Subaru Legacy/Outback
Every model year 2016–2017: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Which Subaru Legacy/Outback years reported which system early
Source: NHTSA complaints, odometer at reportEarliest on the record: 2016 vehicle speed control complaints at 0.3× the mileage of same-age vehicles (median 9,000 miles). Latest: 2017 visibility/wiper at 1.2× (36,100 miles).
| Year | Electrical System | Visibility/Wiper | Power Train | Engine | Vehicle Speed Control | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.91× | 1.2× | 0.75× | 0.55× | 0.93× | 0.66× |
| 2016 | 0.93× | 1.0× | 0.67× | 0.81× | 0.3× | 0.55× |
Each cell is that model year’s median odometer when owners reported the system, divided by the median for the same system across every make’s complaints on the same model year. under 0.67× reported early; 1.5× or more late; a dash means too few readings. When problems get reported, not how often — complaint counts are in the table above. Across the whole fleet: which systems go first.
What owners filed about the Subaru Legacy/Outback, by system
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsEvery system, every year →The systems the federal record is deep on for this nameplate: the complaints per model year, the mileage owners reported them at, and every recall, investigation and manufacturer bulletin filed under the heading — each one linked, none a failure rate.
Common questions about the Subaru Legacy/Outback
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Subaru Legacy/Outback year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2017 Legacy/Outback comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade D (68/100), 4 recalls and 1,038 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Subaru Legacy/Outback years should I avoid?
2016, 2017 have the weakest recall records in this range — one carries an active park-outside or do-not-drive advisory. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet.
How many recalls does the Subaru Legacy/Outback have?
Across model years 2016–2017, NHTSA has posted 8 recall campaigns for the Subaru Legacy/Outback. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.