2020 Subaru WRX Problems And Complaints

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Rating6.4

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Compact Sedan
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$27,495 - $42,695
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2020 Subaru Wrx Problem, Issues, Recalls and which year to avoid?

1

Recalls

0

Investigations

16

Complaints
Overall Safety Rating
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on August 7, 2024

Subaru has been catering to the mass market for a long time and the WRX has snatched the attention for its performance as well as practicality. The midsize sedan is in its third generation and maintains a good record in the market. Subaru has nominal changes in its upgraded features for its premium and limited trims that are coming under the spotlight. With a starting range of $27,495, the Subaru is quite affordable in its segment and in 2020, a recorded 21,178 units of WRX was sold. As per the report of NHTSA, the 2020 Subaru WRX has 10 complaints with 1 recall. The most common complaints were against the failure of the battery before achieving any miles. The users have also faced sudden shut down while driving the car. Other than these problems, the car is known to have good reliability but the WRX has its rivalry with the Nissan Altima, the Hyundai Sonata, and the Ford Fusion that has equal performance and reliability.

Electrical problems

  • Battery failure - the user has reported to NHTSA that the car completely powers off while driving the car. The car was used for 15 months and it reached only 2500 miles but the battery has failed four times. Soon the car was taken to the service center. The dealer stated that the car needed to be moved more. 
  • Brakes service- The user stated that the car did not apply the brake pedal while the car was driving at 40 MPH. The user also stated that the car didn't stop at the red light and it hit the lamp post. The contact was reported to the manufacturer and a complaint was filed. 
  • Wheel - The user stated that the tires which the brand is using for the car are quite risky in the snow and icy roads as they tend to slip wasily. This could be dangerous for the passengers and hence the tires were replaced by the brand at an extra charge. 

Safety Problem

  • Airbags - The contact stated that due to the failure of the brake the car hit the lamp post but the airbags were not sensitive enough to be activated at the time of the incident. The user stated that the car was at 40 mph when the incident took place. The contact reported to the manufacturer to file a complaint. 
  • Seatbelt - The user reported that the car was involved in an accident but the seat belt failed to lock. This was said to have happened due to a faulty seatbelt locking mechanism, which is a serious safety concern. Dealers resolved the issues by replacing the entire seatbelt assembly. 

Exterior problem 

  • The front windshield cracked- the user has stated that the front windshield suddenly cracked. It was also stated that the car was not hit by anything. The dealer replaced the windshield but did not state anything else regarding the issue.

Electronic problem

  • No warning lights - the user stated that the car met with an accident but the car did not alert with any warning light. The user also stated that the display was also not working while the car was in motion. This could lead to serious injury to the passenger if no alert is shown. The user filed a complaint to the manufacturer. 

2020 Wrx Recall

S. No.

Date

NHTSA ID

Issues Noticed

Additional Remarks

Remedy

1.

21st July 2022

22V522000

Rearview Image and backup light not working properly.

The backup light switch corrodes and is unable to operate hence the backup lights do not illuminate. The rear view images are also not displaying while reversing the car. 

The dealer will investigate the issue and if required it will be replaced free of charge. 

Should you buy the 2020 Subaru WXR?

The NHTSA report states that the car has 1 recall and 10 complaints but it has a great reliability test record as proven by J.D.Power. The less number of recalls is evidence that the brand makes effort to manufacture defect-free cars. The 2020 Subaru WRX provides three years warranty, or until 36,000 miles, whereas the competition like Nissan provides a warranty of 5 years. Since most of the complaints were against battery failure, it is recommended to check the battery of the WRX before buying a used car. There are lots of ups and down in the reliability graph but the WRX remains less of a gamble. Though the materials inside the car are simple, the build quality and reliability that it serves are good as compared to its rival from Nissan, making the WRX an ideal choice if youre looking for a vehicle that lasts long.. 

  • Complaints
  • Recalls
  • Investigations
  • Manufacturer Communications

August 29, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11684021

Components: 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NHTSA ID Number:
11684021

Incident Date:
August 29, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
JF1VA2E68L9

Consumer Location:
GUAYNABO, PR

Summary
The head unit started to delaminate and ghost touching

July 28, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11676691

Components: 100000 POWER TRAIN

NHTSA ID Number:
11676691

Incident Date:
July 28, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
JF1VA1N66L8

Consumer Location:
SAN ANTONIO, TX

Summary
2020 WRX: TR690 (CVT) transmission that the car came equipped with, began leaking between the engine and...

January 7, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11634545

Components: 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NHTSA ID Number:
11634545

Incident Date:
January 7, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
JF1VA2S62L9

Consumer Location:
PLANO, TX

Summary
Parasitic battery problem My car battery keeps dying on my Subaru sti 2020 after one day of not driving. ...

September 23, 2024, NHTSA ID Number: 11615911

Components: 060000 ENGINE (PWS)

NHTSA ID Number:
11615911

Incident Date:
September 23, 2024

Vehicle Identification Number:
JF1VA2E60L9

Consumer Location:
ROCHESTER, NY

Summary
I purchased the vehicle used with 33800 miles and at 34100 the engine stalled and was hard to start, once...

August 9, 2024, NHTSA ID Number: 11607625

Components: 150000 SEAT BELTS

NHTSA ID Number:
11607625

Incident Date:
August 9, 2024

Vehicle Identification Number:
JF1VA1B69L9

Consumer Location:
YAKIMA, WA

Summary
Rear passenger seatbelts fraying. My two children are sitting in the back seat, there is no warning that ...

77/100Best

Quality & Reliability

Assesses the extent of issues, glitches, and design imperfections encountered by...

88/100Best

Driving Experience

Owners' assessments regarding the vehicle's design, performance, comfort, functi...

88/100Best

Resale

CARHP's projection of depreciation, which estimates the probable decrease in the...

84/100Best

Dealership Experience

Owners' interactions with dealerships associated with this brand, encompassing b...

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