2009 Subaru Legacy Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Subaru Legacy has a complaint index of 50, ranking 11th worst out of 21 model years, with a Caution verdict. Airbags account for 48% of its 65 complaints, and NHTSA lists 13 recalls, most tied to airbag inflators.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #11 of 21 Legacy years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 65
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 13
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 18 city / 24.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2009 Subaru Legacy problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags31 (48%)
- Brakes9 (14%)
- Engine8 (12%)
- Structure & Body6 (9%)
- Electrical System5 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers4 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)
- Other2 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (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
- Airbags failed to deploy during moderate-to-high speed crashes, leaving occupants without protection.
- Seat belts reportedly failed to hold occupants firmly during collisions.
- The engine reportedly shook and lost power before smoke and flames appeared from under the hood.
- Rear brake lines corroded and leaked, causing the brake pedal to go to the floor under hard braking.
- The vehicle rolled backward unexpectedly while parked with the engine running.
- Front passenger side window glass shattered while the car was parked.
2009 Subaru Legacy recalls
13 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.
2009 Subaru Legacy fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 24.5 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.
2009 compared with other Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Subaru Legacy reliable?
- NHTSA data shows a Caution verdict for the 2009 Legacy, with a complaint index of 50 that ranks it 11th worst among 21 model years. Airbags are the top reported problem area, making up 48% of complaints.
- Does the 2009 Subaru Legacy have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 13 recalls for the 2009 Legacy, with the majority covering passenger front air bag inflator replacement across multiple campaigns issued from 2017 through 2020.
- What is the most common problem with the 2009 Subaru Legacy?
- Airbags are the top problem area, with 31 complaints making up 48% of all reports, including cases where air bags did not deploy in crashes at a median mileage of 53,500.
- How does the 2009 Legacy compare to other model years?
- With a complaint index of 50, the 2009 Legacy ranks better than 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020, which all carry Avoid verdicts, but worse than years like 2006, 2007, and 2021.
- What is fuel economy like on the 2009 Subaru Legacy?
- The 2009 Legacy is EPA-rated at 20.5 mpg combined (18 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900.