2020 Kia Optima vs 2020 Subaru Legacy
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Kia Optima | 2020 Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 137 | 121 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 93 | 575 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–42 | 27–30 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,000 mi | 6,045 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 92 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 0 | 57 |
| Power Train | 25 | 7 |
| Electrical System | 12 | 15 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 4 |
| Visibility | 1 | 9 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 32 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 28 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 22 | 0 |
| Stalling | 15 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 12 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
2020 Kia Optima
2020 Subaru Legacy
Compare all Kia Optima vs Subaru Legacy years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.