2020 Subaru Legacy Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#6 most-complained of 16 Legacy years
The 2020 Subaru Legacy has a complaint index of 67, ranking 6th worst out of 16 model years, with a Caution verdict. It carries 121 complaints, 6 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, driven mostly by windshield-related reports.
- Complaints
- 121
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28.5
- 25.5 city / 33.5 hwy
Top 2020 Subaru Legacy problems
NHTSA owner 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%)
What owners report
- Windshields spontaneously crack or chip without any visible impact, sometimes near the front camera area.
- Cracks that start small grow larger over the course of a drive.
- The engine loses power and warning lights illuminate while driving at highway speed, with the vehicle unable to exceed low speeds afterward.
- Electrical wiring under the hood has produced smoke and a fire while driving on the highway with no prior warning lights.
- The emergency braking system has activated on its own at highway speed, slowing the vehicle without driver input.
- A vehicle reportedly accelerated suddenly at low speed in a parking lot and struck a tree.
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?
- NHTSA data gives the 2020 Legacy a complaint index of 67, ranking 6th worst among 16 model years and earning a Caution verdict relative to other Legacy years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Subaru Legacy?
- Visibility & Wipers complaints, mostly 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 transmission recalls?
- Yes. Two recalls (21V955000 and 22V485000) cover a Transmission Control Unit programming error that can let the clutch engage before the drive chain fully engages on 2020 Legacy vehicles.
- How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru Legacy have?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2020 Subaru Legacy, covering airbags, transmission control, fuel pump, collision avoidance software, and brake pedal hardware, none of them do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2020 Legacy compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 67, the 2020 Legacy ranks worse than the 2021 (13), 2022 (33), and 2023 (0) model years, but better than the 2015 (100) and 2010 (93) model years.