The 2019 draws 1.94 complaints per run and the 2000 1.16, a 1.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 66.7% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 381 complaints, typically at 4.9 years.
Subaru Legacy years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 5 | too new | |
| 2024 | 17 | 14 | too new | |
| 2023 | 10 | 9 | too new | |
| 2022 | 34 | 30 | too new | |
| 2021 | 31 | 23 | too new | |
| 2020 | 120 | 62 | yes | |
| 2019 | 122 | 63 | yes | |
| 2018 | 114 | 63 | yes | |
| 2017 | 116 | 60 | yes | |
| 2016 | 140 | 88 | yes | |
| 2015 | 150 | 101 | yes | |
| 2014 | 47 | 43 | yes | |
| 2013 | 60 | 46 | yes | |
| 2012 | 82 | 63 | yes | |
| 2011 | 150 | 104 | yes | |
| 2010 | 129 | 102 | yes | |
| 2009 | 56 | 26 | yes | |
| 2008 | 58 | 44 | yes | |
| 2007 | 29 | 22 | yes | |
| 2006 | 71 | 50 | yes | |
| 2005 | 159 | 98 | yes | |
| 2004 | 46 | 35 | yes | |
| 2003 | 53 | 39 | yes | |
| 2002 | 39 | 34 | yes | |
| 2001 | 68 | 56 | yes | |
| 2000 | 78 | 67 | yes | |
| 1999 | 73 | 49 | yes | |
| 1998 | 93 | 63 | yes | |
| 1997 | 105 | 68 | yes | |
| 1996 | 93 | 63 | yes | |
| 1995 | 134 | 81 | yes | |
| 1994 | 46 | 39 | yes | |
| 1993 | 66 | 42 | yes | |
| 1992 | 40 | 36 | yes | |
| 1991 | 52 | 43 | yes | |
| 1990 | 64 | 54 | yes |
Among the 12 Subaru Legacy years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2019, 2020, 2017; the three worth hunting are 2000, 2001, 2010.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 14.4% | covered | |
| 1 year | 24.9% | covered | |
| 2 years | 33.3% | covered | |
| 3 years | 42.5% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 52.1% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 62% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 70.6% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 77.1% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 82.2% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 86.3% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 89.9% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 93% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 95.9% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 97.9% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 99.2% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 33.3% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 66.7% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 25% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Subaru Legacy, the early trouble is Visibility/wiper and Engine And Engine Cooling — reported at around 2.4 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Electrical System at 4.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4.9 yrs | 7 | 19 | |
| Air Bags | 5.7 yrs | 119 | 1 | |
| Power Train | 5.6 yrs | 10 | 4 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 4.5 yrs | 12 | 6 | |
| Visibility/wiper | 2.4 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 5.8 yrs | 40 | 1 | |
| Engine | 6.3 yrs | 10 | 7 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 yrs | 2 | 8 |
What else in this class
6 models share the Legacy's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 1.47 for the Legacy.
| Same class as the Legacy | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | 219 | 1981–2026 | |
| Lexus IS | 118 | 2001–2026 | |
| BMW M3 | 78 | 1988–2026 | |
| Acura TLX | 41 | 2015–2026 | |
| Ford Focus | 138 | 2000–2026 | |
| Subaru WRX | 17 | 2015–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Subaru Legacy reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.47 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
Which Legacy years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2019, 2020, 2017. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2000, 2001, 2010. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Legacy problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 4.9 years, followed by Air Bags.
Will the warranty cover Legacy problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 33.3% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 25% of the complaints here.
Is the Legacy more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?
Yes: 1.47 complaints per production run for the Legacy against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.
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