Model research hub
Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size sedan with standard all-wheel drive that was sold in North America from 1990 through the 2025 model year, when Subaru ended it to focus on SUVs. Federal data shows 2020 with the most recalls (6), 2015 with the most complaints (159), and 2024 and 2025 with no recalls.
What the Subaru Legacy was and who bought it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Legacy as Subaru's mid-size flagship car, built from 1989 to 2025 and unique in its class for offering all-wheel drive as a standard feature along with Subaru's boxer engine, assembled in Lafayette, Indiana for North America. Hemmings (opens in a new tab) says the 2025 model year was the last for the Legacy in the United States, as Subaru focuses on its popular SUVs. Wikipedia names the Outback as the successor for the wagon.
Best and worst Legacy model years
Federal counts put the recall load in 2020 and the complaints in the sixth generation. The 2015 has 3 recalls and 159 complaints, the 2016 has 3 and 146, the 2017 has 2 and 118, the 2018 has 3 and 117 and the 2019 has 3 and 123. The 2020, the first year of the seventh generation, has 6 recalls covering the powertrain, backup camera, fuel system and brakes, with 121 complaints. From 2021 complaints fall to 31, 32, 10, 17 and 6 for the 2025, and the 2024 and 2025 have no recalls.
Guides agree with the data. CarWhere (opens in a new tab) says 2020, 2015 and 2016 stand out as the years to avoid, and the 2025 and 2024 show the cleanest records, and CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) says the 2018 model year is widely considered the most reliable. WeTalkCars (opens in a new tab) ties the 2020 to NHTSA recall 21V-587, a low-pressure fuel pump impeller issue on 2018 to 2020 Legacy models, and to recall 21V-955, shared with the Outback and Ascent. Open the 2018 Legacy page for that year.
CVT and buying used
Transmission Audit (opens in a new tab) says some 2020 to 2021 cars develop a hum or high-pitched whine from the rear and notes a CVT warranty extension to 10 years or 100,000 miles on certain vehicles. VinSpectorAI (opens in a new tab) cautions that a newer model year will show fewer complaints than a 2015 even if it is less reliable, simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues, so complaint counts favor recent cars. Check the VIN for open recalls, especially the fuel pump campaign on 2018 to 2020 cars.
Questions buyers ask
Was the Subaru Legacy discontinued?
Yes. Hemmings (opens in a new tab) says the 2025 model year was the last for the Legacy in the United States.
What is the most reliable Subaru Legacy year?
CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) says the 2018 model year is widely considered the most reliable, while CarWhere lists 2020, 2015 and 2016 as years to avoid.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Subaru Legacy is built around 2.5L flat-four or 2.4L turbo flat-four, rated at 182 / 260 horsepower across its midsize sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 5 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2025 Legacy seats 5 and is a Midsize sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 6 owner complaints for the 2025 Legacy.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Subaru Legacy
Base, Premium and Limited share the 182-horsepower 2.5L engine; Sport and Touring XT step up to the 260-horsepower turbo 2.4L. All trims use standard all-wheel drive and a CVT.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
4 indexed Subaru Legacy model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Subaru Legacy | 1 | 2025 record → |
| 2024 Subaru Legacy | 2024 record → | |
| 2019 Subaru Legacy | 2019 record → | |
| 2018 Subaru Legacy | 2018 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Subaru Legacy.
The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by Japanese automobile manufacturer Subaru from 1989 to 2025. The maker's flagship car, it is unique in its class for offering all-wheel drive as a standard feature, and Subaru's traditional boxer engine. In 1996, a variant of the Legacy with heightened suspension called the Legacy Outback was introduced to compete in the burgeoning sport-utility vehicle class, and proved to be a sales success for Subaru.
Source: Subaru Legacy (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Subaru Legacy at a glance
- Production
- 1989–2020 (worldwide), 1989–2025 (North America)
- Model years
- 1990–2025 (North America)
- Assembly
- Japan: Ōta, Gunma (Yajima plant; 1989–2020), United States: Lafayette, Indiana (Lafayette plant)
- Class
- Mid-size car / Compact executive car
- Body style
- 4-door sedan, 5-door station wagon
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (1989–1999), Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (1989–2025)
- Successor
- Subaru Outback (wagon model), Subaru Levorg (wagon model)
- Also called
- Subaru Liberty (Australia, until 2020), Subaru B4 (Israel), Isuzu Aska (first generation only)
Subaru Legacy generations
The Subaru Legacy has been redesigned in 1993, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2014, 2019, gaps of 4, 5, 5, 6, 5, 5 years, an average of 5.0 years between generations. The current generation (seventh generation, BW/BT) began in 2019.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | BC/BF/BJ | 1989–1993 | The Legacy was introduced in 1989 to provide Subaru a vehicle to compete in the lucrative North American mid-size market against the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda 626, and Nissan Stanza. |
| Second generation | BD/BG/BK | 1993–1998 | Second generation sales in Japan began October 7, 1993, with an introductory price of ¥2,753,000 for the twin turbo GT (approx US$25,250 at 1993 yen exchange rate), and an introduction for model year 1995 in North America with a full body and chassis revision. |
| Third generation | BE/BH | 1998–2003 | Subaru launched the third generation Japanese and world-market Legacy in June 1998, while the North American model started production in May 1999 as a 2000 model, also known as the BE for sedan models and BH for wagons. |
| Fourth generation | BL/BP | 2003–2009 | On May 23, 2003, Fuji Heavy Industries debuted the redesigned Legacy, known as the BL for sedan models and BP for wagons. |
| Fifth generation | BM/BR | 2009–2014 | In 2009, a Subaru Legacy/Liberty concept was designed to commemorate 20th anniversary of the model, reported to be the basis of the production version of the then upcoming fifth generation Subaru Legacy/Liberty. |
| Sixth generation | BN/BS | 2014–2019 | The sixth generation of the Subaru Legacy made its debut at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, and went into production for the 2015 model year. |
| Seventh generation | BW/BT | 2019–present | The seventh-generation Legacy made its debut at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show on February 7, 2019, to be sold at United States and Canadian dealerships starting in the third quarter of 2019 for the 2020 model year. |
NHTSA rated the 2025 Subaru Legacy overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 5 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)
- November 2023, Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch. Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail. Consequence: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
- September 2023, Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft. Consequence: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Subaru Legacy, most often about engine (3), air bags (1), steering (1).
Year by year
The Subaru Legacy across 8 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Subaru Legacy | 26–30 | $2,150–$2,500 | 2 | 6 | 5 stars | |
| 2024 Subaru Legacy | 26–30 | $2,100–$2,400 | 2 | 17 | 5 stars | |
| 2023 Subaru Legacy | 26–30 | $2,100–$2,400 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Subaru Legacy | 27–30 | $2,100–$2,300 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Subaru Legacy | 27–30 | $2,100–$2,300 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Subaru Legacy | 27–30 | $2,100–$2,300 | 2 | 6 | 121 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Subaru Legacy | 23–29 | $2,150–$2,700 | 2 | 3 | 123 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Subaru Legacy | 23–29 | $2,150–$2,700 | 2 | 3 | 117 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Subaru Legacy, one model year at a time.
| Step | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 to 2024 | Size classes: Midsize Cars | Size classes: Large Cars | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 28.5 to 28.0 | ||
| 2019 to 2020 | 26.0 to 28.5 | Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S8); Size classes: Large Cars | Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S6), Automatic (AV-S7); Size classes: Midsize Cars |
Buying used
What the Subaru Legacy recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | power train (driveline); power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2022 | 2 | power train (automatic transmission); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2021 | 3 | power train (automatic transmission); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2020 | 6 | service brakes, hydraulic (pedals and linkages); back over prevention (display function); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 2 more | None |
| 2019 | 3 | structure; fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| 2018 | 3 | electrical system (software); visibility (rearview mirrors/devices); fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| visibility/wiper | 157 | 34% | 2020 (57) |
| electrical system | 104 | 23% | 2018 (40) |
| unknown or other | 99 | 22% | 2018 (29) |
| engine | 27 | 6% | 2018 (10) |
| forward collision avoidance | 22 | 5% | 2020 (7) |
| visibility | 18 | 4% | 2020 (9) |
Trim by trim
Every 2025 Subaru Legacy trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 176 | 3,492 | – | 30 | – |
| Premium | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 176 | 3,508 | – | 30 | $30,280 |
| Limited | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 176 | 3,618 | – | 30 | $37,090 |
| Sport | AWD | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 260 | 277 | 3,764 | – | 26 | $37,580 |
| Touring XT | AWD | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 260 | 277 | 3,787 | – | 26 | $41,280 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2025 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Subaru Legacy model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 182–260 | 3,492–3,787 | – | 18.5 |
| 2024 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 182–260 | 3,492–3,787 | 2,700 | 18.5 |
| 2023 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 182–260 | – | 2,700 | 18.5 |
| 2022 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 182–260 | 3,489–3,790 | 2,700–3,000 | 18.5 |
| 2021 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 182–260 | 3,500–3,790 | 2,700–3,000 | 18.5 |
| 2020 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 182–260 | 3,499–3,790 | 2,700–3,000 | 18.5 |
| 2019 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 3.6-liter 6-cylinder | 256 | 3,507–3,719 | 2,700–3,000 | 18.5 |
| 2018 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (PZEV) / 3.6-liter 6-cylinder | 175–256 | 3,459–3,697 | 2,700–3,000 | 18.5 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Subaru Legacy.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2024 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2023 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2022 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2021 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Subaru Legacy: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2020 Subaru Legacy : 6 recalls on file, most commonly affecting powertrain and backup camera.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | 6 | ||
| 2024 | 17 | ||
| 2023 | 2 | 10 | powertrain |
| 2022 | 2 | 32 | powertrain, airbags |
| 2021 | 3 | 31 | powertrain, airbags |
| 2020 | 6 | 121 | powertrain, backup camera, fuel system, brakes |
| 2019 | 3 | 123 | fuel system, structure |
| 2018 | 3 | 117 | fuel system, visibility/wipers, electrical system |
| 2017 | 2 | 118 | steering |
| 2016 | 3 | 146 | powertrain, steering |
| 2015 | 3 | 159 | stability control, powertrain, forward collision system |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Subaru Legacy?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2020 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Subaru Legacy model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2020 Subaru Legacy has 6 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting powertrain, backup camera, fuel system. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Subaru Legacy by model year?
2023: powertrain. 2022: powertrain, airbags. 2021: powertrain, airbags. 2020: powertrain, backup camera, fuel system, brakes. 2019: fuel system, structure. 2018: fuel system, visibility/wipers, electrical system.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Brakes, tires and steering, Transmission and drivetrain, Climate and electrical, Engine and cooling, Buying, records and recalls.
2020 Subaru Legacy owners specifically: see Transmission and drivetrain and Climate and electrical and Engine and cooling and Brakes, tires and steering.
Trim ladder
1 Subaru Legacy trim, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Subaru Legacy is most often compared with.
Nearest Subaru models
Other Subaru models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Legacy come in?
The 2025 Subaru Legacy (midsize sedan) comes in 5 trims: Base, Premium, Limited, Sport, Touring XT.
Q02What are the 2025 Legacy trims?
The 2025 Subaru Legacy trims are Base, Premium, Limited, Sport, Touring XT, listed from the entry Base up to the top Touring XT.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Legacy use?
The 2025 Subaru Legacy is built around 2.5L flat-four or 2.4L turbo flat-four, rated at 182 / 260 horsepower across its midsize sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Legacy have?
The 2025 Subaru Legacy is rated at 182 / 260 horsepower (2.5L flat-four or 2.4L turbo flat-four).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Legacy?
The 2025 Subaru Legacy is offered with Standard AWD.