Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2006 Subaru Legacy
NHTSA data on file today
The 2006 Subaru Legacy has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 87 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V297000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V323000 Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V311000 Brake Lines may Fail due to Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V110000 Brake Lines may Fail due to Corrosion NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 30 complaints
- Electrical System 17 complaints
- Engine 16 complaints
- Air Bags 13 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 12 complaints
- Service Brakes 9 complaints
Of the 87 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 87 complaints, owners report 6 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2006 Subaru Legacy has several airbag recalls due to inflator issues, and multiple complaints about brake line corrosion in certain areas. While these are mostly resolved through recalls, they may still indicate underlying reliability risks leading to average overall ratings.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| brake lines | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$700 | very common |
| ignition switch | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$400 | common |
| airbag inflator | 80,000–110,000 miles | $1,000–$1,500 | 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.
- Change engine oil every 5,000 miles
- Replace air filter every 30,000 miles
- Inspect brake lines annually
- Replace timing belt at 105,000 miles
- Inspect CV joints every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Spongy brake pedal feel
- Difficulty turning ignition key
- Dashboard airbag warning light
- Rust on brake lines
- Unusual noises during steering
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2006 Subaru Legacy at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.