MYRModel Year Report

2008 Subaru Legacy

● Typical for this model
2008 Subaru Legacy
RENDERED 2026-11-01T13:34:51.320Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of 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
65
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 2008

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Air bags

38% 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 2002 2003: 60 complaints 2004: 49 complaints 2005: 184 complaints 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2008: 65 complaints 2008 65 2009: 65 complaints 2010: 151 complaints 2011: 167 complaints 2012: 90 complaints 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 2002 2003: 60 complaints 2004: 49 complaints 2005: 184 complaints 2005 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2008: 65 complaints 2008 65 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 2004: 49 complaints 2005: 184 complaints 2005 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2008: 65 complaints 2008 65 2009: 65 complaints 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

2008: 65 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

38% · 25 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

My airbag light had been turning on intermittently as is described by many 2008 Subaru Legacy and outback owners about a year prior to my accident.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-01-12

Takata recall

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-03-16

Service brakes

20% · 13 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

Electrical system

14% · 9 reports

Power train

9% · 6 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

The CV axle on the passenger side caught on fire. It was the rubber boot on the inner side over the catalytic converter. There were no warnings other than the smell of smoke.

NHTSA ODI report, 2021-06-08

Vehicle speed control

8% · 5 reports
CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

On Saturday, April 30TH, I was turning around in a driveway, when all of the sudden my car took off. I had no time to react, except to try to use my brake. What stopped me was hitting a tree.

NHTSA ODI report, 2011-05-09

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 Subaru Legacy. While approaching a stop light at a speed of approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into the rear end of another vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2010-04-07

My wife was gradually pulling out of a drive up window at a bank, where there is @ 30 feet before she got to the road and the car immediately accelerated at a high rate of speed, needing to slam on the brakes with all her strength, sliding sideways...

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-07-03

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. R
    2008-10-20Engine and engine cooling08V460000 Subaru is recalling 16,715 my 2007-2008 Legacy sedans and wagons, my 2008 Impreza sedans and wagons, and my 2009 Forester vehicles. Some vehicles may have the cylinder head-side oil supply pipe and…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect for cracking or an oil leak at the oil supply pipe at the cylinder head-side. An additional bracket will be installed to increase rigidity of the pipe and the pipe assembly…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2013-05-30Service brakes, hydraulic13V110000 Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected area will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2014-07-23Service brakes, hydraulic14V311000 Subaru of America, Inc.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. 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 →

  5. R
    2016-12-16Electrical system16V738000 Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2019-05-10Electrical system19V297000 Subaru of America, Inc.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. 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 →

  8. 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 →

  9. 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 →

Buy-smart checklist

2008 Subaru Legacy — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 25 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 13 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 9 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 08V460000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 13V110000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 14V311000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 15V323000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V738000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 19V297000 · Electrical system
  • 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 2008 Subaru Legacy reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2008 Subaru Legacy is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Subaru Legacy?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 38% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2008 Subaru Legacy have?
9 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.