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..