RoadVitals

2024 Subaru Legacy

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
+1 complaint in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2024 Subaru Legacy, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and visibility categories. 230 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical522.7%
  • Driver assistance522.7%
  • Visibility418.2%
  • Airbags313.6%
  • Exterior lighting29.1%
  • Engine14.5%
  • Other / unspecified14.5%
  • Brakes14.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 2, 2026
Crash reported

Headlights are horrible Not effective during rain, did not see a tree in road in time. Had a collision 5k in damages.

NHTSA ID
11761710
Incident
Aug 10, 2026
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 18, 2026

To start, I had to replace the engine in my 2024 Legacy that I purchased brand new in June 2024. Subaru of America handled the situation incredibly poorly, I was unable to use any warranty and I was out over 6,000 dollars. Second, my passenger airbag light has been on since September 2024. I was told to replace the sensor the whole seat rail would need replaced and would be over 1000 dollars. Apparently not covered under warranty either. Lastly, god forbid you have to drive West when the sun is going down. MULTIPLE times my vehicle has popped the “obstacle detected” while I’m traveling 75 down the interstate and spikes the brakes automatically causing a massive hazard. This is my third Subaru, but it will certainly be my last. Customer service was horrible and issues are not resolved properly.

NHTSA ID
11751237
Incident
Sep 20, 2024
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Apr 23, 2026

All Safety features stopped working while driving multiple times and loading feature pops up on the display screen. Speakers will go mute randomly, no sound will emit including phone calls. Automatic stop feature has engaged on the interstate multiple times, locking breaks (This is extremely dangerous) and lane assist does not recognize the difference between a lane or tar strips road patches. Will Automatically move the car into the next lane, even when a vehicle is in the lane. I have reported the issues to the dealership I bought my vehicle from. Also have cam footage of electrical issues.

NHTSA ID
11733299
Incident
Apr 6, 2026
Visibility
Filed Feb 8, 2026

When the vehicle is off the windows will come down on their own! This has occurred on 4 difference instances. One dealership indicated the "fix" the situation; however, they never replaced the parts which were required for the fix. A second dealership would not perform a diagnostic. A third dealership indicated that that cleaned and lubricated the necessary parts. Less than a week after leaving the dealership it occurred again. This is an extreme safety risk as the vehicle becomes easily accessible to others and it also allows easy access to the Homelink garage door system. This also causes extreme damage because during one of these window occasions it was also raining outside. Date provided is the 1st occurrence continuing to occur through 2/8/2026. I can provide documentation if further needed - manufacture is aware of occurrences

NHTSA ID
11716534
Incident
Mar 16, 2025
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 17, 2025

Multiple instances of the vehicle emergency collision avoidance system responding to a parked car or a car stopped in a left turn lane (i.e. waiting at a light). 5X+ The car audio alarm goes off, and the vehicle abruptly brakes while moving in traffic. Essentially the avoidance collision system detects parked vehicles (always in other lanes) as troublesome instances. this has occurred on winding residential streets, and slightly curved highway intersection 1X.

NHTSA ID
11687865
Incident
Jul 1, 2025
Airbags
Filed Jul 17, 2025

Passenger Airbag does not turn on when someone who weighs 100 pounds or less occupies the front passenger seat. This issue also occurs on my 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Vin # [XXX] . IT also occurred on the loaner car the dealer gave me which was a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek. I asked two Subaru dealers, Pinebelt in Lakewood, NJ and Lester Glenn in Toms River, NJ to fix the problem; but they stated that they could not adjust the passenger airbag sensor. I told Subaru of America about the problem and they have not responded or tried to address the issue. This is a serious issue that should be addressed by the NHTSA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11674219
Incident
Sep 1, 2024
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 20, 2025

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID
11643933
Incident
Jan 15, 2025
Filed Jan 30, 2025
Fire reported

Last week, my 2024 Subaru Legacy caught on fire and was totaled. By the times the firemen got there, the cause was deemed "UNDETERMINED." The car was taken by State Farm Auto Insurance to an IAA Salvage Yard. This was a brand new car and still under warranty (only 35,000 miles on it). I drove my car to the store 30-45 minutes prior to the fire. I was inside watching TV when my dog started barking. I looked out my door and my car was on fire. I called 911 and they dispatched the fire department. My daughter and I could have been in the car. Luckily no one was hurt. My car has no recalls and no one can tell me what happened.

NHTSA ID
11639691
Incident
Jan 21, 2025

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SubaruNet Announcement (C

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN

This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.

15-305-22R

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin announces a reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4.5 Denso CP1.5 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

16-150-24R

POWER TRAIN

This bulletin announces availability of new reprogramming files developed to address SYMPTOM 1: A jerk or judder sensation felt from the powertrain during braking with the air conditioning on. SYPMTOM 2: A shudder is felt from the powertrain along with a screeching type of sound. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

16-154-25R

POWER TRAIN

This Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for TR690 and TR580 CVT-equipped vehicles. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

15-308-23R

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

02-196-26R

ENGINE

This service bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Subaru Legacy by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025600—
2024Viewing170042.5
2023102057.8
2022322054.1
2021313048.6
20201216048.8
20191233048.8
20181173054.7
20171192155.8
20161473154.5
20151593157.0
20145310051.2
20136612051.4
20129016160.5
201116716051.4
201015018052.7
20096513051.4
2008659048.2
2007339053.5
2006877050.0
20051849260.2
20044911260.9
20036015255.3
2002545052.7
2001778055.1
2000944051.2
1999943054.8
19981145054.8
19971396159.3
19961234366.3
19951812362.9
1994600041.6
1993771044.8
1992552050.2
1991783152.3
1990814258.0
1989101—
1988101—
1987101—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.