Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Subaru Legacy
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Subaru Legacy has 15 NHTSA recall campaigns and 60 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V361000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V358000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V359000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V323000 Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V763000 Passenger Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13E065000 Fuel Pump may Leak Fuel NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V128000 SUBARU/CRUISE CONTROL CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V232000 SUBARU/FRONT SUSPENSION CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V153000 SUBARU/REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V282000 SUBARU/TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V240000 SUBARU/WATER PUMP PULLEY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V235000 SUBARU/WHEEL NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 16 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 9 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 7 complaints
- Power Train 5 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 5 complaints
- Engine 4 complaints
Of the 60 complaints on file, 4 report a crash; across all 60 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Subaru Legacy has several airbag recalls linked to Takata issues, which can affect safety. Other complaints and minor recalls indicate moderate reliability, but not significant mechanical issues, resulting in an average overall rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag inflator | N/A | No reliable estimate | very common |
| Fuel pump | 80,000–120,000 miles | $350–$550 | common |
| Cruise control cable | 70,000–110,000 miles | $100–$250 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake fluid flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant replacement
- Spark plug replacement
- Timing belt service
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Persistent airbag light
- Unusual noises from fuel pump
- Cruise control not disengaging
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Subaru Legacy at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.