The Lemon Index2017 Subaru Legacy.
The 2017 Subaru Legacy is better than average by owner complaints: 44 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 76, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about wipers & visibility, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 23 to 29 mpg combined. The best Subaru Legacy year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 119 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Subaru Legacy year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
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.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 19K to 48K miles on the car (60 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- wipers & visibility complaints mostly came at 26K–49K miles
Recalls 2
- steering 2016
In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.
- steering 2016
The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Subaru told dealers about
Subaru sent dealers 394 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- ONLY 2016-2017MY: Those Models equipped with STARLINK Telematics
- Models with eyesight only
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Sunroof glass spontaneously broke while driving on a two lane divided highway. There were no other vehicles around when this happened. This caused glass to fall down onto all the passengers in the vehicle.
2017 Subaru Legacy owner · NHTSA complaint 10945396
More owner reports
I parked my car at the airport parking lot for 3days. Ater my trip, I found out the windshield was broken all of surdden with no reasons. So I claimed insurance to replace the windshileld.
NHTSA complaint 11318083
Passenger side mirror housing is melting, most likely coming from heated mirror default. Subaru had a recall in 2013 for similar issue.
NHTSA complaint 11124303
Quick answers
Is the 2017 Subaru Legacy reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 76; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Subaru Legacy year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2017 Subaru Legacy problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (36%), steering (11%) and electrical (9%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Subaru Legacy have?
2 safety recalls (latest: steering). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Subaru Legacy get?
23 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 Subaru Legacy safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2017 Subaru Legacy problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 19,600 and 48,500 miles. The middle report was at 31,000 miles, from 60 complaints.
Does the 2017 Subaru Legacy have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2017 Subaru Legacy cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Subaru Legacy have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Subaru Legacy year is better than the 2017?
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