AI Damage2017 Subaru Legacy: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Subaru Legacy filed 119 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and electrical system. The maker issued 264 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 119
- involving a crash
- 10
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 264
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 29% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 5% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 4% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 3% of all complaints
- Visibility: 35 complaints (29% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Electrical system: 30 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 153.
- Steering: 9 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Air bags: 7 complaints (6% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Structure: 6 complaints (5% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- CVTnamed in 1 complaints
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 119 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 35 | 0 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 30 | 0 | 153 |
| Steering | 9 | 1 | 5 |
| Air bags | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Structure | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 17 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 1 | 32 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 1 | 4 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Instead of stopping, the car suddenly lurched forward violently and slammed into the brick wall of the building. My wife called 911 since I told her my chest really hurt.
A 2017 Subaru Legacy was stopped on a hill, on the shoulder of a two lane service road. The driver, who was the car owner, placed the gear selector in park, left the motor idling, exited the vehicle, closed the driver side door, loaded several logs into the trunk, and slammed the trunk.
The contact stated that the driver's front air bag failed to deploy however, both side curtain air bags deployed as needed. The contact stated that he suffered two fractures to his sternum along with other chest injuries.
Almost hit a deer on Meredith Center road New Hampshire my display warning did not go off cost $12,000 worth of impact on the front end of the car the airbags did not go off deploy broke ribs
Tl* 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.
I never received a recall on this car but it was sending me messages through starlink saying there was a power steering problem. I will try to attach that screen shot. Also the dealer that sold us the car has been no help at all. The car was driving and in motion. No air bags deployed either.
While parking the vehicle, the contact released her foot from the accelerator pedal and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The failure occurred without warning. As a result, the vehicle accelerated up a hill and crashed into a wall.
The catalytic converter has been replaced twice and is now needing a third replacement. The car emits gas fumes, unsafe emissions, and the fuel causes the mechanism to be extremely hot and unsafe. Over time, the car has had reduced gas flow and will stop running.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 509 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 24% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Legacy has 73 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 119, above average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines
- This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application
- This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles
- "This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs
DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
- This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and…
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a…
This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during…
This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body
The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw…
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…
- This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues
- This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during…
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
- Techtips newsletter locator index
NHTSA lists 264 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Legacy?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, electrical system, steering. Total complaints: 119. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: battery drain (11%), warning lights, check engine (7%), windows, sunroof (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA lists 264 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Subaru Legacy from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.