Subaru Legacy: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
2,181 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Legacy, model years 2000 to 2025. 2 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2011 (transmission 4.7×); 2010 (transmission 5×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2007, 2004, 2014. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 94 | — | 4 | |
| 2001 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 77 | — | 8 | |
| 2002 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 54 | quiet: 4 of 20 | 5 | |
| 2003 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 60 | quiet: 5 of 20 | 15 | |
| 2004 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 49 | quiet: 2 of 20 | 11 | |
| 2005 Legacy | 184 | — | 9 | |
| 2006 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 87 | — | 7 | |
| 2007 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 33 | quiet: 1 of 20 | 9 | |
| 2008 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 65 | quiet: 6 of 20 | 9 | |
| 2009 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 65 | quiet: 7 of 20 | 13 | |
| 2010 Legacy | 151 | transmission 5× | 18 | |
| 2011 Legacy | 167 | transmission 4.7× | 16 | |
| 2012 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 90 | — | 16 | |
| 2013 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 66 | — | 12 | |
| 2014 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 53 | quiet: 3 of 20 | 10 | |
| 2015 Legacy | 160 | — | 3 | |
| 2016 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 147 | — | 3 | |
| 2017 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 119 | — | 2 | |
| 2018 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 117 | — | 3 | |
| 2019 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 123 | — | 3 | |
| 2020 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 121 | — | 6 | |
| 2021 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 32 | — | 3 | |
| 2022 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 34 | — | 2 | |
| 2023 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 10 | — | 2 | |
| 2024 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 17 | — | 0 | |
| 2025 LegacyFEW REPORTS | 6 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Subaru models
Subaru Ascent · Subaru Crosstrek · Subaru Forester · Subaru Impreza · Subaru Outback · Subaru WRX · Subaru XV Crosstrek. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 2005201020112015