2008 Subaru Legacy Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Subaru Legacy has 65 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 30, and 9 recall campaigns, giving it a Caution verdict capped due to recalls, ranking 15th worst of 21 model years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Legacy years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 65
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 18.5 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2008 Subaru Legacy problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags25 (38%)
- Brakes14 (22%)
- Electrical System12 (18%)
- Engine9 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (6%)
- Fuel System3 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (5%)
- Other2 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration events, including one where the vehicle took off approaching a stop light and crashed at low speed.
- Airbag warning lights turned on intermittently before some owners experienced crashes, in one case after the driver lost consciousness.
- Headlight enclosures accumulated visible moisture and condensation soon after delivery, which owners say caused intermittent lighting issues.
- The transmission has shifted on its own from drive into neutral while driving under 35 mph, with dashboard indicators flashing and the gear display showing a dashed line.
- A CV axle rubber boot caught fire near the catalytic converter after extended city driving, with smoke detected before flames appeared.
- The car has stalled at low speed while losing gears, with the check engine and mode lights blinking during the event.
2008 Subaru Legacy recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Airbags258,813 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- NHTSA 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Airbags111,562 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
- NHTSA 20V002000Jan 2, 2020Airbags127,547 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
2008 Subaru Legacy fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18.5 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,900
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Subaru Legacy reliable?
- NHTSA lists 65 complaints and a complaint index of 30 for the 2008 Legacy, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other Legacy years. The verdict is capped at Caution because of 9 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit, even though the complaint index alone is moderate.
- What is the top problem area for the 2008 Subaru Legacy?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 38% of complaints (25 of 65), with a median failure mileage of 82,000 miles.
- Does the 2008 Subaru Legacy have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2008 Legacy, covering airbags, electrical system ignition switches, and brake fluid seepage inspections.
- How does the 2008 Legacy compare to other Legacy years?
- The 2008 Legacy ranks 15th worst out of 21 model years with data, better than Avoid-rated years like 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020, but worse than Best-rated years such as 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Subaru Legacy?
- EPA rates the 2008 Legacy at 20.5 mpg combined (18.5 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900.