AI Damage2020 Subaru Legacy: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Subaru Legacy filed 121 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and electrical system. The maker issued 566 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 121
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 566
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 55% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 4 Forward collision avoidance 6% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 3% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 2% of all complaints
- 8 Lane departure 2% of all complaints
- Visibility: 66 complaints (55% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 12.
- Electrical system: 15 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 353.
- Powertrain: 7 complaints (6% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 72.
- Forward collision avoidance: 7 complaints (6% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Engine: 4 complaints (3% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 51.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- CVTnamed in 1 complaints
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 121 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 66 | 0 | 12 |
| Electrical system | 15 | 0 | 353 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 0 | 72 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 51 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Lane departure | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 29 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact said his wife was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated. The vehicle front bumper and hood hit in the center and were both crumpled back about six inches. The contact hit the top of his head severely damaging the windshield on the passenger side and sustained minor cuts.
While driving there is a loss of power, the battery fails, electronic components shut down and car stops. Has happened intermittently. Replaced battery. This is a significant safety issue happened on freeway near exit ramp, in parking lot in driveway, everything cuts out.
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 weld recalls.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 497 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 24% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Legacy has 73 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 121, above average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines
- This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application
- This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles
- "This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs
DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
- This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and…
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a…
This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc
(SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the CP1 & Gen 3.1 Head Unit used in the listed models and model years to (8) eight years / 150,000 miles to cover certain qualifying repairs to the…
- This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during…
This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation…
This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4 Denso CP1 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed.This is an…
- This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top…
This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on…
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
- This service bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the…
This service bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
NHTSA lists 566 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Legacy?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 121. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (13%), warning lights, check engine (10%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA lists 566 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2020 Subaru Legacy from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2020 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.