2017 Subaru LEGACY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
119 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
31,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 119 complaints (27.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 29 | 24.4% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 7.6% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 6.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 33 |
| Electrical System | 29 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
Visibility/Wiper: 33; Electrical System: 29; Unknown Or Other: 21; Steering: 9; Air Bags: 7; Structure:Body: 6; Engine: 5; Service Brakes: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 59 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 28 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2016: 1; 2017: 8; 2018: 5; 2019: 8; 2020: 22; 2021: 23; 2022: 28; 2023: 14; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 29 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11231381 · 2019-07-12 (July 12, 2019)
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MY 2017 SUBARU LEGACY WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES & STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON JUNE 18TH WE LEFT HOUSTON FOR SOUTH DAKOTA WITH ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT AS LONG AS THE LIGHT WAS NOT FLASHING THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ON THE 2ND DAY OF OUR TRIP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY & WE WERE NOT UNABLE TO USE OUR CRUISE CONTROL. WE HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED & REPAIRED IN RAPID CITY, SD. AT COURTESY SUBARU. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A WIRING HARNESS. IT WOULD TAKE 1500 HOURS TO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11337867 · 2020-07-07 (July 7, 2020)
KEY WILL NOT REMOVE FROM IGNITION WHEN STOPPED RESULTING HAVING TO LEAVE CAR UNLOCKED NOT SURE IF PARK IS FULLY ENGAGED IN TRANSMISSION RUNS BATTERY DOWN FROM KEY BEING LEFT IN A ON POSITION THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11337867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10954247 · 2017-02-13 (February 13, 2017)
AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, MY STEERING FELT OFF IN DECEMBER. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THERE WAS A NAIL IN MY TIRE. SUBARU REPAIRED THE TIRED. UPON LEAVING SUBARU, STEERING CONTINUED TO FEEL OFF . PULLING TO ONE SIDE CONSTANTLY. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO SUBARU AGAIN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT ON JANUARY 23RD. THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND FIXED IT. THE CAR DROVE GREAT FOR 2 WEEKS AND AGAIN IT IS OFF. CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO KEEP IN THE LANE; IF IT IS WINDY IT IS EVEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10954247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11016509 · 2017-08-21 (August 21, 2017)
HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT HITTING A DEER IN CENTER OF FRONT GRILL AT 45-50 MPH. DURING IMPACT STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND ALL SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. CANNOT GET ANSWER AS TO WHY...SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED?? SUBARU DEALER SAID THEY WILL ONLY DEPLOY WHEN YOU HAVE A ROLL OVER OR SIDE IMPACT. MECHANIC STATED THAT NONE OF THE SENSORS WERE EFFECTED AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11016509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10898435 · 2016-08-25 (August 25, 2016)
TWO WEEK OLD VEHICLE WITH 980 MILES. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE DELIVERY. THE BRAKES ARE SOFT AND GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO FURTHER PEDAL TRAVEL AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS REPEATABLE AND OCCURS EVERY TIME YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL WILL SLOWLY SINK TO THE FLOOR IF PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED. SUBARU OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND IS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. THEY HAVE ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER TO MY ISSUE WITH THIS VE…
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10898435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10980237 · 2017-04-24 (April 24, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE LATER OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC AND FUEL TESTING, WHICH PRODUCED A CODE OF P1603 AND A GOOD FUEL READING; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO USE A DIFFERENT FUEL STATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11191790 · 2019-03-27 (March 27, 2019)
IN A PARKING LOT IN A STATIONARY POSITION I SHIFTED INTO PARK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION; IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE SAME DAY IN MY GARAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11191790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11427235 · 2021-07-30 (July 30, 2021)
I do not know what caused the fire, but maybe the battery or something electrical. The car stalled and the. I re-started the car and no warning lights came on the dashboard. I then parked the car. Upon exiting I noticed the front driver’s hood smoking. I went into the bank was parked at and within minutes my car was in flames. The entire engine burned and my car is totaled. A fire marshal was coincidentally on scene and documented the entire event. Currently, this car is under investigation by both my insurance company Liberty Mutual and also S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11427235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11718100 · 2026-02-15 (February 15, 2026)
Major fuel leak within engine bay
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11718100 at NHTSA ↗