2017 Subaru LEGACY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Subaru LEGACY has 140 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: 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. *tr. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 9 crash reports 5 injuries

140

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

36 complaints

26%

• 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. *TR
• 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. *TR
• HELLO, I HAVE NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH 2017 SUBARU LEGACY WINDSHEILDS. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 88F AND THE "AUTO" CLIMATE CONTROL IS SET TO 68C THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TEMPERATURE BETWEEN THE OUTSIDE AIR, AND THE COOLING INSIDE AIR DRAMATICALLY INCREASES THE WEAKNESS AND BRITTLENESS OF THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

29 complaints

21%

• THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MY 2017 SUBARU LEGACY WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES & STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON JUNE 18TH WE LEFT HOUSTON FOR SOUTH DAKOTA WITH ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT AS LONG AS THE LIGHT WAS NOT FLASHING THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ON THE 2ND DAY OF OUR TRIP THE CHEC
• KEY WILL NOT REMOVE FROM IGNITION WHEN STOPPED RESULTING HAVING TO LEAVE CAR UNLOCKED NOT SURE IF PARK IS FULLY ENGAGED IN TRANSMISSION RUNS BATTERY DOWN FROM KEY BEING LEFT IN A ON POSITION THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM
• BOUGHT THIS CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE AS BARELY DRIVEN, FOR A VERY GOOD PRICE. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAD A 2 MONTH OLD BATTERY, THE CAR BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. THEY JUMPED IT AND THE TEST DRIVE THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED UP. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE EVERY DA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MY 2017 SUBARU LEGACY WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES & STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON JUNE 18TH WE LEFT HOUSTON FOR SOUTH DAKOTA WITH ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT AS LONG AS THE LIGHT WAS NOT FLASHING THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ON THE 2ND DAY OF OUR TRIP THE CHEC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

21 complaints

15%

• WINDSHEILD- THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE WINDSHIELD IN THIS VEHICLE ARE SUBSTANDARD. I LEASED THE VEHICLE ON 4/18/2017 AND IT IS NOW 10/24/2017 AND MY WINDSHEILD HAS CRACKED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT CRACKED I HAD IT REPLACED RIGHT AWAY. THIS TIME I DECIDED TO WAIT A WEEK OR SO TO SEE IF IT WOULD CONTI
• I HAVE HAD 3 BROKEN WINDSHIELDS ON MY 2017 SUBARU LEGACY IN THE 20 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT HAPPENED THIS PAST TIME I REALIZED THIS IS NOT JUST "BAD LUCK" ON MY PART. I STARTED RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT SUBARU HAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM FOR 2015
• PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON HIGHWAY WITH NO IMMINENT THREAT OF A COLLISION. THIS CAUSED BY TO ABRUPTLY STOP WITH ME BIENG REAR ENDED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WINDSHEILD- THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE WINDSHIELD IN THIS VEHICLE ARE SUBSTANDARD. I LEASED THE VEHICLE ON 4/18/2017 AND IT IS NOW 10/24/2017 AND MY WINDSHEILD HAS CRACKED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT CRACKED I HAD IT REPLACED RIGHT AWAY. THIS TIME I DECIDED TO WAIT A WEEK OR SO TO SEE IF IT WOULD CONTI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

9 complaints

• AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, MY STEERING FELT OFF IN DECEMBER. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THERE WAS A NAIL IN MY TIRE. SUBARU REPAIRED THE TIRED. UPON LEAVING SUBARU, STEERING CONTINUED TO FEEL OFF . PULLING TO ONE SIDE CONSTANTL
• THE STEERING HAS NO RESISTANCE TO INPUT FROM THE ROAD OR CROSSWIND, HEAVY/SLUSHY SNOW, ETC. YOU HAVE TO STEER INTO A CROSSWIND AND AS SOON AS THE WIND IS GONE, THE CAR VEERS. THIS HAPPENS WITH THE WIND GIVEN OFF WHILE PASSING THE FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK OR OTHER LARGE COMMERCIAL TRUCK. THE STEERING
• I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2017 SUBARU LEGACY AND INITIALLY SAW A DEER TO MY LEFT AND TRIED TO STEER SLIGHTLY RIGHT. NEXT THING I KNOW THE COPS ARE THERE AND TOOK ME TO HOSPITAL. THEY SAID THE CAR WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. IT HAD MASSIVE DAMAGE AND AFTER TWO MONTHS IN SHOP, STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, MY STEERING FELT OFF IN DECEMBER. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THERE WAS A NAIL IN MY TIRE. SUBARU REPAIRED THE TIRED. UPON LEAVING SUBARU, STEERING CONTINUED TO FEEL OFF . PULLING TO ONE SIDE CONSTANTL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

7 complaints

• HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT HITTING A DEER IN CENTER OF FRONT GRILL AT 45-50 MPH. DURING IMPACT STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND ALL SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. CANNOT GET ANSWER AS TO WHY...SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED?? SUBARU DEALER SAID THEY WILL ONLY DEPLOY WHEN YOU
• I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2017 SUBARU LEGACY AND INITIALLY SAW A DEER TO MY LEFT AND TRIED TO STEER SLIGHTLY RIGHT. NEXT THING I KNOW THE COPS ARE THERE AND TOOK ME TO HOSPITAL. THEY SAID THE CAR WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. IT HAD MASSIVE DAMAGE AND AFTER TWO MONTHS IN SHOP, STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE T-BONE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY CAUSING THE DRIVERS HEAD TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT HITTING A DEER IN CENTER OF FRONT GRILL AT 45-50 MPH. DURING IMPACT STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND ALL SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. CANNOT GET ANSWER AS TO WHY...SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED?? SUBARU DEALER SAID THEY WILL ONLY DEPLOY WHEN YOU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 140 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: 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. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MY 2017 SUBARU LEGACY WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES & STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON JUNE 18TH WE LEFT HOUSTON FOR SOUTH DAKOTA WITH ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT AS LONG AS THE LIGHT WAS NOT FLASHING THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ON THE 2ND DAY OF OUR TRIP THE CHEC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WINDSHEILD- THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE WINDSHIELD IN THIS VEHICLE ARE SUBSTANDARD. I LEASED THE VEHICLE ON 4/18/2017 AND IT IS NOW 10/24/2017 AND MY WINDSHEILD HAS CRACKED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT CRACKED I HAD IT REPLACED RIGHT AWAY. THIS TIME I DECIDED TO WAIT A WEEK OR SO TO SEE IF IT WOULD CONTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, MY STEERING FELT OFF IN DECEMBER. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THERE WAS A NAIL IN MY TIRE. SUBARU REPAIRED THE TIRED. UPON LEAVING SUBARU, STEERING CONTINUED TO FEEL OFF . PULLING TO ONE SIDE CONSTANTL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)