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2020 Subaru Impreza problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
4%
3 of 85 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Subaru Impreza. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 4% of relevant complaints.

Better than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2020 Subaru Impreza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 3 of 85 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Impreza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (4%). For comparison, the 2019 scores 13%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
3
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
85
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
2 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

VISIBILITY/WIPER52 · 61%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER17 · 20%
SERVICE BRAKES5 · 6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4 · 5%
VISIBILITY4 · 5%
AIR BAGS3 · 4%

The years either side

2010
50%
20 of 46
2011
38%
15 of 57
2012
57%
79 of 243
2013
57%
96 of 249
2014
42%
29 of 108
2015
33%
23 of 79
2016
27%
17 of 75
2017
24%
20 of 125
2018
13%
11 of 151
2019
13%
17 of 194
2020
4%
3 of 85
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2020 Subaru Impreza

What one owner reported

ENGINE05/29/2025
White smoke mechanic claims oil mixed with the antifreeze. And stated that the engine needed to be replaced.

One of 3 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Subaru Impreza involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump21V587000 · Jul 2021

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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2020 Subaru Impreza? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2020 Subaru Impreza

Does the 2020 Subaru Impreza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 3 of 85 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Impreza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (4%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Subaru Impreza involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 21V587000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Subaru Impreza years are better?

The 2020 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Subaru Impreza years we track (4%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2020 Subaru Impreza?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Subaru Impreza shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.