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2020 Subaru Legacy
Common Problems

Ranked from 73 federal NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

4
High severity
1
Medium

5 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Windshield spontaneous cracking

    52complaints
    High severityOther

    The windshield spontaneously cracks without any apparent cause or impact.

  2. 2

    Battery issues leading to complete discharge

    20complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The battery discharges completely, causing the vehicle to fail to start and requiring jump starts.

  3. 3

    Electrical system failures causing vehicle shutdown

    8complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The vehicle experiences unexpected shutdowns and requires jump starts.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 15 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  4. 4

    Engine overheating and failure

    2complaints
    High severityEngine

    The engine overheats due to a faulty thermo control valve, potentially leading to engine damage and fire.

    $150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 16 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  5. 5

    Transmission issues leading to vehicle acceleration

    2complaints
    High severityTransmission

    The continuously variable transmission (CVT) chain may slip or break, causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 18 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

    Related recalls: 21V955000, 22V485000

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.

2020 Subaru Legacy Problems & Recalls | WrenchConnect