Diagsheet

Sixth generation

2017 Subaru Legacy

The most reported problem on the 2017 Subaru Legacy is windshield, with 33 complaints, usually around 36,000 miles.

  • 119owner complaints
  • 2recalls
  • 10involved a crash
  • 31,000median miles at failure

Newest report Sep 5, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

miles

2017 Subaru Legacy
Photo: Elise240SX, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What is your Legacy doing?

Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2017 model year.

Is the 2017 Subaru Legacy reliable?

The 2017 Subaru Legacy has 119 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 178 for 2017 sedans on this site. Of the 11 Legacy model years since 2014, it has the 5th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.

At a glance

Next to the 2016 and 2018
The 2017 sits level with the years around it, at 12 complaints for each year on the road next to 13 for the 2016 and 13 for the 2018.
Top problem
Windshield leads with 33 of the 119 complaints (28%), ahead of dead battery at 25. A quarter of the 21 owners who gave a mileage for windshield saw it by about 30,000 miles, and half by about 36,000.
Crash, fire and injury reports
11 of the 119 complaints (9%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 10 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 6 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 6 of 10, fall under airbag.
Recalls behind the top problems
No recall on file is on the same system as windshield and dead battery. For those, the complaints are all there is.
When owners filed
Filings peaked in 2022 at 28 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 3. So far in 2026, 4 more have come in.

When each problem shows up

Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: windshield cracks or distorts, 33 complaints.

0k25k50k75k100k125k150kyou
Every complaint with a mileage61 of 119
61 complaints state a mileage. The most, 15, fall between 30,000 and 40,000 miles.
too few reports state a mileage

middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.

Behind you

    Around your mileage

      Ahead of you

        How this compares

        2017 Subaru Legacy119
        Median 2017 model here (94 vehicles)270
        Median 2017 sedan here (27)178

        119 complaints is 2.3 times fewer than the median 2017 model on this site and 1.5 times fewer than the median 2017 sedan. Among the 6 Legacy model years here it ranks 5th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.

        Service bulletins for the 2017 Subaru Legacy

        Subaru filed 387 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2017 Subaru Legacy. 13 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.

        Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

        Windshield cracks or distorts 3 bulletins · 33 complaints

        • Service bulletin12-246-18RJul 23, 2019

          This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosing and repairing customer concerns of a “popping” or “snapping” -type sound heard when opening the sunroof.

        • Service bulletin01-174-16Jul 21, 2016

          This Service Information bulletin provides a guideline to use for placement of required or mandated windshield stickers (inside and / or outside) on vehicles equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and High Beam Assist (HBA) features.

        1 more on this problem
        • Service bulletin1212711RMay 22, 2013

          If you encounter a customer complaint of a white residue build up on the rear door partition glass or interior molding, it may be crystallized salt.

        Battery dies or the car will not start 7 bulletins · 25 complaints

        • Service bulletin15-308-23RAug 20, 2026

          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 ...

        • Service bulletin15-317-24RMar 12, 2024

          Subaru has extended the Data Communication Module (DCM) warranty from 3 years 36,000mi to 8 years or 100,000mi. In rare cases, customers may experience a dead battery as a result of the DCM continually trying to access the 3G network.

        5 more on this problem
        • Service bulletin15-317-24Feb 27, 2024

          Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is extending the Data Communication Module (DCM) warranty from three years (36 months or 36K miles) to eight years (96 months or 100K miles), whichever comes first.

        • Service bulletin07-207-22RFeb 3, 2023

          Subaru Battery Drain Product Liability Litigation.

        • Service bulletinSubaruNet AnnounSep 1, 2022

          Battery Drain Class Action Settlement- Warranty Extension Training.

        • Service bulletinSubaruNet AnnounAug 30, 2022

          Announcement to Subaru Retailers regarding the preliminary settlement in a class action lawsuit regarding battery drain in certain Subaru vehicles.

        • Service bulletin11-174-17ROct 31, 2017

          This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files to optimize the ECM and address the following customer concerns: ? Check Engine light coming on (with DTC P05A0 stored in memory).

        Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 3 bulletins · 5 complaints

        • Service bulletin06-90-24Jun 25, 2024

          This bulletin provides diagnosis and procedure information to be applied when diagnosing potential fluid leaks on front and rear brake calipers. This information has been developed to reduce unnecessary brake caliper replacement.

        • Service bulletin06-68-19RJul 11, 2019

          This Service Information bulletin announces instruction for application of additional lubrication between the brake caliper support and pad clips.

        1 more on this problem
        • Service bulletin06-69-19RFeb 7, 2019

          This bulletin announces a design change made to the rear ABS wheel speed sensor on the models listed above. The change involves the addition of an additional shielding cover to protect the harness from damage caused by road debris.

        Complaints filed by year

        Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2016: 1, 2017: 8, 2018: 5, 2019: 8, 2020: 22, 2021: 23, 2022: 28, 2023: 14, 2024: 3, 2025: 3, 2026: 41'168'175'188'1922'2023'2128'2214'233'243'254'26

        28 complaints came in 2022. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.

        NHTSA investigations

        EA21-002opened Sep 17, 2021
        Airbags · model years 2015 to 2017

        Desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Open.

        NHTSA 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 substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been n

        Recalls that include the 2017 Subaru Legacy

        Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

        16V-716Oct 6, 2016
        Steering:Column

        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.

        Risk and remedy
        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.
        Remedy: 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.
        16V-292May 11, 2016
        Do not drive Steering:Column

        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.

        Risk and remedy
        Risk: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
        Remedy: 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.

        All 2 recalls on the 2017 Subaru Legacy, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

        Guide One recall here carries a do-not-drive warning. What that means

        Questions

        What is the most common problem on the 2017 Subaru Legacy?

        Windshield, with 33 of the 119 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 36,000 miles.

        At what mileage do 2017 Subaru Legacy problems start?

        Of the 61 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 20,000 miles and half by about 31,000.

        Is the 2017 Subaru Legacy better or worse than the 2016 and 2018?

        Counted per year on the road, the 2017 has about as many complaints as both the 2016 and the 2018: 12 a year against 13 and 13.

        How many 2017 Subaru Legacy complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?

        11 of them (9%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.

        Is there a recall for windshield on the 2017 Subaru Legacy?

        No recall on file for the 2017 Subaru Legacy is on the same system as windshield. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

        Other model years