Subaru Legacy years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 28 model years of the Subaru Legacy by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2018, 2017, 2011 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 3 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | Typical |
| 2024 | 17 | 6 | 1.2 | 0 | 1 | Typical |
| 2023 | 10 | 3 | 0.5 | 2 | 2 | Typical |
| 2022 | 34 | 7 | 1.4 | 2 | 4 | Typical |
| 2021 | 31 | 5 | 1.1 | 3 | 0 | Typical |
| 2020 | 121 | 17 | 3.6 | 6 | 1 | Most complaints |
| 2019 | 123 | 15 | 3.2 | 3 | 2 | Most complaints |
| 2018 | 117 | 13 | 2.7 | 3 | 7 | Most complaints |
| 2017 | 119 | 12 | 2.5 | 2 | 10 | Most complaints |
| 2016 | 147 | 13 | 2.8 | 3 | 9 | Most complaints |
| 2015 | 160 | 13 | 2.8 | 3 | 15 | Most complaints |
| 2014 | 53 | 4 | 0.9 | 10 | 4 | Typical |
| 2013 | 66 | 5 | 1.0 | 12 | 6 | Typical |
| 2012 | 90 | 6 | 1.3 | 16 | 7 | Typical |
| 2011 | 167 | 10 | 2.2 | 16 | 7 | Most complaints |
| 2010 | 151 | 9 | 1.9 | 18 | 10 | Typical |
| 2009 | 65 | 4 | 0.8 | 13 | 3 | Typical |
| 2008 | 65 | 3 | 0.7 | 9 | 3 | Typical |
| 2007 | 33 | 2 | 0.3 | 9 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2006 | 87 | 4 | 0.9 | 7 | 6 | Typical |
| 2005 | 184 | 8 | 1.8 | 9 | 11 | Typical |
| 2002 | 58 | 2 | 0.5 | 5 | 6 | Fewest complaints |
| 2001 | 80 | 3 | 0.6 | 8 | 12 | Typical |
| 2000 | 94 | 3 | 0.7 | 4 | 8 | Typical |
| 1999 | 97 | 3 | 0.7 | 3 | 18 | Typical |
| 1998 | 116 | 4 | 0.8 | 5 | 17 | Typical |
| 1997 | 143 | 5 | 1.0 | 6 | 18 | Typical |
| 1996 | 129 | 4 | 0.9 | 4 | 27 | Typical |
- 20256 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 202417 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 202310 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 202234 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 202131 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2020121 complaints · 6 recallsMost complaints
- 2019123 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 2018117 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 2017119 complaints · 2 recallsMost complaints
- 2016147 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 2015160 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 201453 complaints · 10 recallsTypical
- 201366 complaints · 12 recallsTypical
- 201290 complaints · 16 recallsTypical
- 2011167 complaints · 16 recallsMost complaints
- 2010151 complaints · 18 recallsTypical
- 200965 complaints · 13 recallsTypical
- 200865 complaints · 9 recallsTypical
- 200733 complaints · 9 recallsFewest complaints
- 200687 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2005184 complaints · 9 recallsTypical
- 200258 complaints · 5 recallsFewest complaints
- 200180 complaints · 8 recallsTypical
- 200094 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 199997 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 1998116 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 1997143 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 1996129 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
Fewest complaints for their age: 2007, 2002.
About this comparison
What Subaru Legacy years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2018, 2017, 2011 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 28 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.