Subaru Legacy — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 1995, 2005, 2011 · Best bets: 2021, 2022, 2007, 2004, 2014, 2002

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Subaru Legacy Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2025 highlighted. 1987: 1 complaints 1987 1988: 1 complaints 1989: 1 complaints 1990: 81 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 55 complaints 1992 1993: 77 complaints 1994: 60 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: 182 complaints 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2007 2008: 65 complaints 2009: 65 complaints 2010: 150 complaints 2011: 167 complaints 2012: 90 complaints 2012 2013: 66 complaints 2014: 53 complaints 2015: 159 complaints 2016: 145 complaints 2017: 118 complaints 2017 2018: 116 complaints 2019: 122 complaints 2020: 121 complaints 2021: 31 complaints 2022: 32 complaints 2022 2023: 10 complaints 2024: 15 complaints 2025: 6 complaints 2025
2025: 6 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19871
19881
19891
199081
199178
199255
199377
199460
1995182
1996123
1997139
1998114
199994
200094
200177
200254
200360
200449
2005182
200687
200733
200865
200965
2010150
2011167
201290
201366
201453
2015159
2016145
2017118
2018116
2019122
2020121
202131
202232
202310
202415
20256

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2025 Not enough data 6 Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 Not enough data 15 Only 15 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2023 Not enough data 10 Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 Recommended 32 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 Recommended 31 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 Caution 121 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 Caution 122 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2018 Caution 116 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2017 Caution 118 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2016 Caution 145 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2015 Caution 159 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2014 Recommended 53 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2013 Recommended 66 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2012 Recommended 90 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2011 Avoid 167 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2010 Caution 150 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 Recommended 65 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2008 Recommended 65 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2007 Recommended 33 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2006 Recommended 87 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2005 Avoid 182 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2004 Recommended 49 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 Recommended 60 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2002 Recommended 54 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 Recommended 77 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2000 Recommended 94 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1999 Recommended 94 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1998 Caution 114 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1997 Caution 139 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1996 Caution 123 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1995 Avoid 182 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1994 Recommended 60 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1993 Recommended 77 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1992 Recommended 55 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1991 Recommended 78 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1990 Recommended 81 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1989 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1988 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1987 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.