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2020 Subaru Impreza

Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

85 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 12, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Visibility & wipers problems dominate (66% of complaints, typically reported near 3k miles).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)88
Severity (30%)83
Recall load (20%)95
Trend (10%)85

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20192026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2020 Subaru Impreza, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miVisibility & wipers~3k mi · 56 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Brakes (5)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Visibility & wipers

66%

56 complaints · typically near 3k mi · 3 in the last 2 years

While car was parked. Front windshield developed crack in the lower mid section of windshield. There was no damage to windshield that would have resulted in cracking. …

Brakes

6%

5 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

The Eye Sight warning system is activated occasionally and VDC is cut off. The dealer diagnosed code C1742, and recommended replacing the control unit due to a pressur…

Electrical system

5%

4 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

On 3 separate occasions since I've had my car, it has powered off completely without warning while driving. This is very dangerous could cause a severe accident or dea…

Airbags

4%

3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

I got into an accident going 60 miles an hour I crash into a guardrail totaled the car but no airbags deployed I broke my wrist and dislocated my thumb

Recalls (1)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Fuel System, Gasoline · 21V587000

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.

Fix: 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.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2020 Subaru IMPREZA beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2020? See how every Impreza model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2020 Subaru Impreza against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2020 Subaru Impreza as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.