Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2017 Subaru Legacy
NHTSA data on file today
The 2017 Subaru Legacy has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 119 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V716000 Improperly Aligned Knee Guard Bracket NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V292000 Loss of Steering Ability NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 33 complaints
- Electrical System 30 complaints
- Unknown or Other 21 complaints
- Steering 9 complaints
- Air Bags 7 complaints
- Structure 6 complaints
Of the 119 complaints on file, 10 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 119 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2017 Subaru Legacy shows some reliability concerns due to steering column recalls and several issues with the electrical system and visibility. Despite these problems, overall maintenance costs remain manageable, giving it an average rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| windshield wipers | 30,000–50,000 miles | $100–$200 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000–70,000 miles | $200–$500 | occasional |
| steering column | 60,000–80,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | occasional |
| engine cooling system | 70,000–90,000 miles | $250–$750 | rare |
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 change every 6,000 miles
- Replace air filter every 30,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 20,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant system check annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel unresponsiveness
- Electrical fuses frequently blowing
- Windshield wiper failures
- Engine overheating
- Difficulty starting engine
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2017 Subaru Legacy at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.