2020 Subaru Legacy Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2020 Subaru Legacy ranks 3rd worst of 21 model years with a complaint index of 90 and 121 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Windshield cracking dominates at 55% of complaints, backed by 6 recall campaigns covering airbags, transmission, fuel pump, brakes, and software.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 90/100
- #3 of 21 Legacy years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 121
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Visibility & Wipers
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28.5
- 25.5 city / 33.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2020 Subaru Legacy problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Visibility & Wipers66 (55%)
- Other26 (21%)
- Electrical System16 (13%)
- Engine8 (7%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (6%)
- Brakes2 (2%)
- Lane Departure2 (2%)
- Structure & Body2 (2%)
- Airbags1 (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 spontaneously crack or fracture with no rock chip or impact, sometimes in multiple places, at low mileage.
- Some owners report a thin hairline crack that grows longer over days without any visible cause.
- Electrical smoke and an under-hood fire occurred on the highway with no prior warning lights.
- The engine lost power at highway speed with all warning lights on, and the vehicle briefly would not shift into park.
- Automatic emergency braking activated unexpectedly during rush-hour driving, slowing the car without driver input.
- Sudden unintended acceleration in a parking lot led to a collision with a tree at very low speed.
2020 Subaru Legacy recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V227000Mar 22, 2024Airbags118,723 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.
- NHTSA 22V485000Jul 8, 2022Transmission & Powertrain182 vehicles
Power train:driveline:chain/belt
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
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 replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-22. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-955.
- NHTSA 21V955000Dec 9, 2021Transmission & Powertrain198,255 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
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 is completely clamped.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
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 replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
2020 Subaru Legacy fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 25.5 MPG
- Highway
- 33.5 MPG
- Combined
- 28.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,275
- 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 Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Subaru Legacy reliable?
- It ranks 3rd worst out of 21 model years of the Legacy, with a complaint index of 90 and an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Subaru Legacy?
- Visibility & Wipers issues, mainly windshield cracking, account for 55% of complaints (66 of 121), with a median failure mileage of 5,579.5 miles.
- Does the 2020 Subaru Legacy have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2020 Legacy, covering airbag occupant detection sensors, transmission control unit programming, a fuel pump, a software timeout issue, and a brake pedal bracket.
- Which Legacy years are better than 2020?
- According to the data, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 all carry lower complaint indexes (15, 35, 0, 20, and 5) and rank Best or Good, compared to the 2020 model's index of 90.