2020 Subaru Crosstrek: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2020 Subaru Crosstrek? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 64 complaints, with Visibility/Wiper as the top reported area.
2020 Subaru Crosstrek Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated energy efficiency for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. Values shown in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent).
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 3 trims analysed.
2020 Subaru Crosstrek Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
15.6% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
15.6% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek has 64 owner complaints, 6 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Visibility/Wiper. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Subaru
- Model
- Crosstrek
- Model year
- 2020
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 64
- Crash-related complaints
- 6
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Top reported component
- Visibility/Wiper
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPGe combined
- 30
- EPA MPGe city / highway
- 27 / 33
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- Electric range (miles)
- 480
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Visibility/Wiper
Uncategorized Issues
Electrical Faults
Complaint patterns center on Visibility/Wiper, Uncategorized Issues, Electrical Faults. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2020 Subaru Crosstrek?
The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2020 Subaru Crosstrek
Inspection Focus
- Inspect wiper operation and visibility systems thoroughly before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for any reported components, especially wiper and electrical systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on wiper and transmission systems.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect wiper operation and visibility systems thoroughly before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for any reported components, especially wiper and electrical systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on wiper and transmission systems.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2020 Subaru Crosstrek, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek are concentrated in the Visibility/Wiper component, accounting for nearly half of all reports. A recurring theme appears to be issues with wiper performance and visibility, though the data is limited to a single model year and a low number of total complaints.
- Visibility/Wiper complaints dominate with 30 out of 64 total complaints.
- Uncategorized Issues and Electrical Faults are the next most reported categories.
- Crash-related complaints are relatively low at 6 out of 64.
- Visibility/Wiper issues are the most frequently reported problem.
- Electrical faults may be a secondary concern.
- Transmission or drivetrain problems appear in a notable number of complaints.
All 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 30 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Beginning one year after buying this used 2020 Subaru Crosstrek base trim the starter failed and battery fully died after failing to start from a stop. The engine was OFF due to the auto-stop system and failed upon lifting my foot from the brake on a slight incline, causing a con…
The rear differential on my PHEV Crosstrek failed around 31,500 miles. My spouse was driving under 30mph and turning, and heard a clunking/popping/metal-on-metal sound that persisted intermittently for the remainder of the drive home. Since then on 1/8/26, the sound has been aggr…
At Miami Airport, with ample space behind the vehicle in front, a pickup truck with a very long sloping ramp trailer to carry several cars pulled into the stated space. The lefthand side rear of the trailer being well below my line of vision hit my bumper on the passenger side. M…
The bolt attaching the front left corner of the seat to the rails came loose and allows the seat to wobble and bounce.
The rear differential on my Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has failed twice. The first failure occurred around 12,000 miles and the second around 50,000 miles, both while maneuvering slowly in a parking lot. There were no warning lights or messages beforehand. The failure caused grindin…
The 2019-2021 Crosstrek Hybrid has an issue with the fuel tank design. Subaru has finally released a TSB (Reference: 09-82-23R) that explains the issue in more detail and how the defective parts need to be replaced. In short, the fuel tank has a design flaw such that regular fuel…
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while pulling into a parking spot and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal a second time, the vehicle jerked, unin…
What component of system failed: transmission At low speeds, my car makes a low moaning sound. I took it to the subaru dealership and after 2.5 hours, they said it's an issue with the transmission and needs a full replacement. Safety: According to a local subaru dealer's website,…
6-8in windshield crack on passenger side, near the bottom just above defrost vents. No apparent trauma to the windshield in that area. No indication that there was a crack forming otherwise; appeared seemingly overnight. Have not yet reported to insurance, dealer, or mfg. I have…
The contact's significant other owns a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while his significant other was driving from a complete stop, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer s…
The auto engine shut off was disengaged by the dealer while doing some repair. When we picked up the car, noticed engine trouble icons signifying this. We called the dealer and advised of this situation. We had asked if it could be disconnected and was told no, it is forbidden…
This vehicle is a plug-in-hybrid. It should not be able to move while plugged in. Problem is attempting to move the vehicle when the charge cable is still attached and the vehicle is on an incline. Subaru does not display a warning message - instead it displays "check engine" an…
Car was thought to be placed in park, key was easily removed, and then the car became mobile and rolled downhill and could not be shifted back into park.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while she was sitting in the parked vehicle on the side of the road, another vehicle driving at approximately 60-65 MPH rear-ended her vehicle. The contact's vehicle was pushed into the highway's first lane. The fr…
Transmission began making a whining noise at low speeds accelerating/ and backing up. Slight hesitation when accelerating. Transmission failed at 6k miles- confirmed by dealer and replaced. Now again at 34k miles same issue- transmission confirmed to be issue again by dealer. Sub…
Driving the vehicle on the I-5 freeway, approximately 65mph, the sunroof glass suddenly shattered. It sounded like an explosion. The sunshade was closed , no glass shards entered the vehicle. There were no other vehicles close to mine, no tractor trailers in front of me.
The windshield has formed a crack in the top middle around the area of the rear view mirror with no incident to cause it. The problem is easily identifiable and may cause safety issues if the crack spreads. At this time insurance representatives and the manufacturer have not insp…
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while shifting the vehicle into reverse, the vehicle launched forward without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was…
I noticed my windshield spontaneously cracked, without any trauma. This was noticed in the morning after my car had been sitting in the garage overnight. There were no rocks or other debris that hit the car, and there does not appear to be a point of impact. The crack seems to…
The windshield has cracked twice and had to be replaced. The first time was December 2021 and the second time was November 2022. Each time, we did not even see impact with a pebble. We just assume that was what caused the crack. My wife and I have been driving for fifty ye…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek.
2020 Subaru Crosstrek Recalls
0 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. No recall campaigns are currently listed for this model year in the dataset, but VIN-level recall checks are still essential. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
No recall campaigns found for this model year in the current data. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls directly for the latest information.
2020 Subaru Crosstrek Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 64 owner complaints, 6 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek?▾
#1: Visibility/Wiper (30 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (9 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (8 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek, NHTSA complaints include 6 crash-related reports and 0 fire reports out of 64 total complaints. 3 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek have any recalls?▾
No NHTSA recall campaigns were found for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek in the current data. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.
Should I buy a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek?▾
The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Visibility/Wiper during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Subaru Crosstrek reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.