Subaru Legacy Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
Avoid the 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020 Subaru Legacy years; they carry the highest complaint indexes (95, 85, 100, 80, 75, and 90) and heavy recall counts. The 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025 model years rank Best, with complaint indexes as low as 0 and 5.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2010Avoid 2011Avoid 2015Avoid 2016Avoid 2017Avoid 2020Best 2021Best 2023Best 2024Best 2025
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,842
- Recall campaigns
- 52
- Crashes reported
- 108
- Fires reported
- 25
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
Legacy Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Subaru Legacy problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Caution | 70 | 184 | 11 | 4 | 9 | Engine | 21 | — |
| 2006 | Good | 45 | 87 | 6 | 1 | 7 | Engine | 21 | — |
| 2007 | Caution | 10 | 33 | 1 | 4 | 9 | Airbags | 21 | — |
| 2008 | Caution | 30 | 65 | 3 | 1 | 9 | Airbags | 20.5 | — |
| 2009 | Caution | 50 | 65 | 3 | 1 | 13 | Airbags | 20.5 | — |
| 2010 | Avoid | 95 | 150 | 10 | 1 | 18 | Transmission & Powertrain | 21.5 | — |
| 2011 | Avoid | 85 | 167 | 7 | 2 | 16 | Transmission & Powertrain | 21.5 | 4★ |
| 2012 | Caution | 55 | 90 | 7 | 0 | 16 | Transmission & Powertrain | 21.5 | — |
| 2013 | Caution | 40 | 66 | 6 | 0 | 12 | Engine | 24 | 5★ |
| 2014 | Caution | 25 | 53 | 4 | 2 | 10 | Electrical System | 24 | 5★ |
| 2015 | Avoid | 100 | 159 | 15 | 3 | 3 | Visibility & Wipers | 26 | 5★ |
| 2016 | Avoid | 80 | 147 | 9 | 0 | 3 ! | Electrical System | 26 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Avoid | 75 | 119 | 10 | 1 | 2 ! | Visibility & Wipers | 26 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Caution | 60 | 117 | 7 | 1 | 3 | Electrical System | 26 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Caution | 65 | 123 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Visibility & Wipers | 26 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Avoid | 90 | 121 | 1 | 1 | 6 | Visibility & Wipers | 28.5 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Best | 15 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Airbags | 28.5 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Good | 35 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 2 | Visibility & Wipers | 28.5 | 5★ |
| 2023 | Best | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Airbags | 28 | 5★ |
| 2024 | Best | 20 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Electrical System | 28 | 5★ |
| 2025 | Best | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Engine | 28 | 5★ |
Legacy years to avoid: what went wrong
2015 Subaru Legacy Index 100 · 159 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2015 Legacy has the highest complaint index of any model year at 100, despite only 3 recall campaigns. Visibility and wiper problems lead at 26% of complaints with a low median mileage around 9,500, alongside electrical system issues (25%, median 9,670 miles) and engine complaints (23%, median 21,250 miles). Owners describe windshield cracking, dashboard warning light flickering, and engine compartment fires. Recalls address brake fluid moisture, a transmission oil seal defect, and a driver-assist system reprogram.
2015 visibility & wipers problems →2015 electrical system problems →2015 engine problems →
2010 Subaru Legacy Index 95 · 150 complaints · 18 recalls
The 2010 Legacy has a complaint index of 95 and 18 recall campaigns. Owners report transmission and powertrain problems (33% of complaints, median mileage 100,000) and engine issues (27%, median mileage 99,750). Airbag complaints made up 19% of reports, with a much lower median mileage of about 25,063, suggesting some airbags failed to deploy or deployed improperly early in ownership. Recalls cover passenger airbag inflators shared across several Subaru models from this era.
2010 transmission & powertrain problems →2010 engine problems →2010 airbags problems →
2020 Subaru Legacy Index 90 · 121 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2020 Legacy has a complaint index of 90. Visibility and wiper problems dominate, making up 55% of complaints with a very low median mileage of about 5,580, mainly windshield cracking without impact damage. Owners also report sudden unintended acceleration and engine bay fires with no dashboard warning. Recalls include a cracked occupant detection sensor capacitor and a transmission control unit programming error that can let the clutch engage before the drive chain fully seats.
2020 visibility & wipers problems →2020 electrical system problems →
2011 Subaru Legacy Index 85 · 167 complaints · 16 recalls
The 2011 Legacy carries a complaint index of 85 and 16 recall campaigns. Transmission and powertrain complaints lead at 28% of reports, with a median failure mileage of 115,000. Electrical system issues (20%, median 50,000 miles) and engine complaints (20%, median 68,500 miles) follow. Owners describe unintended acceleration events and electrical fires. Airbag deployment delays and inflator recalls, shared with several other Subaru models, also apply to this year.
2011 transmission & powertrain problems →2011 electrical system problems →2011 engine problems →
2016 Subaru Legacy Index 80 · 147 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2016 Legacy has a complaint index of 80 and includes a do-not-drive recall. Electrical system problems dominate at 35% of complaints with a median mileage of 51,000. Owners describe brake failures during stops, side airbags not deploying in impacts, and unintended reverse acceleration. Recalls cover an improperly assembled steering column requiring immediate action, a loose transmission fastening nut, and a transmission oil seal issue shared with the 2015 model year.
2016 electrical system problems →2016 visibility & wipers problems →2016 engine problems →
2017 Subaru Legacy Index 75 · 119 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2017 Legacy has a complaint index of 75 and one do-not-drive recall. Visibility and wiper complaints lead at 29% of reports (median mileage 34,100), followed by electrical system issues at 25% (median 54,000 miles). Owners describe unintended acceleration while parking, side airbags deploying without a matching passenger-side deployment, and engine compartment fires with no prior warning lights. Recalls address a knee guard bracket welding defect and the steering column issue also seen in the 2016 model year.
2017 visibility & wipers problems →2017 electrical system problems →
Most common Subaru Legacy problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Electrical System381 (21%)
- Engine346 (19%)
- Visibility & Wipers315 (17%)
- Other269 (15%)
- Airbags230 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain223 (12%)
- Brakes163 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires102 (6%)
- Fuel System100 (5%)
- Structure & Body92 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the worst Subaru Legacy years to avoid?
- NHTSA data flags 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020 as the years to avoid, based on complaint indexes ranging from 75 to 100 and recall counts as high as 18 campaigns.
- Which Subaru Legacy years are the best?
- The 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025 model years rank Best, with complaint indexes of 15, 0, 20, and 5 respectively, the lowest in the lineup.
- Does the Subaru Legacy have recall problems?
- Across all years covered, the Legacy has 52 total recall campaigns; the 2010 model year alone has 18, and the 2016 and 2017 model years each include a do-not-drive recall.
- What is the most common Legacy problem area?
- Across all years, Electrical System complaints are the largest category at 21% of total complaints, followed by Engine at 19% and Visibility & Wipers at 17%.
- Is the 2015 Subaru Legacy reliable?
- The 2015 Legacy has the highest complaint index of any Legacy model year, 100, driven largely by visibility, electrical, and engine complaints reported at low mileage, so it ranks as an Avoid year relative to other Legacy years.