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Vehicle Stats/Subaru/Legacy Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Sep 2026Methodology

Subaru Legacy Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 721 complaints and 24 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Subaru Legacy options? We analyzed 10 model years (2016–2025) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

721
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
24
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
35
Crash-Related
crash complaints
6
Fire-Related
fire complaints
13
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2016–2025

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Found a Subaru Legacy? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
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Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Subaru Legacy has 721 owner complaints and 24 safety recalls across model years 2016–2025. The most reported issue area is VISIBILITY/WIPER. 2016 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.

Subaru Legacy — key reliability facts
Make
Subaru
Model
Legacy
Model years analyzed
2016–2025 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
721
Safety recall campaigns
24
Crash-related complaints
35
Fire-related complaints
6
Worst model year (by complaints)
2016 (146 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2025 (6 complaints)
Top reported issue area
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Sep 4, 2026
This Legacy has 24 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

Subaru Legacy: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2016146 complaints2019123 complaints2020121 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
20256 complaints202310 complaints202417 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2016 Subaru Legacy? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

20252025 Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
5/5
20242024 Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
5/5
20232023 Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
5/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The SUBARU LEGACY has 721 NHTSA complaints and 24 recalls on record. 35 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 721 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 24 federal recall campaigns
  • 35 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2016
146
2017
118
2018
117
2019
123
2020
121
2021
31
2022
32
2023
10
2024
17
2025
6

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

24 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

#23V755000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCHSeptember 11, 2023
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

#23V755000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCHSeptember 11, 2023
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

#22V485000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)August 7, 2022
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

#22V485000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)August 7, 2022
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

#21V955000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)September 12, 2021
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#20V766000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTIONOctober 12, 2020
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

#18V773000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWAREJanuary 11, 2018
Safety recall

STEERING:COLUMN

#16V292000STEERING:COLUMNNovember 5, 2016
Safety recall

STEERING:COLUMN

#16V716000STEERING:COLUMNJune 10, 2016
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#24V227000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

#23V647000POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#21V587000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#20V218000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

STRUCTURE

#19V493000STRUCTURE
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#21V587000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

#19V664000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#24V227000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#21V587000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

#18V935000VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

#15V794000POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2016–2025. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 721 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
VISIBILITY/WIPER207 complaints
02
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM184 complaints
03
UNKNOWN OR OTHER161 complaints
04
ENGINE39 complaints
05
STEERING35 complaints
06
POWER TRAIN29 complaints
07
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE28 complaints
08
AIR BAGS26 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

721 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

ENGINEJun 2026

Vehicle: 2021 Subaru Legacy Base 2.5i Mileage:~65,000 miles My engine suddenly began making loud internal knocking/tapping noises with no warning lights, no overheating, and no prior symptoms. The vehicle immediately became unsafe to operate. I had it towed to a Subaru dealership, where technicians confirmed the noise was coming from inside the engine and recommended a full engine replacement. The failure happened without any warning indicators, misfires, overheating, or oil pressure warnings. All diagnostics (including compression and leakdown) were clean, and the vehicle has been properly maintained. Subaru of America acknowledged the internal failure but only offered $1,000 goodwill toward a multi‑thousand‑dollar engine replacement. This appears to be a premature internal engine failure on the FB25 engine, which may indicate a defect. A sudden internal engine failure at highway speeds could lead to loss of power, stalling, or inability to accelerate, creating a safety hazard for the driver and surrounding traffic. I am filing this complaint because this type of unexpected internal engine failure at relatively low mileage may represent a pattern and should be tracked for potential investigation.

SUSPENSIONNov 2025

See attached document for complaint.

POWER TRAINNov 2025

Car intermittently will studder and not go into first gear or go into second gear dangerously having car bog down and almost stall and then it violently downshifts having car RMP Hague go very high then slip and have no power to wheels and then a few seconds later go into second gear violently taking off again. Have tried taking issue to dealer but won’t even look unless check engine light comes on. Which it sometimes will for this issue and will shut back off before my short drive to dealership. Very frustrated especially being my first new car paying monthly to have this problem

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMOct 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds during colder weather, the heater failed to operate as intended. Additionally, the Eyesight system was inoperable. The check engine and other unknown warning lights were displayed. In addition, the contact stated that the engine failed to warm up as intended after being started, and the engine temperature was 107°F, which was below the normal engine temperature of 200°F. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the Thermal Control Valve needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 09-119-24; however, the vehicle was not repaired because the vehicle had a Salvaged Title. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

POWER TRAINJul 2025

CVT Transmission Failure. Failure occurred at approximately 66,706 miles on 5/16/25. The Check Engine and AT Temp lights appeared in the instrument cluster. The driving conditions when this happened were a safety concern. First, the vehicle would crawl, shutter, and almost stall with high RPMs when attempting to climb a hill. Second, on a level surface at any given time the vehicle would not respond then lunge forward unexpectedly. The vehicle was inspected by a Subaru Dealership and the diagnosis was "Internal failure of transmission". The transmission needs to be replaced. The same driving conditions and error codes were experienced by an AAMCO Transmission repair facility. The diagnosis was codes P0843 and P0867 present prompting the transmission to be replaced. This repair was completed on 6/4/25. The failed transmission is no longer available.

ENGINEJul 2025

Subaru has released a service bulletin regarding concerns with the Thermo Control Valve in specific vehicles. Unfortunately, individuals with vehicles bearing a rebuilt title, including myself, are required to cover expenses exceeding $2,000 out of their own pockets. Despite evidence indicating that the issue with the engine area is unrelated to the vehicle's rebuilt title, Subaru has chosen not to initiate a recall. This unequal treatment of titled vehicle owners is unjust, especially considering that these vehicles have passed all necessary local inspections and regulations to be deemed roadworthy. All vehicles falling within the designated mileage and age parameters should qualify for assistance. It is my belief that a recall must be issued, as this is a mechanical flaw present since the vehicle's initial manufacturing. In the accompanying service bulletin, Subaru acknowledges fault by stating that they have developed a more reliable and durable component. A P26A3 check engine light code.

Read 14 more owner reports
AIR BAGSFeb 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERDec 2024

Dear NHTSA Team, I am writing to report a recurring and distressing issue with my Subaru Legacy 2021 which I believe raises significant safety concerns. Since purchasing the vehicle, I have experienced consistent problems with the battery. Despite replacing the battery five times, the vehicle has repeatedly stopped functioning, including a recent incident where it stalled in the middle of the road. This required me to call law enforcement and a towing service, adding considerable mental and financial stress. These unexpected breakdowns are not only inconvenient but also pose serious safety risks to myself and others on the road. I am concerned that this issue may not be isolated and could affect other Subaru owners as well. I kindly request your assistance in investigating this matter to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to address this potential defect. Please let me know if you need additional information, such as detailed records of the incidents, repair history, or communication with Subaru regarding the issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I appreciate your efforts in ensuring road safety and protecting vehicle owners. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AIR BAGS,SEATSNov 2024

A Recall was issued Mar 22, 2024 for a dangerous safety issue. AN AIR BAG That Does NOT Deploy During A Crash CAN Increase THE Risk OF Injury. Remedy Dealers Will Replace THE ODS Sensors ON THE Front Passenger Seat, Free OF Charge. Interim Letters Informing Owners OF THE Safety Risk Were Mailed MAY 17, 2024. Owners Will Receive A Second Letter Once THE Remedy IS Available. Owners MAY Contact Subaru Customer Service AT 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's Number FOR This Recall IS Wra-24. NHTSA issued their Recall for this problem. NHTSA Recall Number24V227000 Recall Status Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available Now 8 months later Subaru drivers are still forced to drive around with this dangerous defect. This is totally unacceptable, irresponsible and local Subaru dealers have received no part for this repair and have not idea when they will ever get them. NHTSA needs to step in and get answers from Subaru and issue notices to owners with this problem of the danger involved if there is a crash and their passenger is killed because of this delay

AIR BAGSNov 2024

Subaru has failed to remedy recall on airbags.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,BACK OVER PREVENTIONNov 2024

ODS sensor recall still not fixed/remedy available, used heat for first time since i purchased the car, minor cracks in the windshield, car radio/monitors randomly go black, reverse camera won’t work, restarts on there own after a while

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJul 2024

Without any reason a random issue came up. Special feature components lit up on dashboard. Everything but “check engine lit up and the car features were disabled. Disabled items were eye sight, lane assist, ABD, electrical parking brake, hill assist, vehicle dynamics control. With all these lights on my power steering was also disabled. Took to dealer a year ago and all they did was “updated computer system. 3 months later the t started happening again but only intermittently but for past 3 days it’s been constant

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGSJun 2024

recall not fixed yet, what happens if a car hits me & the passenger airbags don’t work? unsafe, doesn’t seem like it’s being fixed in a timely manner

AIR BAGSJun 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKESMay 2024

After shifting my car into reverse, I slowly started removing my foot from the brake pedal. At this time, the car started rapidly accelerating backwards so I put pressure back on the brake pedal to stop the car. When doing so, the ABS light came on my dashboard, I heard a griding sound like the car was still trying to accelerate, and there was a loud constant beep. I was able to shift the car into neutral and then into park to stop the car and then turned the car off. I contacted the dealership about the issue, but have not yet been able to further investigate or bring it into the dealership.

SERVICE BRAKES,EQUIPMENTMar 2023

2021 SUBARU LEGACY TOURING. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ISSUES WITH THE REAR AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM (RAB). See attached document for complaint

SEAT BELTSFeb 2023

The buckle stopped working without cause. Car is only a couple years old and my child attempted to buckle themselves only to find out it didn't lock after trying to buckle in. I took car to subaru dealership and was told that they had no idea why it stopped working and it was not repairable. They attempted to fix it but couldn't figure it out. Thus I could not use this seat in my car due to the danger of not being able to have a passenger buckled. This is scary as there was no reason that the belt no longer buckled and concerns me that the other buckles may be defective, especially if we were to get into a car accident knowing that there's a chance that the buckle may not work.

VISIBILITY/WIPERJul 2022

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 time, Subaru completed the replacement at no cost. The third time, Subaru completed the replacement but refused to pay for it, claiming that an object likely hit the windshield. However, the crack occurred overnight while the car was in my driveway. I believe the windshield is obviously defective and I should be remunerated for at least the last replacement and any future such replacements.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJun 2022

spontaneous windshield crack. parked the car at night and there was nothing wrong with the windshield. Next day i go to drive and there is a seven inch crack starting mid way up the screen on the passenger side. There is no sign of an impact and the crack is very wide. I can get a finger nail inside the crack.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJun 2022

The car's AEB system keeps mistaking steam from the street (such as sewer covers or construction sites) for a physical object and will activate. It has stopped my car in the middle of the street two days ago (5/31/22) and I was almost rear-ended by the car behind me. The warning system will also engage for no reason in most city driving conditions when there is no danger. It mistakes merging with cars with an imminent crash. I do not trust the system and now disable it whenever I drive as it is more likely to cause an accident than to prevent one. This has been a problem since I purchased the car. I contacted the dealer on 5/31/22 but have not heard back.

Showing 20 of 721 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Subaru Legacy

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Subaru Legacy, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Subaru Legacy has 721 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Subaru Legacy has 24 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 35 of the Subaru Legacy's 721 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Subaru Legacy vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Subaru Legacy vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Subaru Legacy has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a Subaru Legacy by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Subaru Legacy.

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Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

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Subaru Legacy reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the Subaru Legacy reliable?

Poor. The Subaru Legacy has 721 NHTSA owner complaints and 24 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is VISIBILITY/WIPER. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Subaru Legacy years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2016 (146 complaints), 2019 (123 complaints), 2020 (121 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Subaru Legacy problems?

Top reported issues: VISIBILITY/WIPER (207 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (184 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (161 complaints).

Does the Subaru Legacy have recalls?

Yes — 24 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Subaru Legacy. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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