- Safety
- 5
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 1
- on record
- MPG
- 21
- combined
Open recalls on record
1 safety recall. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2020 Subaru WRX
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- Owner complaints
- 17
- Complaints citing a crash
- 1
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
1 Recall on Record
These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.
Safety recalls
1 NHTSA campaign affecting this model year.
- 22V522000high
Lighting issue
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2020 Subaru WRX.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 4 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 10.1%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2020 Subaru WRX 5 out of 5 stars overall, level with the 5-star median for the 10 comparable 2020 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 10.1% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2020 Subaru WRX, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
18
City
24
Hwy
21
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $3,600
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 422 g/mi
How this compares
At 21 MPG combined, the 2020 Subaru WRX ranks 18th of 18 compact cars EPA rated for 2020 — 9 MPG short of the 30 MPG median for that group.
That places it among the thirstiest vehicles in its class. If annual mileage is high, the running-cost gap against a class-average rival compounds quickly.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $3,600, $1,525 more than the $2,075 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $18,000, a $7,625 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 422 grams per mile — about 6.3 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
17 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 17
- Total
- 1
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ENGINE4
- ELECTRICAL4
- VISIBILITY3
- OTHER2
- SEAT BELTS1
Notable Issues
17 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 1 report involves injuries. 1 report involves a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2020 Subaru WRX, newest first.
- Recall
Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Compact Cars
- Drive type
- All-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 2L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Unknown
- Transmission
- Automatic (AV-S8)
- Seats
- 0
Fuel economy
18
City
24
Hwy
21
Comb
- Annual cost
- $3,600
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Systems recalled
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Recall
Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.