2020 Subaru LEGACY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
121 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
5,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 57 of 121 complaints (47.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.4% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 6.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 57 |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
Visibility/Wiper: 57; Unknown Or Other: 26; Electrical System: 15; Visibility:Windshield: 8; Power Train: 7; Engine: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 47 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 47; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 69 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2021 | 42 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2020: 28; 2021: 42; 2022: 22; 2023: 15; 2024: 7; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11309876 · 2020-02-18 (February 18, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE FRACTURES TO THE WINDSHIELD IN THREE SEPARATE PLACES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11309876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318721 · 2020-03-19 (March 19, 2020)
MY LEGACY HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARENT REASON
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11318721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11322839 · 2020-04-30 (April 30, 2020)
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES INWARD WHEN STATIONARY. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY ROCK CHIPS OR HIT MARKS. JUST SPLIT AND CHIPPED ON ITS OWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325715 · 2020-05-24 (May 24, 2020)
AS I WAS GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE WINDSHIELD WAS STRUCK BY A ROCK AND LEFT A DECENT SIZED CHIP. AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY, THE CRACKS BEGAN AND GOT LONGER EVERYTIME I LOOKED AT IT. IT GOES RIGHT IN THE VIEW OF THE RIGHT EYESIGHT CAMERA. I HAVE REVIEWED PLENTY OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH CRACKS FORMING IN SUBARU'S WINDSHIELDS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325871 · 2020-05-25 (May 25, 2020)
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.*DT CONSUMER STATED CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD IS 8 INCHES LONGER NOW.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11328401 · 2020-06-11 (June 11, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD EXHIBITED A CRACKED LINE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329868 · 2020-06-21 (June 21, 2020)
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER PAYING TO HAVE THE SIDE WINDOWS TINTED (THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT ALTERED) THERE WAS A LOUD POP. THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY SPLIT IN TWO WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE LESS THAN 300 MILES ON MY CAR AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T FIT A BUSINESS CARD COMPLETELY THROUGH IT. ALSO, THIS WINDSHIELD IS OVER 1000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND "CALIBRATE" BECAUSE THE DRIVE FOCUS FEATURE ONLY WORKS WITH THE SUBARU WINDSHIELD, SO I MUST RETURN TO TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11330433 · 2020-06-23 (June 23, 2020)
A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AT LOW SPEED AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD 3 FEET. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330433 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V664000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
Reported: 2019-09-18 (September 18, 2019)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V766000 · Back Over Prevention:Display Function
Reported: 2020-12-10 (December 10, 2020)
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."
Consequence: The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V587000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2021-07-29 (July 29, 2021)
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.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V955000 · Power Train:Driveline:Chain/Belt | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Reported: 2021-12-09 (December 9, 2021)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V485000 · Power Train:Driveline:Chain/Belt | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Reported: 2022-07-08 (July 8, 2022)
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.
Consequence: 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 campaign record ↗24V227000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
Reported: 2024-03-22 (March 22, 2024)
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.
Consequence: 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 campaign record ↗