2020 Subaru WRX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2020 Subaru WRX has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: i have owned the car for ~15 months and driven it for 2500 miles. the battery has failed four times. each time subaru has replaced the battery under warranty and told me that nothing is wrong and that the car simply needs to be driven more. i now see that this is a systemic problem for subarus (e.

2 crash reports 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

22%

• I have owned the car for ~15 months and driven it for 2500 miles. The battery has failed four times. Each time Subaru has replaced the battery under warranty and told me that nothing is wrong and that the car simply needs to be driven more. I now see that this is a systemic problem for Subarus (e
• The vehicle seems to randomly die and bog out then all of the lights appear on the dash, I myself had to pay out of pocket for a new battery because autonation subaru arapahoe in colorado decided not to check it like I had asked and after getting my car back the issue was still there which is why I
• Have had this car since late 2019 around November and it is now 2022 and I'm at 25k miles in my battery is already failing I have had it tested and the cold cranking amps are why below where they should be causing the car not be able to start at time . I've had other car batteries that lasted long

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I have owned the car for ~15 months and driven it for 2500 miles. The battery has failed four times. Each time Subaru has replaced the battery under warranty and told me that nothing is wrong and that the car simply needs to be driven more. I now see that this is a systemic problem for Subarus (e”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

3 complaints

13%

• WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR WAS STATIONARY.
• SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT, A LOUD POP OCCURS AND WHEN I LOOK BACK, THERE IS A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES TALL AND AT LEAST 18 INCHES WIDE. IT WAS LIKELY AN IMPLOSION. NO OBJECTS WERE FOUND NEAR, ON, OR IN THE CAR. THE WINDSHIELD CRUMBLED AFTER THAT, AS EACH
• Got in the car to drive to work and the front windshield just cracked on its own with nothing hitting it.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR WAS STATIONARY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

3 complaints

13%

• The vehicle seems to randomly die and bog out then all of the lights appear on the dash, I myself had to pay out of pocket for a new battery because autonation subaru arapahoe in colorado decided not to check it like I had asked and after getting my car back the issue was still there which is why I
• I purchased the vehicle used with 33800 miles and at 34100 the engine stalled and was hard to start, once started it was knocking severely. I have seen a class action law suit based on the same issues but the 2020 model year is not included
• The contact owns a 2020 Subaru WRX. The contact stated that while the transmission was shifted into neutral (N), the instrument panel displayed that the transmission was shifted in reverse (R), and the rearview camera image was displayed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact s

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“The vehicle seems to randomly die and bog out then all of the lights appear on the dash, I myself had to pay out of pocket for a new battery because autonation subaru arapahoe in colorado decided not to check it like I had asked and after getting my car back the issue was still there which is why I ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE SON WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, RUNNING A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A LIGHT POST, T
• Rear passenger seatbelts fraying. My two children are sitting in the back seat, there is no warning that my seatbelts were frayed putting their life at risk! Took the car to the dealership to have them check what is going on with the seatbelt mechanism, they said “there is no mechanical issue, there

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE SON WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, RUNNING A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A LIGHT POST, T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE SON WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, RUNNING A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A LIGHT POST, T
• UPON APPLYING PARKING BRAKE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, WHICH IS BEYOND 11 CLICKS AS STATED AS REQUIRED BY SUBARU, AND THE VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE GREATER THAN 8 DEGREES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT REMAIN IN PLACE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF THE BRAKE IS REQUIRED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, IT WILL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 23 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: I have owned the car for ~15 months and driven it for 2500 miles. The battery has failed four times. Each time Subaru has replaced the battery under warranty and told me that nothing is wrong and that the car simply needs to be driven more. I now see that this is a systemic problem for Subarus (e
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR WAS STATIONARY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: The vehicle seems to randomly die and bog out then all of the lights appear on the dash, I myself had to pay out of pocket for a new battery because autonation subaru arapahoe in colorado decided not to check it like I had asked and after getting my car back the issue was still there which is why I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE SON WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, RUNNING A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A LIGHT POST, T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)