investigate. Taken together, 2020 is a defensible choice only if the vehicle can be verified to have had the visibility-related TSBs and recalls performed, otherwise the surrounding-year decline into 2021–2022 makes a lightly used 2021 or 2022 a lower-risk alternative at a likely similar price.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
597
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
891
Owner complaints
19 involved a crash · 7 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 891 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility/Wiper272
Electrical System190
Unknown Or Other99
Visibility67
Power Train33
Unknown Or Other,Visibility/Wiper18
Air Bags13
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other12

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V766000Back Over Prevention:Display FunctionReported 10/12/2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with "high" grade and "mid" grade multimedia navigation. The August 2020 over-the-air software update may have timed out… Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software and, if necessary, replace the Cockpit Control Module, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners…

21V955000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)Reported 09/12/2021

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain… Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 597 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
02-193-24R2026-06-29EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
15-246-19R2026-06-29Electrical SystemThis Service Information Bulletin outlines a new required procedure to follow when…
09-74-21R2026-06-25EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
09-81-21R2026-06-24Fuel/Propulsion SystemThis bulletin announces design changes made to the fuel injector and fuel pipe in…
16-159-262026-06-22Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides new diagnostic steps for DTC P0851 and P0852 to be used in…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Outback. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2020 Outback take?

4.8 qt of 0W-20 Synthetic, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 Outback have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.