The Lemon IndexSubaru Legacy.
The best Subaru Legacy years are 2012, 2014, 2013. Years to avoid: 2020, 2019, 2015. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 108, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.
Reliability by year, 2007 to 2025.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Best years to buy
2012.
Quick answers.
Is the Subaru Legacy a good car?
It is about average, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 108; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2012 and the worst is 2020.
What are the best Subaru Legacy years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold: 2012, 2014, 2013.
What Subaru Legacy years should you stay away from?
The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2020, 2019, 2015.
How many recalls does the Subaru Legacy have?
130 safety recalls across the 18 model years we track. Most: 2010 (18), 2011 (16), 2012 (16). Each year's page lists them.
What are the most common Subaru Legacy problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name wipers & visibility, electrical and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | – | too few complaints to score | 4 | engine (75%) | 9 | — | 20–23 |
| 2008 | – | too few complaints to score | 11 | lights (36%) | 9 | — | 20–22 |
| 2009 | – | too few complaints to score | 10 | airbags (30%) | 13 | — | 20–22 |
| 2010 | 99 | about average | 42 | airbags (29%) | 18 | — | 20–26 |
| 2011 | 89 | 1.1× fewer complaints than average | 44 | steering (25%) | 16 | ★★★★☆ | 20–25 |
| 2012 | 22 | 4.5× fewer complaints than average | 11 | engine (45%) | 16 | — | 20–25 |
| 2013 | 48 | 2.1× fewer complaints than average | 26 | engine (27%) | 12 | ★★★★★ | 20–27 |
| 2014 | 37 | 2.7× fewer complaints than average | 21 | airbags (29%) | 10 | ★★★★★ | 20–27 |
| 2015 | 153 | 1.5× the average car's complaints | 90 | wipers & visibility (30%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 23–29 |
| 2016 | 86 | 1.2× fewer complaints than average | 56 | wipers & visibility (20%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 23–29 |
| 2017 | 76 | 1.3× fewer complaints than average | 44 | wipers & visibility (36%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 23–29 |
| 2018 | 141 | 1.4× the average car's complaints | 62 | wipers & visibility (35%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 23–29 |
| 2019 | 186 | 1.9× the average car's complaints | 69 | wipers & visibility (65%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 23–29 |
| 2020 | 404 | 4× the average car's complaints | 107 | wipers & visibility (52%) | 6 | ★★★★★ | 27–30 |
| 2021 | 102 | about average | 24 | wipers & visibility (21%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 27–30 |
| 2022 | 105 | about average | 29 | wipers & visibility (52%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 27–30 |
| 2023 | – | too few complaints to score | 10 | automatic emergency braking (40%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 26–30 |
| 2025 | – | too few complaints to score | 6 | engine (50%) | 0 | ★★★★★ | 26–30 |
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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