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2020 Subaru Impreza

Gas

Midsize Cars
8 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaints2 crash · 2 fire · 2 injured reported 85

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 31 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

The 2020 Subaru Impreza is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Impreza 4-Door, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 85 complaints, most often about the visibility/wiper. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Subaru Impreza — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Subaru Impreza · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Impreza 4-Door	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	28	36	31	$2,150
Impreza 5-Door	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	28	36	31	$2,150
Impreza Sport 4-Door	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	27	36	30	$2,250
Impreza Sport 5-Door	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	27	35	30	$2,250
Impreza 4-Door	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	23	31	26	$2,600
Impreza 5-Door	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	24	31	26	$2,600
Impreza Sport 4-Door	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	23	31	26	$2,600
Impreza Sport 5-Door	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	22	30	25	$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42008, 42025, 42010, 42027, 42007, 42024, 42009, 42026.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Impreza 4-Door, Impreza 5-Door, Impreza Sport 4-Door, Impreza Sport 5-Door	6–7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Impreza 4-Door, Impreza 5-Door, Impreza Sport 4-Door, Impreza Sport 5-Door	6–7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

152 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain

AWD/All-Wheel Drive

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist

Optional: Blind-spot monitoring

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Base, Base+ES, Premium+ES, Premium+ES+BSD). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	175.6–182.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	70.1 in
Height	57.5–58.3 in
Wheelbase	105.1 in
Track, front	60.6 in
Track, rear	61.0 in
Curb weight	3,034–3,047 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	60/40

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door Sedan, 5-door Hatch. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

WRG-21

175,968 vehicles 95% reported repaired

Problem 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V587000 reported Jul 29, 2021 Subaru of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Impreza

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Subaru publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Subaru’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Subaru Impreza, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

85complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

19 per 10,000 built · Subaru reported 44,473 Impreza built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 25 · 2021: 26 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper 56

Unspecified 17

Forward Collision Avoidance 6

Service Brakes 5

Electrical System 4

Engine 3

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

While sitting in a parking spot getting ready to go into a store, the windshield suddenly cracked. It looks like it cracked at the bottom and went up about 12 to 15 inches

Visibility/Wiper at 12,200 miles Jan 21, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11389158

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the headlights became inoperable and failed to return to normal operation. The contact stated that the driver monitoring system temporarily stopped message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired.

Exterior Lighting at 1,000 miles Jan 25, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11389863

For a new car that is less than a year old,5000 mile,the chassis parts fall off during driving,which is too dangerous in motion - on a city street -turning

Suspension at 5,000 miles Dec 20, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11384263

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. After stopping the vehicle and inspecting under the hood, the engine was restarted and the vehicle operated as designed. The failure recurred on multiple occasions.

Engine at 10,000 miles Jul 29, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11342076

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and returning, the contact became aware of a crack in the windshield. The crack started on the passenger's side of the vehicle and was approximately an inch in length.

Visibility/Wiper at 800 miles Jan 4, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11386474

Today, 12/14/2020 at 430am I started my car like normal. Currently temps below 30 over night. Vehicle has a remote start system. Let the vehicle warm up, went outside and got in the vehicle. Noticed a 12 inch crack on the lower passenger side, going towards the middle. Wasn't there the day before when I parked it.

Visibility/Wiper at 7,000 miles Dec 15, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11383461

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Subaru itself: 14 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 15 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 31 per 100,000 built. Every Impreza model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 7k

miles, typically

Half the 42 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 12,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 27

10k–20k 10

20k–30k 2

30k–40k 0

40k–50k 1

50k–60k 0

60k–70k 0

70k–80k 0

80k–90k 1

90k–100k 1

100k–150k 0

150k + 0

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Visibility/Wiper	33	7,000	1.0×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2020-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2020 model years the Subaru Impreza ranks 23 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.63× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 12,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	10%
SW AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 396

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-05

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 365 service bulletins, 31 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Engine, Fuel/Propulsion System, Power Train.

11037943 Other
2026-10-05 · Electrical System
This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
11037942 Other
2026-09-28 · Power Train
This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application.
13-109-26 Service bulletin
2026-09-18 · Unknown Or Other
This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
18-244-26 Service bulletin
2026-09-18 · Electrical System
"This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
11037930 Other
2026-09-15 · Unknown Or Other
This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
15-333-25R Service bulletin
2026-09-14 · Electrical System
This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
15-322-25R Service bulletin
2026-09-14 · Electrical System
In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the CP1 & Gen 3.1 Head Unit used in the listed models and model years to (8) eight years / 150,000 miles to cover certain qualifying repairs to the infotainment audio system. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
15-304-22R Service bulletin
2026-09-14 · Electrical System
This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
B2A16 B2A16 on Subaru →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	11 bulletins
P0087 P0087 on Subaru →	Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.	Engine · Fuel pump →	7 bulletins
B2255 B2255 on Subaru →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	4 bulletins
P2404 P2404 on Subaru →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	3 bulletins
B2A20	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0016 P0016 on Subaru →	The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0017 P0017 on Subaru →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0137 P0137 on Subaru →	Downstream bank 1 oxygen sensor reading stuck low.	Electrical System · Oxygen sensor →	2 bulletins
P0138 P0138 on Subaru →	Downstream bank 1 oxygen sensor reading stuck high.	Electrical System · Oxygen sensor →	2 bulletins
P0420 P0420 on Subaru →	The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.	Engine · Catalytic converter →	2 bulletins
P0851	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0852	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 1.2%

failed emissions

3,691 initial inspections of 3,611 vehicles.

Measure	The 2020 Impreza	Every 2020 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	1.2%	2.2%	3,684
Failed the safety inspection	1.7%	1.6%	3,691
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.16%	0.19%	3,691
Miles driven a year	9,351	9,980	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	58,715	62,630	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Impreza by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 29 mpg 2026 A 0 1 29 mpg 2025 A 0 5 30 mpg 2024 B 2 32 30 mpg 2023 B 2 4 32 mpg 2022 A 1 14 32 mpg 2021 C 2 14 Do not drive 2020 this page A 1 85 31 mpg 2019 C 5 194 32 mpg 2018 C 5 151 32 mpg 2017 D 7 125 32 mpg

Common questions about the 2020 Impreza

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Subaru Impreza have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2020 Subaru Impreza. The most serious on file is 21V587000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Subaru Impreza 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (92/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

Across the 8 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Subaru Impreza, the best EPA combined figure is 31 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

Transport Canada measured it at 175.6–182.3 in long, 70.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.5–58.3 in tall, on a 105.1 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,034–3,047 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

Owners have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Impreza, most often about visibility/wiper, unspecified, forward collision avoidance. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Subaru Impreza runs 6 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

The manufacturer has filed 396 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Subaru Impreza, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-10-05. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Subaru Impreza do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Subaru Impreza failed the emissions check on 1.2% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	8 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	8 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	85	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	396	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	10 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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