YearToAvoid

2023 Subaru Legacy Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Legacy years

The 2023 Subaru Legacy ranks best (1 of 16) model years, with only 10 complaints, a complaint index of 0, and 2 recalls covering the inhibitor switch and driveshaft bolts. No crashes led to injury or death.

Complaints
10
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
25 city / 33 hwy

Top 2023 Subaru Legacy problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other3 (30%)
  2. Airbags2 (20%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (20%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers2 (20%)
  5. Electrical System1 (10%)

What owners report

  • Forward collision avoidance system activates without an obstacle present, showing an "Obstacle Detected" warning at various speeds.
  • Driver or side airbags failed to deploy in a broadside crash despite the vehicle being totaled.
  • Windshield develops a crack near the wiper that expands upward over time, in one case at 2,000 miles.
  • Center console display fails to power on after a cold start, disabling infotainment, climate control, cruise, and EyeSight, and causing window fogging that reduces visibility.
  • Electronic instrument panel fails to power on at ignition, cutting off speed, gear, RPM, and backup camera readouts along with the infotainment system.
2023 Subaru Legacy complaints: complaints filed per month1Feb 2023Mar 2024Feb 2025Sep 2025Apr 2026
10 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2023 to May 2026; peak Feb 2023 (1).

2023 Subaru Legacy recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V755000Nov 9, 2023Transmission & Powertrain95,830 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch

    Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.

  2. NHTSA 23V647000Sep 21, 2023Transmission & Powertrain4,311 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:driveshaft

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.

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

    Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.

2023 Subaru Legacy fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,325
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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.

2023 compared with other Legacy years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Best1331328.5
2022Good3332228.5
2023Best010228
2024Good2717028
2025Best76028

All Subaru Legacy years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Subaru Legacy reliable based on NHTSA data?
Yes. It has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any Legacy model year, and ranks 1st out of 16 years tracked, with a verdict of Best.
Does the 2023 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?
Yes, two recalls: one for an inhibitor switch that can let water in and fail (campaign 23V755000), and one for driveshaft center support bolts that may loosen (campaign 23V647000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
What is the top complaint area for the 2023 Legacy?
Airbags is the top problem area, tied with Collision Avoidance & Cameras and Visibility & Wipers, each accounting for 20% of complaints.
How does the 2023 Legacy compare to other Legacy years?
It's one of the best years, alongside 2021 and 2025, all rated Best. Years like 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2016 carry Avoid verdicts with far higher complaint indexes of 93, 87, 100, and 80.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Subaru Legacy?
EPA rates it at 28 mpg combined (25 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,325.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.