Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Subaru Legacy
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Subaru Legacy has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns and 65 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V297000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V014000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V013000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V012000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V026000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V014000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V738000 Power Relay may Fail Allowing Air Pump to Overheat NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V358000 Passenger Frontal 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
- Air Bags 31 complaints
- Engine 7 complaints
- Service Brakes 6 complaints
- Structure 5 complaints
- Electrical System 4 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 3 complaints
Of the 65 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 65 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,500–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Subaru Legacy has a considerable number of recalls, particularly related to airbag inflator modules, and several owner complaints about airbag and brake system issues. These factors, combined with ignition switch and secondary air pump recalls, lead to a below-average reliability rating. Long-term maintenance and repair costs are also above average for this vehicle.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag inflator | 50,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | very common |
| Brake lines | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$700 | common |
| Ignition switch | 70,000–110,000 miles | $200–$400 | common |
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 changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Tire rotations and balance
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid service
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Reduced braking performance
- Ignition issues
- Electrical malfunctions
- Unusual engine sounds
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Subaru Legacy at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.