How many recalls does the 2017 Subaru Legacy have?

NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2017 Subaru Legacy model year. Whether one car had the recall work done depends on that car, so check its VIN with NHTSA.

What is the WhipWorthy verdict on the 2017 Subaru Legacy?

Worthy. About the usual owner complaints. The verdict weighs this year against the other years of the Legacy, from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

1995: 216 owner complaints, Maybe

Our take: worth a look. Owners filed about as many complaints as in a typical year of this model, and one recall says do not drive it until it is fixed.

Year verdict

Worthy

1.1× a typical year

About as many owner complaints as a typical year. Still get it inspected.

Confidence: High

Based on 109 in its first 8 years (119 filed in all) vs about 93 typical across 8 other model years.

Past 100,000 miles

Not judged

No complaints in its first 10 years and 10 months give a mileage past 100,000 miles. Many owners never write the miles, so that is not a clean bill of health.

How the dial was counted

Year verdict: Typical year: 93 complaints, the median of 8 nearby years. Each counted over its first 8 years from January 2016; this one had 109.

Odometer check

No one part has enough complaints that give a mileage to mark a problem zone, so there is nothing yet to hold a car's miles against.

WhipWorthy sticker

2017 Subaru Legacy

Complaints119Filed in all
Loading owner complaints
Recalls21 do not drive
Loading recalls
Crash5 out of 5 starsBest of 1 version
Loading crash ratings
MPG23 to 29Combined, EPA
Loading fuel economy

Complaints are unverified owner reports, not adjusted for how many were sold.

Compare this car Every Legacy year

Car report

Save this car to My Garage and see its recalls at a glance.Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Value signals

We do not price cars.

These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.

Owners report no costly problem zone with enough mileages to map for this year.
Loading costly problem zones ahead
Fuel: $2,200 to $2,800 a year.The EPA’s estimate for 15,000 miles a year, 55% in town, at its fuel prices. Each version
Loading the EPA's yearly fuel cost
Have the VIN? Check it is this car, and see its open recalls at NHTSA.
VIN
On the dash at the base of the windshield, or on the driver’s door sticker.

What about the price? Check the asking price on two listing sites. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the offer X ray.

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

The full record

Tap to open

What owners complain about

119 complaints; the part named most is the windows, wipers and visibility

Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Aug 25, 2016 to Sep 5, 2026. 13% name a part that is usually costly to fix.

Owners reported 10 crashes, 1 fire and 6 injuries in these complaints.

Windows, wipers and visibility35 · 29%
Electrical30 · 25%
Other or unknown21 · 18%

What one owner wrote about the windows, wipers and visibility

My 2017 Legacy is on it's 3rd windshield this year. I had impact damage on July 17th, had it replaced the first week of August, and it cracked without impact damage in October. Subaru refused to replace it under warranty and it was replaced through insurance in December. The genuine Subaru replacement windshields for 2015-2019 Legacy and Outback models…

Filed Dec 10, 2025NHTSA complaint 117041411 of 18 owner quotes

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12 more parts, and 18 owner quotes

Every part owners name for the 2017 Subaru Legacy, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Engine, Transmission and drivetrain, Body and frame.

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SourceOwner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Subaru Legacy. NHTSA, checked Nov 4, 2026.

Seller kit

Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points

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Walk up to the seller ready

Questions to ask the seller of a 2017 Subaru Legacy, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.

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Write your offer

A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email

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Send the seller a fair offer

Type the asking price and your own offer for the 2017 Subaru Legacy, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.

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When problems show up

Too few owners said their miles

Too few complaints mention a mileage to show a pattern. 13 complaints of 119 gave one, and a part needs at least 15.

SourceMileage from owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Subaru Legacy. NHTSA, checked Nov 4, 2026.

Will it outlast the loan?

The month of your loan each problem zone lands in

Not enough owner complaints for the 2017 Subaru Legacy mention a mileage to lay against a loan. Have a mechanic look it over all the same.

Recalls

2 recalls on file, 1 saying do not drive or park outside

Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.

Steering
May 11, 2016 · Recall 16V292000Do not drive.NHTSA says: Park it until the repair is done.
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.
What can happen
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Steering
Oct 6, 2016 · Recall 16V716000
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.
What can happen
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.
The 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.

SourceRecalls listed by NHTSA for the 2017 Subaru Legacy. NHTSA, checked Nov 4, 2026.

Crash ratings

5 of 5 stars overall, the best of 1 version tested

NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight.

2017 Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
10.1% chance of a rollover in a one car crash, by NHTSA's estimate.
Stability control
Standard
Forward collision warning
Optional
Lane departure warning
Optional

NHTSA investigations: 1

SourceNHTSA crash ratings for the 2017 Subaru Legacy. NHTSA, checked Nov 4, 2026.

Fuel economy

23 to 29 mpg combined, across 2 versions

The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in.

Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L
Legacy AWD · All wheel drive · Regular gas
City
20 mpg
Highway
28 mpg
Combined
23 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,800
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
Legacy AWD · All wheel drive · Regular gas
City
25 mpg
Highway
34 mpg
Combined
29 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,200
This one on fueleconomy.gov

SourceEPA fuel economy data, fueleconomy.gov. EPA, checked Nov 4, 2026.

True cost to own

The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years

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What it really costs to own

What the 2017 Subaru Legacy costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.

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Every year of the Legacy

26 Worthy, 4 Maybe, 1 Pass, of 31 years on file

Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Tap a year to open it. The newest 2 are not judged yet. Bars are totals, so older years stand taller; the verdict compares every year at the same age.

Best and worst years of the Legacy

SourceNHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Legacy. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Before you buy this one

5 checks, with a close look at the windows, wipers and visibility

Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.

Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 2 recalls on file. One of them says not to drive the car, or to park it outside, until it is fixed. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the windows, wipers and visibility. It is the part owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look at the windows, wipers and visibility first.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the windows, wipers and visibility.
Run the wipers, washers, defrost and every window.

Going to see it? Take the checklist52 checks with the bad signs to look for, saved on your phone.

Check this exact car

The verdict is about the model year. These checks are about the one in front of you. Most are free or a few dollars.

VIN for these checks

Copy it, then paste it into each check. Nothing is sent until you open one.

Official checks on this VIN

Open recallsFree
NHTSA
Safety recalls on this VIN that are not fixed yet, from the last 15 years.
A recall already fixed does not show.
Check recalls at NHTSAnhtsa.gov (opens in a new tab)
Theft and total lossFree
NICB VINCheck
Whether an insurer reported it stolen and not found, or wrote it off as a total loss.
Only insurer records. Five checks a day.
Open NICB VINChecknicb.org (opens in a new tab)
Title brandsA few dollars
NMVTIS, the federal title system
Salvage, flood, junk and rebuilt brands from any state, and the last miles on the title.
No repairs, service or recalls. Sold by approved sellers listed on the site.
See the approved sellersvehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov (opens in a new tab)
Title statusVaries by state
The state motor vehicle office
Whether the title is branded in that state and, where the state offers it, whether a lender still has a lien.
It will not name the owner. Each state asks its own way, and some only by mail. Ask to see the seller’s title too.
Find your state’s officeusa.gov (opens in a new tab)

What a paid report adds

A history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck pulls in more of the car’s past than these checks can:

Crashes and damage reported by police, insurers or shops, even when it was fixed.
Service visits that shops reported, with the miles each time.
How many owners, for how long, and the states it was registered in.
Whether it was a rental, fleet or lease car, when that was reported.

It only knows what was reported to it. A clean report is not proof of a clean car. Ask the seller first: many dealers hand one over for free.

Red flags in a history

Salvage title
Usually an insurer called it a total loss. In most states it cannot be driven on the road until it is rebuilt and inspected.
Rebuilt title
A salvage car that was fixed and passed a state check. It can be fine, but it is worth less, can be harder to insure, and needs a careful inspection.
Flood damage
Water can ruin wiring and sensors months later. Be wary of a flood brand that vanished after a move to another state.
Lemon or maker buyback
The maker bought it back over a defect it could not fix. Ask what the defect was and how it was fixed.
Odometer rollback
A mileage reading lower than an earlier one, or a title marked not actual miles.
Many owners, fast
Three owners in two years can mean a problem each one passed along.
Gaps in the records
Years with no service or registration. Ask why: it may have sat, been off the road, or been rebuilt.

Title words and rules differ by state. Not legal advice.

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection
Have a mechanic you choose, not the seller, put it on a lift and look it over before you pay.
Insurance quote
Get a quote on this exact car before you sign. Ask your own insurer and one or two others.

Value signals

What owners complain about

Seller kit

Write your offer

When problems show up

Will it outlast the loan?

Recalls

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Crash ratings

2017 Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD

Fuel economy

Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L

Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L

True cost to own

Every year of the Legacy

Before you buy this one

Check this exact car

Official checks on this VIN

What a paid report adds

Red flags in a history

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection

Insurance quote

Add WhipWorthy to this device

Send feedback

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L

Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L

2017 Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD

Model year	Owner complaints	Verdict
1995	216	Maybe
1996	141	Worthy
1997	146	Worthy
1998	124	Worthy
1999	98	Worthy
2000	103	Maybe
2001	81	Worthy
2002	59	Worthy
2003	62	Worthy
2004	49	Worthy
2005	184	Pass
2006	87	Worthy
2007	33	Worthy
2008	65	Worthy
2009	65	Worthy
2010	151	Maybe
2011	167	Maybe
2012	90	Worthy
2013	66	Worthy
2014	53	Worthy
2015	160	Worthy
2016	147	Worthy
2017	119	Worthy
2018	117	Worthy
2019	123	Worthy
2020	121	Worthy
2021	31	Worthy
2022	34	Worthy
2023	10	Worthy
2024	17	Worthy
2025	6	Worthy

The verdict on the 2017 Subaru Legacy

Value signals

What owners complain about

Seller kit

Write your offer

When problems show up

Will it outlast the loan?

Recalls

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Crash ratings

2017 Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD

Fuel economy

Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L

Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L

True cost to own

Every year of the Legacy

Before you buy this one

Check this exact car

Official checks on this VIN

What a paid report adds

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection

Insurance quote

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L

Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L

2017 Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD