Recalls
6campaigns
2 power train · 1 air bag · 1 fuel pump
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
121filed
Owner reports, 2016–2025 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Crash tests
5★overall
★★★★★ Frontal 5★ · Side 5★ · Rollover 5★
Source: NHTSA NCAP
Fuel economy
30mpg combined
$2,177/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
2.5 L 4-cyl· AV-S8 CVT
2 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (6)
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2020 Subaru Legacy. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2020 Subaru Legacy. Not checked against your VIN.
Air Bag May Not Deploy
Air bags · sensor · occupant classification · front passenger
Official NHTSA text
- 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.
66.2% repairedof 118,723 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 24V227000
Listed for 2020 Subaru Legacy. Not checked against your VIN.
Drive Chain May Break Causing Loss of Drive Power
Power train · automatic transmission · control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Official NHTSA text
- 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 is WRK-22. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-955.
78% repairedof 182 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 22V485000
Listed for 2020 Subaru Legacy. Not checked against your VIN.
Drive Chain May Break Causing Loss of Drive Power
Power train · automatic transmission · control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Official NHTSA text
- 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-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.
96.6% repairedof 198,255 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V955000
Listed for 2020 Subaru Legacy. Not checked against your VIN.
Fuel Pump May Fail
Fuel system, gasoline · delivery · fuel pump
Official NHTSA text
- 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.
95.1% repairedof 175,968 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V587000
Listed for 2020 Subaru Legacy. Not checked against your VIN.
Rearview Camera may Shut Down/FMVSS 111
Back over prevention · display function
Official NHTSA text
- 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.
99.3% repairedof 7,741 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 20V766000
Listed for 2020 Subaru Legacy. Not checked against your VIN.
Loose or Missing Brake Pedal Mounting Bracket Bolt
Service brakes, hydraulic · pedals and linkages
Official NHTSA text
- 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.
99.9% repairedof 3,467 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 19V664000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (121)
121 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The visibility/wiper is mentioned most often.
1involved a crash
1involved a fire
1injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 121 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 57 | 47.1% |
| Unknown or other | 26 | 21.5% |
| Electrical system | 15 | 12.4% |
| Visibility | 9 | 7.4% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 5.8% |
| Power train | 7 | 5.8% |
| Engine | 4 | 3.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 3.3% |
| Lane departure | 2 | 1.7% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1.7% |
How 2020 compares with other Legacy years
Best and worst Legacy years →2016147
2017119
2018117
2019123
2020121
202131
202234
202310
202417
20256
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 147 | 3 |
| 2017 | 119 | 2 |
| 2018 | 117 | 3 |
| 2019 | 123 | 3 |
| 2020 | 121 | 6 |
| 2021 | 31 | 3 |
| 2022 | 34 | 2 |
| 2023 | 10 | 2 |
| 2024 | 17 | 0 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 |
This year (2020)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 10.1%★★★★★
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Subaru Legacy 4 dr awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 30 mpg combined
30
mpg combined
27
city
35
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,250
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 295 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
$2,177per year
$181per month
500gallons a year
Miles ÷ 30 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 27 / 35 / 30 | $2,250 | 295 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 24 / 32 / 27 | $2,500 | 330 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2020 Legacy for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2020 Subaru Legacy FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru Legacy have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns: 24V227000 (air bag), 22V485000 (power train), 21V955000 (power train), 21V587000 (fuel pump), 20V766000 (rear camera), 19V664000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Subaru Legacy problems?
Owners filed 121 complaints with NHTSA. Visibility/wiper (57), Unknown or other (26), Electrical system (15) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2020 Subaru Legacy get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT version at 27 city, 35 highway and 30 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2020 Subaru Legacy get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Subaru Legacy 4 dr awd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (10.1% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 Legacy compare with other years?
Among the 2016–2021 Subaru Legacy model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (31) and the 2016 the most (147). The 2020 drew 121. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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