The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 6 of 18 complaints (33%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 31 in 2019 to 18 in 2020.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 18
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $3,350–$4,050
- Combined MPG
- 19–23
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,350–4,300 | 3,350–4,050 | 3,350–4,050 | 3,350–4,300 | 3,500–3,700 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–23 | 19–23 | 19–23 | 18–23 | 21–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–21 / 22–27 | 17–21 / 22–27 | 16–21 / 22–27 | 16–20 / 22–27 | 19 / 25–26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 383–477 | 383–476 | 382–485 | 390–483 | 407–419 | |
| Complaints filed | 45 | 31 | 18 | 13 | 25 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru WRX have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Subaru WRX?
Electrical: 6 of 18 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Subaru WRX get?
EPA rates it 19–23 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Subaru WRX?
EPA estimates $3,350–$4,050 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 382 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 24 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 422 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $4,050 (high) | 485 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.
- Consequence
- Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.