2020 Subaru Outback: screen or infotainment failure

Filed Sep 20, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · CA

9/20/26 my 2020 Subaru Outback experienced repeated electrical failures followed by loss of power-steering assistance. The underlying failed component is unknown. The vehicle is parked and available for inspection. While driving, the vehicle intermittently lurched/jerked as the center display went completely black and restarted and EyeSight repeatedly became unavailable and returned. After stopping for fuel, I attempted to restart the vehicle. It initially started and then became completely electrically unresponsive: no response from the push-button start and no accessory power. Electrical power unexpectedly returned after I opened the driver's door, and I was able to restart the vehicle. Later, while the engine was continuously running in a parking lot, the display repeatedly blacked out and restarted while EyeSight repeatedly became unavailable and returned. When I shifted into reverse, the vehicle began jerking and power-steering assistance failed. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn and jerked in my hands, preventing me from properly completing the reverse maneuver. I shut the vehicle off and restarted it, which temporarily restored steering. This unpredictable steering failure put me, my two children, and other road users at serious risk. After restarting, I had to travel 65 mph on a highway to get home. Had steering assistance failed again at highway speed, I could have lost lane control or been unable to avoid other vehicles or road users, potentially causing a serious or fatal crash. The vehicle has not yet been inspected for this incident. The repair facility has been notified and I intend to have it towed because I consider it unsafe to drive. Six weeks earlier, the facility inspected the battery, terminals and cables and marked them satisfactory. Prior warnings included EyeSight becoming unavailable, the display blacking out/restarting, and vehicle lurching. I observed no separate steering warning before steering assistance failed.

Filed Jun 17, 2024 · Electrical · NY

Display to control the environment freezes.

Filed Jan 24, 2024 · Electrical · CA

- Infotainment center freezes making controls inaccessible. I live in the desert where temps reach 120+ in the car and not being able to turn on the AC is dangerous. - Windows will not roll up once they are rolled down, especially after it has rained or after washing the car. - Driver side Door Sensor Switch broke. This would keep the interior lights and infotainment center from turning off.

Filed Sep 4, 2022 · Electrical · MI

The screen has gone out on several occasions since we purchased the car new. Most recent while using navigation the entire screen went blank and there was no voice or direction diagram. The screen did not return until the next day. Most recent the battery went dead for no reason while parked in line for a funeral. Embarrassed we had to abandon the car and ride with others. We returned later and had to jump start the car to get it home. (This incident was September 1, 2022.) we had to charge the battery for five hours before the charger showed it was charged sufficient to use. I took the car to Battery Wholesale and they advised they could not determine the batteries worthiness because the electrolytes were too low and the battery needed a hard charge to bring it up for testing.

Filed Apr 5, 2022 · Driver assistance · MN

Infotainment system went into a continuous boot loop where screen went blank then subaru bootup screen appeared, then menu started to load then process repeated. During this process the Eyesight driver assistance system would produce an error saying all of it's functions were disabled while the infotainment system was rebooting. Also the display in center of the dashboard that shows vehicle info was randomly showing scrambled text while the infotainment system rebooted. This has happened multiple times, appears to happen when the vehicle has been on for several hours and is warm so it is hard to reproduce.

Filed Mar 18, 2022 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NC

Head unit shuts off while driving with no warning, and no clear cause. All safety features shut off including Eyesight and rear brake assist (shows as off in instrumental panel). It has happened multiple times in the past several months ( at least seven times) Head unit then appears to restart while underway, as if I had just entered and started the vehicle. Contacted dealer who said “the radio sometimes shuts off”. I explained that it was the entire head unit and safety features. It was simply left with them saying they have know of it happening, but no action or follow up was recommended. Time of incident is an estimate. Electronics seem to be slow to start when vehicle is first started. Was not able to get photos while driving.

Filed Feb 7, 2022 · Electrical, Visibility · MD

Within 2 months of purchase 2020 Outback the car's Infotainment center has continually malfunctioned including times when the car's backup camera is displayed while the car is in drive and moving forward. Eye-sight constantly disabled as well is infotainment center constantly blacking out and then resetting itself while car is in motion. Constant beepind telling driver to look at road - all especially in inclement weather. Car is unsafe. I have multiple videos showing this but they are too big to upload here.

Filed Dec 13, 2021 · DE

The touch screen control panel randomly crashes and reboots, disables safety features while being rebooted. Happening every other day.

Filed Oct 21, 2021 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · WA

My 2020 Outback Touring has had several issues including the infotainment system rebooting and turning off all safety features: ABS, Forward Collision Warning, EyeSight, Adaptive Cruise Control randomly turning off (not just adjusting speed), I lose control of ALL electronics including the digital speedometer. A new infotainment system had been installed and the problems STILL exist. The date below was the most serious as I was on the highway traveling at high speeds when the system decided to fail and the screens went black. Subaru of America has been informed of these issues but there is no resolution.

Filed Sep 6, 2021 · Driver assistance · NC

Without warning or repeatable cause the "infotainment" system will reboot causing the Bluetooth, LKAS, forward watching camera, emergency braking, and RAB to also stop working and reboot. This problem has occurred numerous times over the past several months. It happens without any predictability and I have not been able to find a common factor that triggers it. In May it happened once on a 4 hour drive west, but on the return trip it happened 4 times in a 2 hour window. The problem did not occur again until the first week of June and happened multiple times over a 3 day period. The software for the car has been recalled and reinstalled twice and the problem still occurs without warning or explanation. I have reported the issue in mid-August to Subaru's customer service and was told "a software update" was 2 weeks away. I do not believe this report from their customer service because no other documentation was provided other than a call back. I followed-up with a call back and an email to Subaru asking for more details for which I have not gotten an answer. The incidence of it happening on Aug 20, 2021 occurred as I was entering into traffic from Baggage Road to Hwy 220 South in Rockingham County, NC. The system rebooted as I was entering traffic and created a distraction at a crucial moment I was crossing 4 lanes to turn left to proceed south on Hwy 220. Presently the system's issues seem to be limited to a reboot of Bluetooth, radio and all safety related systems. If the system had triggered a shutdown of the car or if the safety systems had caused the car to stop I would have been in the middle of a US Highway with traffic approaching from both directions at 60+mph. I am disappointed by Subaru for not addressing this issue with a formal company statement and promises of an update have not materialized.

Filed Jun 14, 2021 · Driver assistance, Electrical · VA

In the last month, twice within 30 seconds of starting the car, the head unit has done a complete reboot, which meant that I had no rear-view camera as I was backing out of a parking space. Since the car was already in motion, it was very distracting as it took about a minute for the unit to reboot. This seems to indicate that there is an electrical problem with the car as many others have noted. Many of the car's controls (such as climate control) are soft buttons displayed on the head unit and cannot be adjusted otherwise. Therefore, it is essential that this unit operate properly and dependably.

Filed May 17, 2021 · NV

After taking my car to dealer for WRI20 RECALL on 03/10/21, I have experienced intermittent issues with the touch screen and steering wheel controls. My touch screen will go black, act as if rebooting, radio button non responsive, “No audio” message across top of screen which affects radio and phone (safety issue) and contacts from phone appear and disappear. On my dash, the message ‘keep your eyes on the road” would continue repeatedly with my eyes staring straight at the road (irritating and safety issue)- voice control would not respond at all or it would ask if I wanted to set it up (already done). I drive over the Sierra (Donner Pass) quite frequently and need the security of a working navigation system (blank screen - no navigation) and an operational phone. I brought my car in for service initially 04/01/21 but it was returned 04/02/21 with no issues being replicated and car in “normal” working order. My car has now been sitting at the dealership since 04/25/21 with the same issues as before and I am driving a loaner. I have been in touch with Subaru and a case has been opened. I was supposed to hear from them today but no contact locally or from corporate. The only thing I have been told is - if they can not replicate the problem they can not do anything. I have provided photos of some of the issues (when I could safely take pic) but still been told nothing can be done under warranty if they can’t replicate it. I am so frustrated that Subaru wants to return a car to me that I DO NOT feel safe driving.