KnownCarProblems2017 Subaru Legacy Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Legacy, most often about the visibility and wipers (29% of complaints, typically around 34,000 miles). It is 8th of 26 Legacy model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2017 Subaru Legacy problems
Visibility and wipers
35 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, windshield.
I noticed a small crack in my windshield when I went to my garage, I hadn't driven the car for several days so I thought possibly extreme heat or humidity might have caused the windshield to crack. It seemed unusual but I did not have any other explanation since the car was parked in the garage & the crack was in a…
While parked in a hotel parking lot, the driver's side windshield spontaneously developed a long crack. The car had not been impacted by any object.
Electrical
30 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
Bought my car in 2017 and I had my battery replaced 2.5 years later due to low battery, multiple jumpstarts, failure starting, and severe corrosion. The replacement battery was from the dealership and within 6 months it had severe corrosion. During service the corrosion was cleared, but returned by the time the next…
I have reviewed multiple threads on the internet talking about issues with the key being stuck in the ignition after putting the vehicle in park. They all suggested contacting Subaru america and that there would be a free fix since it impacts safety of the vehicle (seems easy to steal when the key is stuck in the car…
Other or unspecified
21 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles.
I have had 3 broken windshields on my 2017 Subaru Legacy in the 20 months that I have owned the vehicle. When it happened this past time I realized this is not just "bad luck" on my part. I started researching the issue online and found that Subaru has a class action lawsuit against them for 2015 and 2016. I believe…
Pre-collision system activated on highway with no imminent threat of a collision. This caused by to abruptly stop with me bieng rear ended.
Steering
9 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles.
I had an accident with my 2017 Subaru Legacy and initially saw a deer to my left and tried to steer slightly right. Next thing I know the cops are there and took me to hospital. They said the car went over an embankment. It had massive damage and after two months in shop, still pulls to the right. I never received a…
The steering has no resistance to input from the road or crosswind, heavy/slushy snow, etc. You have to steer into a crosswind and as soon as the wind is gone, the car veers. This happens with the wind given off while passing the front of a semi truck or other large commercial truck. The steering is very easy for the…
Air bags
7 complaints · 6%I had an accident with my 2017 Subaru Legacy and initially saw a deer to my left and tried to steer slightly right. Next thing I know the cops are there and took me to hospital. They said the car went over an embankment. It had massive damage and after two months in shop, still pulls to the right. I never received a…
The contact owned a 2017 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, a second vehicle t-bone crashed into the driver side of the vehicle. During the crash, the driver side curtain air bag did not immediately deploy causing the drivers head to make contact with the interior of the driver…
Body and structure
6 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Gas cap doesn't open. I decided to buy this car last year because another Legacy car had the same repair showing on its carfax. And now I have the problem with this car. The rep said today that they had another car to repair for the same issue.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that there was air noises coming into the vehicle from the vents of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that they believed the noises were coming from near the mirrors of the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The…
Brakes
5 complaints · 4%The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in the driveway on a hill and when he started to exit the vehicle it started to roll backwards down the driveway. The contact had to quickly turn the steering wheel in to a backwards u turn to turn the vehicle back into his yard. The…
Engine
5 complaints · 4%When I go to park my 2017 Subaru Legacy, I put my car in park and the key will not turn. It gets stuck and the engine will not turn off. Consequently, I am not able to turn off my car and take my key out. The dealer told me to back up my car and thrust my gear shifter into park. Then I was able to turn the key off.…
Flexible exhaust bellows that connect exhaust manifold to catalytic converter is cracked and exhaust fumes enter the cabin. This causes headaches and nausea while driving and idling especially with the HVAC system on.there is an active recall on prior year vehicles with the same body style and engine combination. My…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 Subaru Legacy recalls
Air bags: knee bolster
Risk: If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began november 14, 2016. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is wtl-72.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 legacy and outback vehicles manufactured september 21, 2016, to september 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.
Steering: column
Risk: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began may 13, 2016. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is wtd-65. Note: until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 legacy and outback vehicles manufactured february 29, 2016, to may 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2017 Subaru Legacy
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Legacy?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (35 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles); electrical (30 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles); other or unspecified (21 complaints, typically around 29,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 Subaru Legacy have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 6, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2017 a bad year for the Subaru Legacy?
- It is 8th of 26 Legacy model years by number of complaints, with 119 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.