2020 Subaru Legacy: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2020 Subaru Legacy at 27–30 mpg combined across 2 versions. NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 121 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
6
EPA combined mpg
27–30
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Subaru dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2020 Subaru Legacy recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 6 safety recalls for the 2020 Subaru Legacy, newest first.
Air bags: Sensor: Occupant classification: Front passenger
NHTSA 24V227000Reported Mar 22, 2024
Filed by
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WRA-24)
Units affected
118,723 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Power train: Driveline: Chain/belt and 1 more component
NHTSA 22V485000Reported Jul 8, 2022
Filed by
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WRK-22)
Components
Power train: Driveline: Chain/belt; Power train: Automatic transmission: Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Units affected
182 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Power train: Driveline: Chain/belt and 1 more component
NHTSA 21V955000Reported Dec 9, 2021
Filed by
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WRK-21)
Components
Power train: Driveline: Chain/belt; Power train: Automatic transmission: Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Units affected
198,255 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WRG-21)
Units affected
175,968 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WRH-20)
Units affected
7,741 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WUL-97)
Units affected
3,467 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
Advertisement
2020 Subaru Legacy fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2020 Subaru Legacy crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2020 Subaru Legacy NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2020 Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
10.1%
Standard
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
Advertisement
2020 Subaru Legacy owner complaints
Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Legacy, most recently on Jun 20, 2026. 1 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2020 Subaru Legacy complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Visibility/wiper
57
Unknown or other
26
Electrical system
15
Visibility: Windshield
8
Power train
7
Engine
4
Forward collision avoidance: Warnings
4
Vehicle speed control
3
Forward collision avoidance: Adaptive cruise control
