2020 Subaru Legacy: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the wipers and visibility, electrical, and transmission. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020- Owner complaints
- 121
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes reported
- 1
- 1 injury
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Subaru Legacy: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Legacy is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Subaru Legacy. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | AWD | 27 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD | 30 mpg |
- The 2020 Subaru Legacy was sold in two versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Legacy that averages well under the EPA 27 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Spontaneous windshield cracking
2,000–27,482 miles
Thermo control valve failure
33,000–55,500 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Subaru Legacy, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Wipers and visibility61No crashes
Windshields crack with no impact, often with a loud pop while driving or overnight while parked, sometimes after freezing weather. Cracks usually start at a lower edge or near the frame and grow several inches within days. Several owners report a second crack after the glass was replaced. Small rock chips also spread unusually fast, and some cracks cross the view of the EyeSight cameras. Dealers often refuse warranty coverage, so owners pay out of pocket or file insurance claims. Reports come from very low mileage up to about 18,000 miles.
Windshields crack without impact, either while driving at low speed or discovered on getting into the car. Cracks tend to start at the base or lower center and spread into the driver's view. Repeat failures after replacement are common, including one owner on a fourth windshield. Dealer responses vary: some replace the glass, others blame a rock chip or bill the owner. Reported mileage runs from 2,000 to 27,482. Separately, front power windows fail to close automatically in bad weather. One dealer blamed debris in the window slides, and the problem came back after the repair.
Electrical14No crashes
Batteries drain until the car will not start, after sitting overnight or even a short wait with the radio on. Some die again after a jump start and a long drive, and one stalled in an intersection when auto start/stop shut the engine off. The infotainment unit freezes or reboots, taking the radio, climate controls, USB power and EyeSight driver aids with it. Thermo control valve failures also shut off driver assistance. Front windows can refuse to close in heavy rain. One fire report describes smoke from under the hood on the highway with no warning, then the car burning.
Transmission7No crashes
Thermo control valve failures, also described as a bad coolant bypass valve, turn on the check engine light. They also cut EyeSight, cruise control and cabin heat. One repair cost $1,066 at 55,500 miles. Other reports describe jerking or surging under load that gets worse over time, a loud drone from failed rear wheel bearings, and a transmission that would not shift while the gear selector stopped working. One car accelerated on its own in a parking space. Another owner describes waiting months at the dealer for a transmission software fix.
Acceleration and cruise control31 crash
The car suddenly loses power at highway speed, with warning lights across the dash and speed capped around 25 to 30 mph. Restarting sometimes clears it, but one owner reports three episodes within six months, and shifting into park can fail during an event. A crash report describes sudden acceleration at parking-lot speed that sent the car over a curb into a tree, injuring a passenger, with no airbag deployment. Both patterns raise a real risk of losing control in traffic.
Brakes2No crashes
Two different brake faults show up in these reports. In one, the brake pedal sticks and stops working, so far only at startup and not while driving, but repeated. In the other, the car slows on its own at highway speed in rush-hour traffic while the emergency braking warning lights flash, then speeds back up without driver input. Unexpected slowing on a busy highway raises the risk of being rear-ended.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Legacy owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Windshield cracked for no reason while driving. Nothing hit the windshield. Car was slowly turning with no other car in front of it. There was a loud pop sound and the windshield was cracked on the driver side. Called dealership, and they said a self cracking windshield is not covered under warranty. Only 18,000 miles on the car. Will have to go through insurance until this is finally a recall.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2021
April 29, 2021 I went to drive my car and found my windshield cracked. I didn't hear anything hit the windshield the night before, but there was a 4 inch crack in the windshield when I went to drive to work. It continued to crack until I could get it replaced which ended up being about 10-12 inches a week later when I could finally get it replaced.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2021
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.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
The battery for the Subaru Legacy Limited will not keep a charge. As a result the battery dies and the car will not start. On four occasions the car had to be jump started. After each jump start the car was left running for up to an hour. The next day, the battery was completely discharged and starting the engine was not possible.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2021
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 there a potential for a system wide recall? Thanks
Filed with NHTSA, December 2023
How the 2020 compares with other Legacy years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 Legacy years, about 2.5 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Wipers and visibility6114
- Electrical1412
- Transmission70
- Acceleration and cruise control31
- Brakes20
Where the 2020 fits in the Legacy's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the sixth model year of the Legacy's sixth generation (2015–2020).
Recalls to confirm (6)
Recall repairs are free at any Subaru dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
24V227000AirbagsMar 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.
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.
22V485000TransmissionJul 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.
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.
21V955000TransmissionDec 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.
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.
21V587000Fuel systemJul 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.
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.
20V766000Backup cameraDec 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.".
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.
19V664000BrakesSep 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.
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.
Also looking at these instead of a Legacy?
Cars shoppers compare with the Subaru Legacy, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
- 2020 Subaru Legacy121
- Kia Optima138
- Nissan Altima162
- Hyundai Sonata163
- Chevrolet Malibu178
- Toyota Camry253
- Honda Accord344
