Subaru

Legacy

Compact Cars · model years 1990 to 2025

Includes Legacy, Legacy 4WD, Legacy 4WD Turbo and 8 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 189 Legacy trims All Subaru cars

The verdict

Best year: 2025. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 45; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2016. complaints: 145, about 3.2x this model's typical 45; recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Subaru Legacy
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1990	8Gas	20.5	no data	$3,025	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1990
1991	10Gas	20	no data	$3,100	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1991
1992	12Gas	20	no data	$3,100	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1992
1993	11Gas	21	no data	$2,950	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1993
1994	11Gas	21	no data	$2,950	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1994
1995	8Gas	22.5	no data	$2,775	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1995
1996	9Gas	22	no data	$2,850	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1996
1997	10Gas	23	no data	$2,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1997
1998	10Gas	23	no data	$2,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1998
1999	8Gas	21.5	no data	$2,900	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1999
2000	4Gas	21	no data	$2,950	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2000
2001	5Gas	21	no data	$2,950	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2001
2002	6Gas	21	no data	$2,950	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2002
2005	8Gas	21	no data	$3,375	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2005
2006	8Gas	21	no data	$3,350	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2006
2007	9Gas	21	no data	$3,650	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2007
2008	6Gas	20.5	no data	$3,750	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2008
2009	6Gas	20.5	no data	$3,750	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2009
2010	4Gas	21.5	no data	$2,975	0	0	0	220	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 89 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	4Gas	21.5	no data	$2,975	16	166	0	240	POWER TRAIN 20%, AIR BAGS 11%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 166, about 1.9x this model's typical 89 recalls: 16, about 5.3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 11 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	4Gas	21.5	no data	$2,975	16	90	1	221	POWER TRAIN 29%, ENGINE 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 90, above this model's typical 89 recalls: 16, about 5.3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 Score: 33 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	3Gas	24	173	$2,600	12	66	0	294	ENGINE 22%, AIR BAGS 17%, POWER TRAIN 14%
complaints: 66, below this model's typical 67 recalls: 12, about 4x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 35 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	3Gas	24	173	$2,600	10	53	0	233	AIR BAGS 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, STRUCTURE 10%
complaints: 53, below this model's typical 67 recalls: 10, about 3.3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 42 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	2Gas	26	216	$2,425	3	159	1 (1 open)	328	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 159, about 3.5x this model's typical 45 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 10 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	2Gas	26	216	$2,425	3	145	1 (1 open)	295	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 9%
complaints: 145, about 3.2x this model's typical 45 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 NHTSA advised parking the 2016 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	2Gas	26	216	$2,425	2	118	1 (1 open)	246	VISIBILITY/WIPER 24%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%
complaints: 118, about 2.6x this model's typical 45 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 NHTSA advised parking the 2017 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	2Gas	26	216	$2,425	3	113	0	226	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 16%
complaints: 113, about 2.5x this model's typical 45 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 29 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	2Gas	26	216	$2,425	3	122	0	201	VISIBILITY/WIPER 35%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 122, about 2.7x this model's typical 45 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 Score: 30 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	2Gas	28.5	221	$2,200	6	120	0	274	VISIBILITY/WIPER 41%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 120, about 2.7x this model's typical 45 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 9 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	2Gas	28.5	221	$2,200	0	0	0	216	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 45 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Gas	28.5	221	$2,200	2	31	0	180	VISIBILITY/WIPER 41%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 31, below this model's typical 45 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	2Gas	28	221	$2,250	0	0	0	152	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 45 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	2Gas	28	221	$2,250	0	0	0	117	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 45 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	2Gas	28	221	$2,150	0	0	0	77	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 45 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1990: 20.5 to 2025: 28

Owner complaints2010: 0 to 2025: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Subaru Legacy to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.