Subaru Legacy problems by model year

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

NHTSA has 850 owner complaints and 50 recalls on file for the Subaru Legacy (2005–2025). The 2017 Legacy has the most serious complaints, most often about visibility & wipers.

Complaints
850
Recalls
50
Model years
21
Worst year
2017

Complaints by model year

1820055820071517200929372011241620131759201591972017901082019121312021341020231762025
NHTSA complaints per Subaru Legacy model year. Click a bar for details.

Newer model years have had less time on the road, so they naturally have fewer complaints. Compare a year against its neighbors rather than against brand-new models.

Worst Subaru Legacy years to buy

Ranked by our severity-weighted complaint score (crashes, fires and injuries count extra — how it works).

  1. 2017 Subaru Legacy — 97 complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fire; top problem: Visibility & Wipers
  2. 2020 Subaru Legacy — 121 complaints, 1 crash, 1 fire; top problem: Visibility & Wipers
  3. 2018 Subaru Legacy — 90 complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fire; top problem: Electrical System
  4. 2019 Subaru Legacy — 108 complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fire; top problem: Visibility & Wipers
  5. 2015 Subaru Legacy — 59 complaints, 5 crashes, 1 fire; top problem: Electrical System

Fewest serious complaints among years at least 3 years old: 2006 (5 complaints).

Every Subaru Legacy model year

YearComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesRecallsTop problem
2025 Legacy60010Engine
2024 Legacy171100Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
2023 Legacy102002Airbags
2022 Legacy344112Visibility & Wipers
2021 Legacy310013Visibility & Wipers
2020 Legacy1211116Visibility & Wipers
2019 Legacy1082103Visibility & Wipers
2018 Legacy906113Electrical System
2017 Legacy976162Visibility & Wipers
2016 Legacy913013Electrical System
2015 Legacy595143Electrical System
2014 Legacy1711010Electrical System
2013 Legacy1600012Transmission & Drivetrain
2012 Legacy2410016Transmission & Drivetrain
2011 Legacy3710116Transmission & Drivetrain
2010 Legacy2920118Engine
2009 Legacy1710013Brakes
2008 Legacy150108Brakes
2007 Legacy80108Engine
2006 Legacy50007Wheels & Tires
2005 Legacy180008Brakes

Most common Subaru Legacy problem areas (all years)

  • Visibility & Wipers
    217 complaints
  • Electrical System
    206 complaints
  • Engine
    81 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    77 complaints
  • Brakes
    69 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    50 complaints
  • Airbags
    37 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    28 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    27 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    26 complaints

Complaint trend

2020202120222023202420252026
Complaints about the Subaru Legacy received by NHTSA each month.

Subaru Legacy recalls

  • Recall 24V227000Mar 22, 2024118,723 vehiclesModel years 2020–2022

    Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

  • Recall 23V755000Nov 9, 202395,830 vehiclesModel years 2021–2023

    Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 23V647000Sep 21, 20234,311 vehiclesModel years 2023

    Risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 22V485000Jul 8, 2022182 vehiclesModel years 2020–2021

    Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 21V955000Dec 9, 2021198,255 vehiclesModel years 2020

    Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 21V587000Jul 29, 2021175,968 vehiclesModel years 2018–2020

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 20V766000Dec 10, 20207,741 vehiclesModel years 2020

    Risk: The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.

  • Recall 20V218000Apr 16, 2020188,207 vehiclesModel years 2019

    Risk: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 20V001000Jan 2, 2020258,813 vehiclesModel years 2005–2014

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 20V003000Jan 2, 2020111,562 vehiclesModel years 2005–2014

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 20V002000Jan 2, 2020127,547 vehiclesModel years 2005–2014

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 19V664000Sep 18, 20193,467 vehiclesModel years 2020

    Risk: A missing or loose bolt may cause the brake pedal mounting area to deform over time, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 19V493000Jun 26, 20192,107 vehiclesModel years 2019

    Risk: In the event of a crash, the reduced strength of the vehicle body may increase the risk of injury.

  • Recall 19V297000Apr 11, 2019511 vehiclesModel years 2005–2014

    Risk: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

  • Recall 19V007000Jan 9, 201943,394 vehiclesModel years 2010–2014

    Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 19V009000Jan 9, 2019452,630 vehiclesModel years 2010–2014

    Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 19V008000Jan 9, 2019330,120 vehiclesModel years 2010–2014

    Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 18V935000Dec 31, 201871,190 vehiclesModel years 2018

    Risk: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.

  • Recall 18V773000Nov 1, 2018228,648 vehiclesModel years 2018

    Risk: The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 18V626000Sep 13, 201827,175 vehiclesModel years 2010–2014

    Risk: A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 18V012000Jan 9, 201864,179 vehiclesModel years 2009–2013

    Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 18V014000Jan 9, 201872,150 vehiclesModel years 2009

    Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 18V013000Jan 9, 201893,209 vehiclesModel years 2009–2010

    Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 17V026000Jan 11, 201769,529 vehiclesModel years 2009

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 17V014000Jan 10, 201753,480 vehiclesModel years 2009–2012

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Other Subaru models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. Methodology