Reliable Auto DB

2020 Subaru Impreza reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Subaru Impreza holds 85 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 21 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Impreza years here — over the median of the other years, which is 9. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Fuel pump.

2012 Subaru Impreza
Photo by TTTNIS, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC0
Complaints

85

Per year

21

Recalls

1

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Visibility and wipers (52 of 85), then Service brakes (5) and Electrical system (4). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Impreza has 194 complaints, 25 per year, and the 2021 has 14 complaints, 4 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2020 Subaru Impreza. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Fuel pump 2021-07-29 · NHTSA campaign 21V587000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (85 total)

Visibility and wipers
52
Service brakes
5
Electrical system
4
Visibility
4
Air bags
3
Engine
3
Forward collision avoidance
3
Exterior lighting
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Steering
1
Structure
1
Suspension
1
Tires
1
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Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

1201925202026202112202282023620243202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The electrical system failed and battery then exploded. The vehicle is behind held at a tow yard and has been inspected by allied insurance CPI of tower federal credit union. It is available to be inspected for the time…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-06-24
  • "For the second year in a row my windshield has cracked. Nothing hit it, or happened to make it crack. Both cracks were long and coming from the bottom of the windshield under the passenger wiper blade. I noticed it…"
    Visibility and wipers · filed 2026-04-28
  • "I HAVE NOW HAD 4 WINDSHIELDS CRACK AND BREAK AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME ONE LITTLE ROCK HITS THE WINDSHIELD BOOM ANOTHER FULL REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED. EVERY TIME I GO FOR A ROAD TRIP THIS KEEPS…"
    Unknown or other, Visibility and wipers · filed 2026-02-02
  • "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"
    Air bags · filed 2026-02-01
  • "Reference complaint no.11684658 confirmed. From email from Tech representative "VDC HYDRAULIC UNIT REPLACEMENT. IT IS AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THERE ARE SENSORS INSIDE THAT MEASURE BRAKE LINE…"
    Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2025-09-27

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 Subaru Impreza 4 DR AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2020 Subaru Impreza SW AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Impreza 4-Door 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed All-wheel drive 23 31 26 MPG $2500
Impreza 4-Door 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) All-wheel drive 28 36 31 MPG $2100
Impreza 5-Door 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) All-wheel drive 28 36 31 MPG $2100
Impreza 5-Door 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed All-wheel drive 24 31 26 MPG $2500
Impreza Sport 4-Door 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) All-wheel drive 27 36 30 MPG $2150
Impreza Sport 4-Door 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed All-wheel drive 23 31 26 MPG $2500
Impreza Sport 5-Door 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed All-wheel drive 22 30 25 MPG $2600
Impreza Sport 5-Door 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) All-wheel drive 27 35 30 MPG $2150

Specs and fitment

5th generation (GK/GT), 2017–2022
Body styles Sedan, Wagon
Oil 0W-20 synthetic (2.0L; 5W-30 if 0W-20 unavailable) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 205/55R16, 205/50R17, 225/40R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 21V587000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that 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. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: 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. When NHTSA lists multiple Subaru nameplates in one campaign, the published unit count is shared across them.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Subaru Impreza Next year 2021 Subaru Impreza See every Subaru Impreza model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Subaru Impreza reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Subaru Impreza holds 85 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 21 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Impreza years here — over the median of the other years, which is 9. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Fuel pump.

What are common problems with a 2020 Subaru Impreza?

The complaints owners file most often name Visibility and wipers (52 of 85), then Service brakes (5) and Electrical system (4). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2020 Subaru Impreza more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Impreza has 194 complaints, 25 per year, and the 2021 has 14 complaints, 4 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Subaru Impreza been recalled?

The 2020 Subaru Impreza has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

Owners have filed 85 complaints about the 2020 Subaru Impreza with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Subaru Impreza get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Subaru Impreza is 28.1 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Subaru Impreza use?

US Impreza manuals specify 0W-20 synthetic for the FB 2.0L, with 5W-30 only when 0W-20 is unavailable.

What generation is the 2019 Subaru Impreza?

5th generation / GK-GT (2017-2022).

What body styles does the Subaru Impreza offer?

US Impreza generations on this site include sedan and wagon (hatchback) body styles.