2020 Subaru Legacy Safety Report
2020 SUBARU LEGACY Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2020 Subaru Legacy
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2020 Subaru Legacy. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (6) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (119) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 2 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Visibility/Wiper | Compare visibility/wiper issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2023 | Compare against the 2023 Subaru Legacy with 8 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2017 | Check the 2017 Subaru Legacy before buying across this generation. |
Subaru Legacy Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Subaru Legacy years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Subaru Legacy | 30 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Subaru Legacy | 118 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2022 Subaru Legacy | 30 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Subaru Legacy | 111 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2023 Subaru Legacy | 8 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Subaru Legacy | 118 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2020 Subaru Legacy Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2020 Subaru Legacy, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Visibility/Wiper
50 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other
20 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyVisibility
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility issues Subaru onlyElectrical System
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Subaru onlyPower Train
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other,Visibility/Wiper
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2020 Subaru Legacy
Reliability Score
The 2020 Subaru Legacy receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2020 Subaru Legacy
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2020 Subaru Legacy
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2020 Subaru Legacy:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bag Sensor Issues Subaru is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles due to air bag sensor issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brake Pedal And Linkages Subaru is recalling certain 2020 Outback and Legacy vehicles due to service brake pedal and linkages problems. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Spontaneous Windshield Cracks Multiple owners have reported spontaneous windshield cracks within 6 to 9 months. |
High | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Sunroof Explosions A sunroof exploded spontaneously while traveling on a freeway, posing a significant safety risk. |
High | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2020 Subaru Legacy:
Front driver and front passenger’s side power windows have failed during inclement weather.
Transmission control module failures have been reported in 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles.
Fuel pump defects have been identified in 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, and 2018-2020 Legacy vehicles.
Thermo control valve defects have been reported in 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2020 Subaru Legacy
The following 6 recalls have been issued for the 2020 Subaru Legacy by NHTSA:
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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-8...
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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 Complaint Summaries for the 2020 Subaru Legacy
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2020 Subaru Legacy with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
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. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the contact was informed that there was debris in the slides inside the windows, ...
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 lights or sounds indicating any problems prior to this. The car burned very quickly and the firefighters extinguished the fir...
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 close.
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 highway in a heavy rain. It has happened several times. Subaru knows of this problem and has a technical bulletin about i...
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 reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experie...
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 to 12-14 inches across the drivers side The car is parked in my driveway
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 rear auto-braking not working. Specific to my case, the front and rear collision warning systems are off, auto lane departu...
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 and some other parts. The check engine light came on when I started the car the night of Dec 22, 2023. At this time, the...
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 car, the check engine light and a bunch of other warning lights came on. An OBDI scan showed a code of "P263A" indicatin...
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 they diagnosed the two rear failed wheel bearings. My question is how can both wheel bearings fail at only 20k and is t...
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 complete sidewall.
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 (Bob Moore Subaru of Oklahoma City) that it is part #61041AN00A that requires replacement.
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 night in the garage, the crack increased about 6 more inches by the next morning. Filed claim with my insurance and was...
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 new and improved part to fix this known issue.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that there was a crack on the front windshield that was not caused by an impact. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the front windshield was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the contact would receive a callback. The failure mileage was 8,000.
Showing 20 of 119 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2020 Subaru Legacy
Has the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY been recalled?
Yes, the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY has 6 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY have?
The 2020 SUBARU LEGACY has 119 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY?
The 2020 SUBARU LEGACY received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY involve visibility/wiper (50 complaints), unknown or other (20 complaints), visibility (9 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, power train, unknown or other,visibility/wiper.
How many crash reports does the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY out of 119 total complaints (0.8% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY out of 119 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY.
How many injuries are reported for the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2020 SUBARU LEGACY?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY is acceptable with caveats. It has 119 complaints, 6 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY?
The components with the most failures on the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY are: 1. VISIBILITY/WIPER (50 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (20 complaints), 3. VISIBILITY (9 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (9 complaints), 5. POWER TRAIN (6 complaints). VISIBILITY/WIPER is the single most-reported problem area with 50 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2020 SUBARU LEGACY?
Be cautious of visibility and electrical issues, and check for recalls related to air bags, service brakes, and spontaneous windshield cracks. The 2020 SUBARU LEGACY has 119 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY?
The 2020 SUBARU LEGACY receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 119 owner complaints, 6 recalls, and 2 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Air Bag Sensor Issues and Service Brake Pedal and Linkages.
What are the known issues with the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY?
Known issues with the 2020 SUBARU LEGACY include: Air Bag Sensor Issues, Service Brake Pedal and Linkages, Spontaneous Windshield Cracks, Sunroof Explosions. These are based on patterns found across 119 NHTSA complaints. 6 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2020 Subaru Legacy?
Yes, there are recalls for air bag sensor issues and service brake pedal and linkages problems.
What are the common electrical system issues?
Common issues include power window failures, transmission control module failures, and fuel pump defects.
Have there been any reports of spontaneous windshield cracks?
Yes, multiple owners have reported spontaneous windshield cracks within 6 to 9 months.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of visibility and electrical issues, and check for recalls related to air bags, service brakes, and spontaneous windshield cracks.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2020 Subaru Legacy
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2020 Subaru Legacy. The data includes 119 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 6 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2020 Subaru Legacy an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16