The best and worst Subaru Legacy years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Subaru Legacys old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2006–2009 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2010–2011 and 2019–2020 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2010 Subaru Legacy · 37.4 per 10,000 sold (2.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Torque converter and shudder, typically around 111,354 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
2011 Subaru Legacy · 39.4 per 10,000 sold (2.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Torque converter and shudder, typically around 114,000 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
2019 Subaru Legacy · 35.1 per 10,000 sold (2.1× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Doors, windows, latches, seats and trim, typically around 5,812 miles; then water leaks and seals.
2020 Subaru Legacy · 44.4 per 10,000 sold (2.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Water leaks and seals, typically around 6,089 miles; then doors, windows, latches, seats and trim.
Years with the fewest complaints
2006 Subaru Legacy · 9.0 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Stalling and no-start, typically around 113,900 miles.
2007 Subaru Legacy · 3.8 per 10,000 sold (0.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 47,000 miles.
2008 Subaru Legacy · 9.0 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 82,500 miles.
2009 Subaru Legacy · 8.1 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 55,000 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Subaru Legacy year: 16.6 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Subaru Legacy?
Among Subaru Legacys old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2020 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 44.4, about 2.7× a typical Subaru Legacy year. The 2010–2011 and 2019 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Subaru Legacy?
The 2007 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Subaru Legacys from 2005–2022: 3.8, against 16.6 for a typical year. The 2006 and 2008–2009 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2020 Subaru Legacy?
The most-reported problem on the 2020 Subaru Legacy is water leaks and seals, typically around 6,089 miles.
Why aren't the newest Subaru Legacy years ranked?
The 2023–2025 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
Looking at a specific Subaru Legacy?
See what it’s likely to cost you over the next 3 years from its year and mileage.
Open the cost estimator → Full Subaru Legacy reportCompare the Subaru Legacy with
Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.