Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Subaru Legacy
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Subaru Legacy has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 31 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 #24V227000 Air Bag May Not Deploy NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V755000 Switch Failure May Cause Loss of Rearview Image NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V485000 Drive Chain May Break Causing Loss of Drive Power NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Unknown or Other 7 complaints
- Air Bags 6 complaints
- Electrical System 5 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 5 complaints
- Back Over Prevention 2 complaints
- Engine 2 complaints
Together, the 31 complaints on file report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Subaru Legacy has a few notable recalls affecting the transmission and airbag systems. While these issues are significant, they predominantly relate to vehicle safety rather than operational reliability, keeping overall reliability within an average range.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| occupant sensors | 20,000–40,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| inhibitor switch | 30,000–50,000 miles | $400–$800 | common |
| transmission control module | 20,000–40,000 miles | No reliable estimate | 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, every 5,000 miles
- Tire rotation, every 6,000 miles
- Brake inspection, annually
- Cooling system flush, every 30,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change, every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Delayed gear shifting
- Transmission slipping
- Unresponsive gear selector
- Check engine light
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Subaru Legacy at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.