MYRModel Year Report

2003 Subaru Legacy

▲ Better than typical
2003 Subaru Legacy
RENDERED 2026-11-01T16:59:06.684Z

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
60
Recalls
15

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

27% of complaints

Complaints per year

1987: 1 complaint 1987 1988: 1 complaint 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 81 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 57 complaints 1992 1993: 78 complaints 1994: 61 complaints 1995: 182 complaints 1996: 123 complaints 1997: 139 complaints 1997 1998: 114 complaints 1999: 94 complaints 2000: 94 complaints 2001: 77 complaints 2002: 54 complaints 2003: 60 complaints 2003 60 2004: 49 complaints 2005: 184 complaints 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2008: 65 complaints 2009: 65 complaints 2010: 151 complaints 2011: 167 complaints 2012: 90 complaints 2012 2013: 66 complaints 2014: 53 complaints 2015: 160 complaints 2016: 147 complaints 2017: 119 complaints 2017 2018: 117 complaints 2019: 123 complaints 2020: 121 complaints 2021: 31 complaints 2022: 34 complaints 2022 2023: 10 complaints 2024: 17 complaints 2025: 6 complaints
1987: 1 complaint 1987 1988: 1 complaint 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 81 complaints 1990 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 57 complaints 1993: 78 complaints 1993 1994: 61 complaints 1995: 182 complaints 1996: 123 complaints 1996 1997: 139 complaints 1998: 114 complaints 1999: 94 complaints 1999 2000: 94 complaints 2001: 77 complaints 2002: 54 complaints 2003: 60 complaints 2003 60 2004: 49 complaints 2005: 184 complaints 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2008: 65 complaints 2008 2009: 65 complaints 2010: 151 complaints 2011: 167 complaints 2011 2012: 90 complaints 2013: 66 complaints 2014: 53 complaints 2014 2015: 160 complaints 2016: 147 complaints 2017: 119 complaints 2017 2018: 117 complaints 2019: 123 complaints 2020: 121 complaints 2020 2021: 31 complaints 2022: 34 complaints 2023: 10 complaints 2023 2024: 17 complaints 2025: 6 complaints
1987: 1 complaint 1987 1988: 1 complaint 1989: 1 complaint 1989 1990: 81 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1991 1992: 57 complaints 1993: 78 complaints 1993 1994: 61 complaints 1995: 182 complaints 1995 1996: 123 complaints 1997: 139 complaints 1997 1998: 114 complaints 1999: 94 complaints 1999 2000: 94 complaints 2001: 77 complaints 2001 2002: 54 complaints 2003: 60 complaints 2003 60 2004: 49 complaints 2005: 184 complaints 2005 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2007 2008: 65 complaints 2009: 65 complaints 2009 2010: 151 complaints 2011: 167 complaints 2011 2012: 90 complaints 2013: 66 complaints 2013 2014: 53 complaints 2015: 160 complaints 2015 2016: 147 complaints 2017: 119 complaints 2017 2018: 117 complaints 2019: 123 complaints 2019 2020: 121 complaints 2021: 31 complaints 2021 2022: 34 complaints 2023: 10 complaints 2023 2024: 17 complaints 2025: 6 complaints 2025

2003: 60 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19871
19881
19891
199081
199178
199257
199378
199461
1995182
1996123
1997139
1998114
199994
200094
200177
200254
200360
200449
2005184
200687
200733
200865
200965
2010151
2011167
201290
201366
201453
2015160
2016147
2017119
2018117
2019123
2020121
202131
202234
202310
202417
20256

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

27% · 16 reports

Most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Traveling west on I90 near mentor Ohio I attempted to stop my 2003 Subaru Legacy Wagon on a snow covered portion of the road. My speed was about 45 MPH. Traffic stopped suddenly, and when I applied the brakes, the car would not stop.

NHTSA ODI report, 2010-02-24

Also filed under Service brakes, hydraulic

Air bags failed to deploy in mva that probably totaled my 2003 Subaru Legacy Wagon(No official word from adjuster yet). Hit by a drunk driver(Blood alcohol level.3). Hit by an '83 chevy citation with no front bumper.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-07-18

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V358000 (Air bags).

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-08-16

Engine and engine cooling

15% · 9 reports

Most commonly citing engine and manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe.

Fuel/propulsion system

12% · 7 reports
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the contact smelled a strong gasoline odor coming from the engine compartment.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-01-08

Also filed under Engine

Vehicle speed control

8% · 5 reports

Power train

8% · 5 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission.

Safety timeline

15 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2002-09-12Wheels02V235000 On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines, the aluminum wheels may have an off-center diameter.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace all 4 aluminum wheels. Owner notification began September 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2002-09-12Engine and engine cooling02V240000 On certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines, the water pump pulley center hole was improperly machined.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the water pump. Owner notification began September 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2003-01-08Power train02V282000 Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. Owner notification January 8, 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during November 2002. Owners who take their…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2003-07-14Suspension03V153000 This recall applies to certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland…

    Remedy: Dealers will clean and rust-proof the rear suspension subframe. Owner notification began July 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2003-08-01Suspension03V232000 On some passenger and sport utility vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts…

    Remedy: Dealers will apply anti-rust material to the left front transverse link. Owner notification began August 1, 2003. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2004-04-12Vehicle speed control04V128000 On certain passenger sedans, wagons, and sport utility vehicles, the cruise control cable could come out of its track on the cruise control lever and lodge on the control lever tab when the…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a cruise control cable retaining clip to the cruise control lever tab on the throttle shaft in order to prevent the cruise control cable from coming out of its track. Owner…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. R
    2015-01-15Air bags14V763000 Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy and Outback vehicles, and 2003-2005 Baja vehicles sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQP-51.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  10. R
    2015-06-17Air bags15V323000 Subaru of America, Inc.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2016-07-22Air bags16V358000 Subaru of America, Inc.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2016-08-24Air bags16V361000 Subaru of America, Inc.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-16.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2016-08-24Air bags16V359000 Subaru of America, Inc.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2020-01-07Air bags20V002000 Subaru of America, Inc.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2020-01-07Air bags20V001000 Subaru of America, Inc.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. R
    2020-01-07Air bags20V003000 Subaru of America, Inc.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. R
    Date not on fileFuel system, gasoline13E065000 Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's.

    Remedy: Airtex will notify owners, and will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Recall is expected to begin on January 2, 2014. Customers may contact Airtex at 1-800-880-3056. The recall is expected to begin during January 2014.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Subaru Legacy — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 16 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 9 reports on file for this year.
  • Fuel/propulsion system: 7 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 13E065000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 02V235000 · Wheels
  • Recall 02V240000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 02V282000 · Power train
  • Recall 03V153000 · Suspension
  • Recall 03V232000 · Suspension
  • Recall 04V128000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 14V763000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V323000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V358000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V361000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V359000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V002000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V001000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V003000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2003 Subaru Legacy reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Subaru Legacy is rated "better than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Subaru Legacy?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 27% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Subaru Legacy have?
15 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.