2020 Subaru Legacy: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2020 Subaru Legacy? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 120 complaints, with Visibility/Wiper as the top reported area.
2020 Subaru Legacy Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 2 2020 Subaru Legacy trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 2 trims analysed.
2020 Subaru Legacy 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
10.1% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
10.1% 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 Legacy has 120 owner complaints, 1 crash-related complaints, and 6 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Visibility/Wiper. NHTSA reliability signal: Minor Issues.
- Make
- Subaru
- Model
- Legacy
- Model year
- 2020
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 120
- Crash-related complaints
- 1
- Safety recall campaigns
- 6
- Top reported component
- Visibility/Wiper
- Reliability signal
- Minor Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 30
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 27 / 35
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 5/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2020 Subaru Legacy 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 Legacy?
The 2020 Subaru Legacy looks comparatively lower-risk based on complaint volume, but model-year averages do not confirm the condition of any specific used car.
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 Legacy
Inspection Focus
- Inspect the windshield wiper system and visibility components thoroughly.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for electrical and forward collision avoidance systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect the windshield wiper system and visibility components thoroughly.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for electrical and forward collision avoidance systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2020 Subaru Legacy, 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
The 2020 Subaru Legacy has 120 NHTSA complaints, with the majority concentrated in visibility and wiper issues. A small number of crash-related complaints were reported, but overall confidence in the data is low due to limited sample size.
- Visibility/Wiper complaints account for 57 of the 120 total complaints.
- Electrical faults and forward collision avoidance issues are also notable.
- Only 1 crash-related complaint was reported.
- Visibility/Wiper problems are the most frequently reported issue.
- Electrical faults are a secondary concern.
- Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB issues appear in 7 complaints.
All 2020 Subaru Legacy Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Subaru Legacy. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 57 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 25 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 14 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 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 Legacy. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Driver's seat structurally unstable due to factory-installed welded nut shearing off the seat rail anchor at approximately 32,000 miles. Confirmed by Napleton Subaru technician on video. Physical component in owner's possession. Failure is consistent with prior Subaru seat rail w…
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that during inclement weather, the front driver and front passenger’s side power windows failed to automatically roll up as intended. The contact was forced to hold the power window button to slowly roll the windows up. Th…
One hour into traveling on the highway smoke began to come from under the hood so we pulled off to the side of the road. Upon opening the hood, after the smoke cleared, a fire was observed. At that point the passengers exited the vehicle and called 911. There was no warning light…
Power window driver side intermittently fails to function, leaving window partly or completely open. This is an ongoing problem. Often I have to restart the car to get the window to operate properly. Difficult to drive when weather conditions change suddenly and window won’t clo…
in inclement weather the windows will not roll up, especially heavy rain events. The window will attempt to go up and then go into the fully open position. You have to wait a minute before the window will allow you to attempt again of reset the windows. This happen to me on the h…
Defective Cam Carrier Seal
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reason…
I have had two spontaneous window cracks within 6 to 9 months apart. I had a full windshield replacement and the windshield has just cracked again. The second incident, the vehicle was parked overnight so it wasn't caused by a rock or from following a car.
The Thermo control valve is faulty and my friends is too. There is a class action lawsuit concerning this part. I replacement part was designed in 2021 and Subaru is aware of this issue, but refuses to do a recall. So far 2019, 2020 and 2021 models are affected.
Windshield On 3/5/24 I drove to work,...the windshield was intacted as of 8AM.. after my shift at 4PM mysteriously there was a line (crack in the window on the drivers side) around 6 inches....haven't been to my car since Wednesday 3/6/24... today 3/11/24 that crack has expanded…
Sunroof exploded spontaneously while traveling down freeway. No one was within 3/4 of a mile in all directions.
The engine thermo control valve has been defective and Subaru has known this issue since 2022 and has tried to do some software update but it is defective [XXX] ) despite multiple tries. This can overheat an engine, result in the front collision warning system (eyesight) and rea…
The coolant bypass valve was defective. You would have to ask the dealership to inspect it, they kept it when they changed it out. It is unsafe because the engine could have overheated and exploded. The problem has been confirmed Subaru of Little Rock. They replaced the valve a…
We recently purchased a used 2020 Subaru Legacy sedan with ~33,000 miles on it. It has a salvage title due to previous owner hitting a deer, (no air bag deployed, just minor body work) and it was professionally repaired to "like-new" condition. Last weekend, when starting the c…
At approximately 30k miles we had noticed the vehicle sounded loud, like a Turbo. It got worse and after returning from our vacation trip to Maine, it was noticeable louder but couldn’t place a finger on the problem. We brought the vehicle in to Victory Subaru in Morristown and…
While driving on freeway the tire pressure warning light came on. I started to slow down and pull over and I felt the car wobble. I pulled to the side of the road and the tire had completely failed. The sidewalls, inside and out, had square chunks completely gone along the c…
The front door window regulator of our 2020 Subaru Legacy is not working properly. It fails to raise and lower correctly and reliably which can be a safety issue especially in an emergency. The problem occurred without any prior warnings or messages. I am told by the dealership …
Thermo Control Valve failed. Caused a short which affected all electrical components on its circuit. The car became inoperable in traffic.
This past Sunday evening, I drove to the convenience store 4 blocks away. As I returned, I noticed a crack in the windshield starting in the middle from the left edge and was about 12 inches long. No gravel marks were found, it had cracked for no apparent reason. Sitting the next…
Thermo Control Valve has malfunctioned. It disables all driver assistance, like lane assist, blind spot, RAB, collision braking, etc. I have seen on many forums that this is a known issue, across multiple vehicles from Subaru from 2019 to about 2021. The was a TSB put out about a…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2020 Subaru Legacy.
2020 Subaru Legacy Recalls
6 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2020 Subaru Legacy. 6 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2020 Subaru Legacy Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2020 Subaru Legacy reliable?▾
Minor Issues. NHTSA currently shows 120 owner complaints, 1 crash-related complaints, and 6 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2020 Subaru Legacy looks comparatively lower-risk based on complaint volume, but model-year averages do not confirm the condition of any specific used car. 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 Legacy?▾
#1: Visibility/Wiper (57 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (25 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (14 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2020 Subaru Legacy?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2020 Subaru Legacy?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2020 Subaru Legacy, NHTSA complaints include 1 crash-related reports and 1 fire reports out of 120 total complaints. 1 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2020 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?▾
Yes. 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2020 Subaru Legacy. A major recall area is BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION. 6 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2020 Subaru Legacy?▾
The 2020 Subaru Legacy looks comparatively lower-risk based on complaint volume, but model-year averages do not confirm the condition of any specific used car. 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 Legacy reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2020 Subaru Legacy 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.