YearToAvoid

2020 Subaru Legacy Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 16 Electrical System complaints for the 2020 Subaru Legacy, 13% of its 121 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 7,814 miles. No related recall is listed for this issue.

Electrical System complaints
16
13% of 121
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
7,814 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Battery drains repeatedly and fails to hold a charge, sometimes requiring multiple jump starts before the car needs a tow.
  • The infotainment and EyeSight driver-assist system randomly restarts or goes dark, temporarily disabling radio, navigation, and lane/cruise features before rebooting on its own.
  • A Thermo Control Valve failure was reported to cause an electrical short that disabled driver-assistance systems and left the car inoperable in traffic.
  • A window regulator failed to raise or lower the front door window reliably, occurring without warning.
  • One owner reported smoke and a fire developing under the hood while driving on the highway, with no warning lights beforehand.
  • A headlight brightness complaint noted other drivers were distracted or blinded at night.

When 2020 Subaru Legacy electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 5, 2020, latest Jun 20, 2026.

2020 Subaru Legacy electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2020May 2021Sep 2021Nov 2021Apr 2022Oct 2023Feb 2025Jun 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2020 to Jun 2026; peak Feb 2022 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2020 Subaru Legacy

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Legacy model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201022 (15%)
  2. 201133 (20%)
  3. 20126 (7%)
  4. 20137 (11%)
  5. 201415 (28%)
  6. 201539 (25%)
  7. 201651 (35%)
  8. 201730 (25%)
  9. 201840 (34%)
  10. 201935 (28%)
  11. 202016 (13%)
  12. 20215 (16%)
  13. 20223 (9%)
  14. 20231 (10%)
  15. 20247 (41%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems on the 2020 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA shows 16 Electrical System complaints for the 2020 Legacy, making up 13% of the 121 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Subaru Legacy electrical system?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this component on the 2020 Legacy.
At what mileage do these electrical failures usually happen?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 7,814 miles at the time of failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2020 Legacy.
Did any 2020 Legacy electrical complaints involve a fire?
Yes, NHTSA records one fire and zero crashes or injuries among the Electrical System complaints for the 2020 Legacy.
How does the 2020 Legacy compare to other years for electrical complaints?
The 2020 Legacy's 13% share is lower than years like 2016 (35%) and 2018 (34%), based on NHTSA complaint data across model years.

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.