YearToAvoid

2020 Subaru Impreza Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

53/100

#8 most-complained of 16 Impreza years

The 2020 Subaru Impreza has a Complaint Index of 53 and ranks 8th worst of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Windshield cracking dominates complaints (66% of all reports), with 1 recall for a fuel pump issue.

Complaints
85
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
2 / 2
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
25.5 city / 33 hwy

Top 2020 Subaru Impreza problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers56 (66%)
  2. Other17 (20%)
  3. Brakes5 (6%)
  4. Electrical System5 (6%)
  5. Airbags3 (4%)
  6. Engine3 (4%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (4%)
  8. Structure & Body2 (2%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (2%)
  10. Steering1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Windshields crack spontaneously overnight or while parked, with no visible impact, often within a couple thousand miles of purchase.
  • Some owners report the windshield cracking from a small stone chip that quickly spreads into a long crack across the glass.
  • Passenger airbag wiring reportedly shorted out and ignited, releasing gas and fire inside the cabin while parked with the engine off.
  • One owner reported the engine losing power and stalling without warning on multiple occasions, with no determined cause.
  • A reported electrical system failure led to the battery exploding while the vehicle was in a drive-through line.
  • Suspension or chassis parts reportedly detached while driving at low mileage, described as falling off during a turn.
2020 Subaru Impreza complaints: complaints filed per month6Dec 2019Jul 2020Dec 2020Jun 2021Jan 2022Jul 2022Feb 2024May 2025
97 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2019 to Jun 2026; peak Dec 2020 (6).

2020 Subaru Impreza recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V587000Jul 29, 2021Fuel System175,968 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

2020 Subaru Impreza fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25.5 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,325
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2020 compared with other Impreza years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Avoid80151528.5
2019Avoid87194528.5
2020Caution5385128
2021Best20142 !30
2022Best713130

All Subaru Impreza years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Subaru Impreza reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2020 Impreza a Complaint Index of 53 and a Caution verdict, ranking 8th worst out of 16 model years tracked. Most complaints (66%) relate to windshield cracking rather than mechanical failure.
What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Subaru Impreza?
Visibility & Wipers complaints, mainly windshield cracking, account for 66% of all reports, with a median failure mileage of 7,000 miles.
Does the 2020 Subaru Impreza have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 21V587000) covers a low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank that may fail; Subaru dealers replace the pump free of charge.
How does the 2020 Impreza compare to other Impreza years?
With a Complaint Index of 53, the 2020 model sits worse than the 2021 (20) and 2022 (7) model years, but better than the 2012, 2013, 2018, and 2019 models, which carry Avoid verdicts.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.