KnownCarProblems2020 Subaru Legacy Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Legacy, most often about the visibility and wipers (55% of complaints, typically around 5,500 miles). It is 7th of 26 Legacy model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2020 Subaru Legacy problems
Visibility and wipers
66 complaints · 55%Half of these problems showed up before 5,500 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, power window devices and controls.
Left home to take my wife to work at 7:45 am on august 7, 2020 in a loaner car supplied to US by maple hill Subaru of kalamazoo michigan while our 2015 Subaru was having emissions and recall work being performed on it. We had traveled a few miles southbound when we approached a four way stop where we made a left to…
My windshield has cracked so easily and is very prone to damage. My windshield currently is cracked over 3/4 of the surface area. And it continues to grow. It has been the weakest windshield I have ever had on a vehicle. I am scared to get it changed out because I want to make sure it's not from the same manufacturer…
Other or unspecified
26 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 2,000 miles.
My Legacy was 4 months old, when a spontaneous crack appeared in the windshield. The crack is thinner than a human hair. It's not round like, the common rock chip. Just a very, very fine crack. Consumer stated crack on the windshield is 8 inches longer now.
The built in display/infotainment by default will display weather warnings for an area around the current location of the vehicle. When these are displayed, the rest of the display is not usable until an "ok" button is touched on the display. When this first happened on our vehicle, multiple tropical storm warnings…
Electrical
15 complaints · 12%Radio and control unit randomly restarts and freezes, affecting the radio from working, the vehicle control and driving assistance options, and the two usb ports which are the only power sources in the vehicle from working correctly. I have no audio and cannot reset the radio and cannot change vehicle control…
Transmission
7 complaints · 6%My car begins to jerk or pulsate, as if power is being applied and removed quickly, while the car is under load. I first noticed this problem while driving up long inclines on the interstate. Then, I noticed it while accelerating from relatively slow speed to highway speeds. Today, while driving on a level highway…
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while in a parking space with her foot on the brake pedal and the transmission in drive(d), the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle drove over the parking median; however, she managed to stop the vehicle…
Driver assistance
7 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: warnings, adaptive cruise control, assist, automatic emergency braking.
Crack appeared in front windshield on passenger side at approximately mid-height on the windshield. No sign of impact from foreign object and vehicle had not been driven for 2 days before the crack was noticed. Crack originated from the very edge of the seal and spread over the next couple weeks.
Driving home when I notice what I thought was a big hit the window. Slowed to the light and I notice it was actually a small round crack in my glass so I pull in the walgreens lot to see what could of happen. By the time I parked and opened my door I saw the crack had made its way all the way down my window, so I left…
Speed control
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Traveling approximately 50 MPH all the warning lights displayed and the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder. Unable to put it in park. Turned it off and on a couple of times before it would go into park. Drove it to the dealer but it wouldn't go more than 30 MPH. This has happened three…
I was driving on a four lane section going uphill on us50 in california where the speed limit is approximately 60 miles per hour. The car suddenly slowed down to approximately 25 to 30 MPH. All attempts to increase the speed to 55 to 60 MPH failed. I safely pull over and stopped the car and turned it off. It was…
Engine
4 complaints · 3%
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2020 Subaru Legacy recalls
Air bags: front passenger
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: chain/belt
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: chain/belt
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 24, 2021. Subaru and toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is wrg-21.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 ascent, 2018 forester, 2018-2020 impreza, legacy, outback, 2018-2019 brz, wrx, and toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Backup camera: display function
Risk: The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software and, if necessary, replace the cockpit control module, free of charge. The recall began january 22, 2021. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is wrh-20.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2020 legacy and outback vehicles equipped with "high" grade and "mid" grade multimedia navigation. The august 2020 over-the-air software update may have timed out without completing the installation, corrupting the data, and causing the rearview display to shutoff intermittently. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Brakes: pedals and linkages
Risk: A missing or loose bolt may cause the brake pedal mounting area to deform over time, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal mounting bracket hardware and replace the hardware or brake pedal assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began october 1, 2019. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is wul-97.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2020 outback and legacy vehicles. The brake pedal mounting bracket may have a missing or insufficiently tightened bolt.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2020 Subaru Legacy
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Legacy?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (66 complaints, typically around 5,500 miles); other or unspecified (26 complaints, typically around 2,000 miles); electrical (15 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru Legacy have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 22, 2024 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2020 a bad year for the Subaru Legacy?
- It is 7th of 26 Legacy model years by number of complaints, with 121 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.