2008 Subaru Legacy.

The 2008 Subaru Legacy has too few complaints to score: 11 in its first 3 years. Owners complain most about lights, it has 9 recalls, and it gets 20 to 22 mpg combined. The best Subaru Legacy year is 2012.

Not enough data. Only 11 complaints in its first 3 years: too few to score.

Best year 2012 · Worst year 2020

Photo shows a 2011 Subaru Legacy. M 93, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · background removed

Before you buy. What matters most for this car.

Most common problemLights36% of owner complaints Recalls9Free fix at any dealer Better year to buy20124.5× fewer complaints than average Repair notes from Subaru212Ask a seller if they were done

Owner complaints11first 3 years

Fuel economy20–22 mpgcombined, EPA

Front crash★★★★★NHTSA, driver

How serious. Out of 65 owner complaints, owners reported:

3crashes

1injuries

1fires

1tows

212 repair notes from Subaru

Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.

Every Subaru Legacy year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.

2007–few complaints 2008–few complaints 2009–few complaints 201099about average 2011891.1× fewer complaints 2012224.5× fewer complaints 2013482.1× fewer complaints 2014372.7× fewer complaints 20151531.5× the complaints 2016861.2× fewer complaints 2017761.3× fewer complaints 20181411.4× the complaints 20191861.9× the complaints 20204044× the complaints 2021102about average 2022105about average 2023–few complaints 2025–few complaints

What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.

lights36%

transmission & drivetrain18%

speed control18%

wheels18%

tires9%

Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.

Transmission problems in every Subaru Legacy year →

When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.

half by 78K

0K50K100K150K200K

Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 33K to 109K miles on the car (46 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.

airbags complaints mostly came at 74K–96K miles

Recalls 9

airbags 2020
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
airbags 2020
" These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior.
airbags 2020
" These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall us.

Show all 9 recalls

electrical 2019
The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch.
electrical 2016
The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
airbags 2015
The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, c.
brakes 2014
Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.
brakes 2013
Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.
engine 2008
SUBARU IS RECALLING 16,715 MY 2007-2008 LEGACY SEDANS AND WAGONS, MY 2008 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS, AND MY 2009 FORESTER VEHICLES.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Safety

Stability controlOptional

Collision warningNot offered

Lane departure warningNot offered

Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆

Fuel cost and engines

About $2900–4000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.

Quick answers

Is the 2008 Subaru Legacy reliable?

There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 11 complaints in its first 3 years.

What are the most common 2008 Subaru Legacy problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are lights (36%), transmission & drivetrain (18%) and speed control (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2008 Subaru Legacy have?

9 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Subaru Legacy get?

20 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).

At what mileage do 2008 Subaru Legacy problems start?

Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 33,800 and 109,100 miles. The middle report was at 78,300 miles, from 46 complaints.

Does the 2008 Subaru Legacy have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 18% of its owner complaints.

How much does the 2008 Subaru Legacy cost in fuel a year?

About $2900 to $4000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.

What engines does the 2008 Subaru Legacy have?

2.5L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.

What Subaru Legacy year is better than the 2008?

By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2014 and 2013.

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works