2017 Subaru Legacy

Do not drive

Owners filed 119 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility/wiper. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

60 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 30,00040,000 miles; the median is 31,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility/Wiper32
000
Electrical System29
010
Unknown or Other17
100
Steering8
000
Air Bags7
604
Structure › Body6
000
Engine4
000
Service Brakes3
101
Fuel/Propulsion System3
000
Power Train2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Knee Bolster16V716000
Filed Oct 6, 201654 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.

Risk. If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.

Steering › Column16V292000Do not drive
Filed May 11, 201648,819 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 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.

Risk. The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Sep 5, 2026PA

Since the battery replacement settlement I've had 3 batteries die from my car being off, the latest battery replacement was 3/2026. I can't tell what my milage is since the battery is so dead that none of the displays turn on when I hit the start button

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 15, 2026OH

Major fuel leak within engine bay

Electrical System
Filed Jan 28, 2026LA

The battery has died several times and had to be replaced over the years due to a likely slow drain issue that Subaru is well aware of and was part of a class action suit against them.

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 27, 2026IL

I drove into the parking lot of Walgreens, then drove around and pulled into a parking spot facing the south side of the building and put my foot on the brake to stop and park. Instead of stopping, the car suddenly lurched forward violently and slammed into the brick wall of the building. My wife called 911 since I told her my chest really hurt. When the police came, I told them my foot must have slipped off the brake and hit the accelerator, since I had no idea what else might have caused the car to accelerate like that. My wife drove the car home and then drove to the ER where the EMTs had taken me. A CT scan showed that I had a fractured sternum, since my chest hit the steering wheel full force after the air bags failed to deploy. I was in excruciating pain for a few weeks, and after I felt better, we submitted a claim to our insurance company. We then took our 2017 Subaru Legacy to a certified Subaru collision repair center. We were shocked to find that the car was totaled, since it was still drivable. Something kept bothering us about the crash, since EyeSight should have applied the brakes if I had accidentally accelerated and it detected a brick wall in front of our car. After some research, we stumbled on the information about the Class-Action Lawsuit that was just settled by Subaru for reports of Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA). The description of what happens with SUA was exactly what I experienced, but this was the first we had heard of it. We were never notif

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 10, 2025NC

My 2017 Legacy is on it's 3rd windshield this year. I had impact damage on July 17th, had it replaced the first week of August, and it cracked without impact damage in October. Subaru refused to replace it under warranty and it was replaced through insurance in December. The genuine Subaru replacement windshields for 2015-2019 Legacy and Outback models appear to be defective and this should be investigated.

Air Bags
Filed May 6, 2025NY

The OCS sensor is faulty and doesn’t detect a passanger and may cause the airbag not to deploy, this is common according to other Subaru owners. This is a common problem on many cars and those cars have been recalled

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 12, 2025VA

The catalytic converter has been replaced twice and is now needing a third replacement. The car emits gas fumes, unsafe emissions, and the fuel causes the mechanism to be extremely hot and unsafe. Over time, the car has had reduced gas flow and will stop running. The dealer has confirmed the three converters installed have been defective. The manufacturer, Subaru, was contacted to inspect the car but refused. Precious years have recalls of the fuel mechanisms. The check engine light stays on when unsafe emissions are detected.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 17, 2024NY

The mirror drivers side mirror wiggles. I. The even of a battery failure the electrical brake may fail

Electrical System
Filed Oct 6, 2024NC

The key frequently gets stuck in the ignition. It takes several attempts to release the key. Turning the wheel to ensure the wheel isn’t locked and turning the ignition/car on does not help release the key from ignition.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 20, 2024IL

The key constantly stuck in ignition. Sometimes 10 minutes to get out. Then won’t start ignition Key broke off in ignition … your stuck with this situation that Subaru is pretending to not know about

Steering
Filed Dec 19, 2023NC

Electric Power Steering failure

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 11, 2023OH

The HOOD LATCH Failed, and hood came up at 70 mph on interstate. This has caused extensive damage.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 27, 2023UT

The key gets stuck in the ignition and you have to slide the shifter back in forth till it unlocks. I'm showing recall on other Subaru but not on mine ? or at least my year of car. why is that ? everyday its takes longer and longer to get the key to release.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 27, 2023PA

Jan 2021 my battery died. So I called AAA and they were able to replace it. Then last year I received a notice of a problem with batteries. I submitted a claim with the SUBARU BATTERY SETTLEMENT. I submitted my receipts. They denied my claim stating that I did not use a Subaru authorized dealer AND that I did not notify Subaru 10 days PRIOR to the new battery. I am at a loss to understand how this Settlement is working. I did not anticipate the battery dying. I needed to be able to drive, so I called AAA who I think is generally reputable. Do people actually call the car manufacturer and wait 10 days to put in a new battery? This is a joke. I appealed and they denied it twice. How can this be??

Power Train
Filed Jul 8, 2023NY

On May 16, 2023 I was driving a friend home. We were stopped at a red light and felt an impact. My friend said, "You've been hit." I went out to check. No one had hit the car. It had lurched forward while my foot was on the brake. On 6/1/23 I pulled out of a driveway, car was in drive, foot on brake, paused to set GPS, car lurched forward. I brought to the dealer. They said they drove it for seven miles and could not duplicate the problem. About a year prior, the car had also lurched, but at that time I was in drive doing approx 30 mph, and I used the brake to slow it back to my speed. At that time the dealer found some leak in the transmission and, I believe, changed a gasket. These problems are intermittent and did not register on the car's computer, according to the dealer. Have you had any such complaint? Is my car safe?

Electrical System
Filed Jun 18, 2023NC

The car had been going on several local stops. Car was in the middle of a main thoroughfare ready to turn on to interstate ramp when the car completely stopped functioning. Battery light came on briefly before the vehicle became completely non-responsive. Among other things non-functioning, Emergency lights would not work, electric park brake would not engage. Could not get out of car to flee danger as car would freely roll and no way to stop except to hold brake with foot pressed. Ultimately car was chocked and jumped by AAA tow truck. Technician said battery was dead but alternator was working when he started it up. After 3 days of diagnostics, Subaru dealer cannot find a fault which let the new auto battery simply drain to nothing state and thus make the car non-responsive. Thank the good Lord this did not happen after turning on to the interstate.

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 13, 2023NY

Hood released and blew open while doing 50 mph. After checking oil level, I closed and verified hood was latched, which it was. Driving about 2miles down road, hood blew up causing instant panic and stopping. After pulling over, I found that the hood would no longer latch. I had to use a hammer to bend the latch forward enough to have it latch again.

Engine
Filed May 23, 2023NY

When i brought car in for an oil change. cam carrier leak, was reported to me that there was a cam carrier leak. When i look online there are countless reports of this. Seems like there could be something faulty with the engine. Subaru offered to cover the repair as a 1 time curtesy. But if there is an issue with the design of an engine then this should be looked at further. The rear brushings are also failing don't think this should happen so quickly, maybe faulty brushings. no warning lights.

Visibility
Filed Apr 19, 2023VA

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud popping noise was heard, and then a crack formed from the bottom of the windshield without impact. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the windshield needed to be replaced another time. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the failure reoccurred after she started the vehicle. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V712000 (Visibility); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 27, 2023IN

When running on a highway and you press down on the accelerator hard to merge onto a highway or go around a vehicle to move out of the way of vehicles quickly coming up behind you, the engine takes over and speeds up on its own. It has occurred three times on a newly purchased used car and it will increase speed up to 100mph. You have to press intermittently on the brakes to pull over to the shoulder and turn off the car for five minutes for the car to reset. If you try to just break, you get a burning smell. I see two class action lawsuits on similar acceleration issues for 2015 to 2017 Outback/Legacy series.

20 of 119 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20256000Routine
202417010Routine
202310200Routine
202232210Routine
202131300Routine
2020121610Routine
2019123310Routine
2018117310Routine
2017 — this page119210Do not drive
2016147300Do not drive
2015159330Routine
2014531020Routine
2013661200Routine
2012901600Routine
20111671620Routine
20101501811Fatalities reported
2009651310Routine
200865910Routine
200733940Routine
200687711Fatalities reported
2005184940Routine
2004491100Routine
2003601500Routine
200254511Fatalities reported
200177820Routine
200094420Routine
199994310Routine
1998114520Routine
1997139620Routine
1996123440Routine
1995182230Routine
199460041Fatalities reported
199377110Routine
199255200Routine
199178300Routine
199081420Routine

Compare every Legacy year →

Reading this record

NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning for a recall on this vehicle.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 6, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.