2020 Subaru WRX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
9,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 17 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 29.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 11.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Electrical System: 5; Engine: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Power Train: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (5). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 11292092 · 2019-12-30 (December 30, 2019)
I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2020 SUBARU WRX LIMITED. I HAVE LEARNED BY INSPECTION THAT THE STANDARD OEM TIRE ON THIS VEHICLE IS A DUNLOP SPORT MAX RT. THIS IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE SUMMER TIRE. THIS CLASS OF TIRE IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BE USED IN VERY COLD WEATHER AND ESPECIALLY ON ICE AND SNOW. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED SUCH TIRES AND THEY ARE TERRIFYING ON ICE, THAT IS, DANGEROUS. I LIVE IN A AREA OF THE COUNTRY WHERE SNOW AND ICE ARE COMMON. SUBARU DID NOT INFORM ME OF THESE TIRES AND I AM NOW CONFRONTED WITH PURCHASING A NEW SET OF ALL SEASON TIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11292092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11322830 · 2020-04-30 (April 30, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE SON WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, RUNNING A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A LIGHT POST, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT STATED FIVE DAYS PRIOR HER SON WAS DRIVING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO ENGAGED WHILE COMING TO A STOP LIGHT. THE DRIVER HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO STOP T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366449 · 2020-10-26 (October 26, 2020)
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR WAS STATIONARY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11366449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11388491 · 2021-01-16 (January 16, 2021)
SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT, A LOUD POP OCCURS AND WHEN I LOOK BACK, THERE IS A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES TALL AND AT LEAST 18 INCHES WIDE. IT WAS LIKELY AN IMPLOSION. NO OBJECTS WERE FOUND NEAR, ON, OR IN THE CAR. THE WINDSHIELD CRUMBLED AFTER THAT, AS EACH ACCELERATION DROPPED MORE GLASS INSIDE THE CAR. NOTHING PROMPTED IT, JUST SITTING STATIONARY AT A STOPLIGHT. DEFROSTER WAS NOT ON, TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45 FAHRENHEIT WITH MINIMAL WIND. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 10 MINUTES. MY REAR FACING CAR SEAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11388491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11396473 · 2021-02-16 (February 16, 2021)
UPON APPLYING PARKING BRAKE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, WHICH IS BEYOND 11 CLICKS AS STATED AS REQUIRED BY SUBARU, AND THE VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE GREATER THAN 8 DEGREES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT REMAIN IN PLACE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF THE BRAKE IS REQUIRED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, IT WILL NOT EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE AS THE WHEELS ARE STILL ALLOWED TO TURN MORE FREELY THAN EXPECTED GIVEN ITS INABILITY TO HOLD THE VEHICLE ON A HILL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU TWICE EXPRESSING THE COMPLAINT AND WAS SUMMARILY DENIED SERVICE. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11396473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11417403 · 2021-05-17 (May 17, 2021)
I have owned the car for ~15 months and driven it for 2500 miles. The battery has failed four times. Each time Subaru has replaced the battery under warranty and told me that nothing is wrong and that the car simply needs to be driven more. I now see that this is a systemic problem for Subarus (e.g. https://www.torquenews.com/1084/subaru-battery-drain-lawsuit-new-claims-now-include-forester-wrx-and-legacy) A recall is needed to force Subaru to address this problem.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11417403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11447146 · 2022-01-12 (January 12, 2022)
Got in the car to drive to work and the front windshield just cracked on its own with nothing hitting it.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11447146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11449483 · 2022-01-30 (January 30, 2022)
The vehicle seems to randomly die and bog out then all of the lights appear on the dash, I myself had to pay out of pocket for a new battery because autonation subaru arapahoe in colorado decided not to check it like I had asked and after getting my car back the issue was still there which is why I replaced it today. not only this but they sold me a highly modified vehicle without disclosing any of that info to me in the sale process.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11449483 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
22V522000 · Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights:Switch
Reported: 2022-07-21 (July 21, 2022)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.
Consequence: Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.
NHTSA campaign record ↗