2020 Subaru Impreza Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2020 Subaru Impreza has 85 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 70, ranking 7th worst of 21 model years. Its Caution verdict stems mainly from windshield-cracking complaints (66% of reports) and one fuel-system recall.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 70/100
- #7 of 21 Impreza years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 85
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Visibility & Wipers
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 25.5 city / 33 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2020 Subaru Impreza problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Visibility & Wipers56 (66%)
- Other17 (20%)
- Brakes5 (6%)
- Electrical System5 (6%)
- Airbags3 (4%)
- Engine3 (4%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (4%)
- Structure & Body2 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (2%)
- Steering1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Windshields develop spontaneous cracks with no impact, sometimes overnight while parked, at mileage as low as 650 to 2,500 miles.
- Passenger airbag igniter wiring reportedly shorted and ignited gas inside the cabin while the car was parked and off.
- Airbags failed to deploy in a reported 60 mph crash into a guardrail, resulting in injury.
- The electrical system reportedly failed and the battery exploded while the vehicle was in a drive-through line.
- The engine reportedly lost power and stalled without warning on multiple occasions around 10,000 miles, with no cause identified.
- Suspension or chassis parts reportedly fell off during driving and turning at around 5,000 miles.
2020 Subaru Impreza recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- 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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Subaru Impreza reliable?
- NHTSA lists 85 complaints for the 2020 Impreza with a complaint index of 70, ranking it 7th worst among 21 model years. It carries a Caution verdict relative to other Impreza years.
- What is the most common problem with the 2020 Subaru Impreza?
- Visibility & Wipers complaints, mostly windshield cracking, make up 66% of all reports (56 of 85 complaints), 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; dealers replace the pump free of charge.
- How does the 2020 Impreza compare to other Impreza years?
- Its complaint index of 70 is lower than 2019 (100), 2012 (95), and 2013 (90), which are rated Avoid, but higher than 2021 (20), 2022 (10), and 2025 (5), which rank better.