The Lemon Index2018 Subaru Legacy.
The 2018 Subaru Legacy is worse than average by owner complaints: 62 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 141, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about wipers & visibility, it has 3 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 117 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Subaru Legacy year. 2018 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 6K to 35K miles on the car (54 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 9K–34K miles
Recalls 3
- fuel system, gasoline 2021
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- visibility 2018
In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank.
- electrical 2018
Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
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 445 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- This Service Information Bulletin is in response to several battery sensor replacements resulting
- Announcement to Subaru Retailers regarding the preliminary settlement in a class action…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
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
Two cracks appeared in windshield. I do not know if a rock caused it. Small rock hits before have been repaired. Thiese large cracks probably mean a new windshield.
2018 Subaru Legacy owner · NHTSA complaint 11388593
More owner reports
Window on right passenger door doesn't stay up when we close the window with the power window button. Sometimes at night the eyesight system turns off. At times the radio entertainment system doesn't want to work.
NHTSA complaint 11441241
A small crack emanating vertically on the passenger side on the very bottom of the screen beginning 1 month ago has spread horizontally towards the driver's side.
NHTSA complaint 11388557
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Subaru Legacy reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 141; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Subaru Legacy year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2018 Subaru Legacy problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (35%), electrical (24%) and visibility (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Legacy have?
3 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Subaru Legacy get?
23 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 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 2018 Subaru Legacy problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 6,900 and 35,000 miles. The middle report was at 20,400 miles, from 54 complaints.
Does the 2018 Subaru Legacy have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2018 Subaru Legacy cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Subaru Legacy have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Subaru Legacy year is better than the 2018?
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