Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Legacy vs FORD F 150
How the Subaru Legacy and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Subaru Legacy vs FORD F 150: The Legacy averages 72 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1,131. The Legacy's top issues are windshield cracks and battery failures, whereas the F-150 struggles with transmission hard shifts and electrical glitches. The Legacy has 24 recalls, the F-150 has 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Legacy or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a midsize sedan that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of relatively frequent but less severe issues, with an average of 72 complaints per year. The most common complaints involve the windshield and electrical system, often related to the Eyesight driver-assist system and battery problems. Owners report sudden windshield cracks and electrical glitches that can leave them stranded, but the overall volume is much lower than the F-150.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint rate, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant issue is the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as shifting hard, jerking, and occasionally losing power. Electrical system problems, including camera malfunctions, also feature prominently. This truck has a higher incidence of crashes and injuries reported, though still a low number relative to total complaints.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Legacy | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 721 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 72.1 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 13 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Subaru Legacy
- 01VISIBILITY/WIPER207
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM184
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER161
- 04ENGINE39
- 05STEERING35
Owners report the windshield cracking spontaneously without impact, sometimes repeatedly. This can interfere with the Eyesight driver-assist system, potentially disabling safety features.
Battery failures are common, leaving owners stranded even with low mileage. The Eyesight system may become inoperable, and the heater can fail in cold weather, along with various warning lights.
Some owners report sudden engine knocking or internal noises, requiring costly repairs. There is also a known issue with the thermo control valve that can lead to expensive out-of-pocket fixes.
“The component that failed is the windshield. The windshield has a 14 inch stress crack. The crack suddenly appeared, there was no impact. The crack interferes with the Subaru Eyesight Driver Assistance. The Subaru Eyesight Driver Assistance could malfunction…”
“Three times within a 1 year period, the windshield cracked without an object hitting it. First time in July, 2021, second time in September, 2021, and third time in June, 2022. After the first time, I had the windshield replaced at my own expense. The second…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard shifts, jerking, clunking, and occasional loss of power. Some owners report the vehicle shutting off and then restarting abruptly.
Electrical issues include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, which can affect driver-assist features. Some owners also report loud bangs from the transmission area.
Headlight problems are common, with many complaints about poor visibility or headlight failures, which can be a safety concern at night.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Subaru Legacy — 24 recalls
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The fix: 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.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
The risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner not…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.
The defect: 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.
The risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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. Suba…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Subaru Legacy or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Subaru Legacy has far fewer complaints per year (72 vs 1,131) and fewer recalls (24 vs 145), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. In practice, this means a Legacy owner is less likely to encounter major problems, but the issues that do occur—like battery and windshield failures—can still be inconvenient and costly.
Key differences
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint volume, especially regarding the transmission, which can lead to sudden power loss and hard shifts.
- The Legacy's most common issues are windshield cracks and battery failures, which are less severe but still annoying.
- The F-150 has more recalls (145 vs 24), indicating a higher frequency of manufacturer-identified defects.
- The Legacy's Eyesight system can be affected by windshield cracks, while the F-150's camera and pre-collision assist can malfunction electronically.
- Inspect the windshield for any cracks or signs of stress, as spontaneous cracking is a known issue.
- Check the battery health and ask about any prior electrical issues, especially if the car has low mileage.
- Test drive the truck and pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th and 6th gears, for any hard or jerky movements.
- Check for any warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, as these are common electrical problems.
Before you buy
- For the Legacy, ask for service records related to battery replacements and windshield repairs.
- For the F-150, check the transmission fluid condition and ask if the transmission has been updated or repaired.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Legacy's Eyesight system to ensure it is calibrated and functioning.
- For the F-150, verify that all recalls have been performed, especially those related to the transmission and electrical system.
- Consider an extended warranty for either vehicle to cover potential costly repairs.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Subaru Legacy | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 329 |
| 2024 | 17 | 617 |
| 2023 | 10 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 32 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 31 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 121 | 33 |
| 2019 | 123 | 36 |
| 2018 | 117 | 56 |
| 2017 | 118 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Subaru Legacy or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Legacy vs FORD F 150
- Subaru Legacy total complaints
- 721
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Subaru Legacy total recalls
- 24
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Subaru Legacy avg complaints/year
- 72.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Legacy
- Subaru Legacy top complaint area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN