Vehicle 1

Subaru Legacy

566 complaints · 21 recalls

VS

Vehicle 2

Chevrolet Silverado

6,180 complaints · 100 recalls

📊 Based on NHTSA owner complaint & recall data
Which Should I Buy?

Subaru Legacy vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Legacy has 566 complaints and 21 recalls over 10 years, while the Silverado has 6180 complaints and 100 recalls. The Legacy's top issue is visibility/wiper (189), while the Silverado's is engine (1861). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

Category Wins

Lower numbers are better for complaints, recalls, and crashes.

4
Subaru Legacy
wins all 4 categories
0
Chevrolet Silverado
no category wins
CategorySubaru LegacyChevrolet Silverado
Total Complaints
All years combined
566
✓ lower
6,180
Safety Recalls
Federal campaigns
21
✓ lower
100
Crash Reports
Crash-related complaints
24
✓ lower
192
Avg / Year
Complaints per model year
56.6
✓ lower
618.0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records. Lower is better.

Top Problem Areas

Most frequently reported components across all model years.

Subaru Legacy

1. VISIBILITY/WIPER189
2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM129
3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER118
4. ENGINE30
5. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE25

Chevrolet Silverado

1. ENGINE1,861
2. POWER TRAIN1,714
3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,163
4. SERVICE BRAKES950
5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER663
🤖
AI Buyer Analysis
DeepSeek interpretation of NHTSA data · cached result
The Verdict

The Chevrolet Silverado has far more complaints per year (618.0) than the Subaru Legacy (56.6), suggesting the Legacy may have fewer reported issues overall. However, both vehicles have notable problem areas that buyers should investigate.

💡 Buyer Recommendation

If you prioritize lower complaint volume and fewer recalls, the Subaru Legacy is the better choice. If you need a truck and are willing to research specific model years with fewer engine or powertrain issues, the Silverado could still be viable.

Key Differences
  • Subaru Legacy has 566 total complaints vs 6180 for Silverado over 10 years.
  • Silverado has 100 recalls; Legacy has 21.
  • Silverado's top issue is ENGINE (1861 complaints); Legacy's top is VISIBILITY/WIPER (189).
  • Silverado has 192 crash complaints; Legacy has 24.
⚠ Watch on Subaru Legacy
  • Check for visibility/wiper issues, which account for 189 complaints.
  • Inspect forward collision avoidance system (25 complaints) for proper operation.
⚠ Watch on Chevrolet Silverado
  • Engine problems are the most common complaint (1861); verify service history for known issues.
  • Powertrain complaints (1714) suggest transmission or driveline problems; test drive thoroughly.
✓ Before You Buy — Checklist
  • Check NHTSA recall status for the specific model year.
  • Review service records for engine and transmission maintenance.
  • Test all wiper and visibility features on the Legacy.
  • For Silverado, inspect brake system (950 complaints) and electrical system (1163).
  • Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.

Complaints by Model Year

Years available for both vehicles (lower is better).

Subaru LegacyChevrolet Silverado
2026
0
51
2025
6
117
2024
15
470
2023
10
385
2022
31
1204
2021
31
864
2020
120
0
2019
122
1941
2018
113
0
2017
118
1148
Subaru Legacy vs Chevrolet Silverado — comparison facts
Comparison
Subaru Legacy vs Chevrolet Silverado
Subaru Legacy total complaints
566
Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
6,180
Subaru Legacy total recalls
21
Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
100
Subaru Legacy avg complaints/year
56.6
Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
618.0
More reliable overall
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Legacy top complaint area
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
ENGINE
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Full Reliability Reports

Full Report →

Subaru Legacy Reliability & Problems

566 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

Full Report →

Chevrolet Silverado Reliability & Problems

6,180 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

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