2017 Subaru Legacy · symptom sheet

Battery dies or the car will not start

25owner reports
43,000median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Sep 5, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

30 of the 119 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 25 of those describe dead battery. Only windshield is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 25 reports

dead after sitting a day or two

needed a jump start

battery replaced more than once

warning lights or messages

the dealer found a drain

the dealer found nothing

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (25 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the electrical system covers the 2017 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Legacy

PE99-067opened Nov 1, 1999

Electrical · model years 1995 to 1997

Electrical system. Closed may 31, 2000, led to recall 00I-002.

NHTSA summary

ODI HAS RECEIVED 5,820 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING.OUR COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMPAINTS ARE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART.BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPOMSE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THE OWNER NORTIFICATION PROGRAM CITED ABOVE, INCLUDING QUARTERLY NOTIFICATIONS TO ODI.THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OWNERS TO GET THEIR ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR FREE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS MATTER CLOSELY, AND THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE MODELS IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

220

721

1022

423

226

What owners wrote

“The car's battery does not recharge the battery adequately, or retain a charge for a reasonable amount of time. I have a jumpstarting device that I keep in the car because the battery dies so frequently. There are no after market parts in the car, or modifications apart from maintenance performed by Subaru.”
Filed Jan 9, 2023

“Complete Battery drainage started when the car had about 30k miles. Batery was replaced around December 2020 at owners expense. Within a year the baterry drainage started happening again, randomly, after parking. Subaru dealer suggested to keep replacing baterry. Issue has not been reproduced by service department; it randomly happens. It has not been inspected by others.”
Filed Nov 9, 2022 · 30,000 miles

“Unexplained battery drain on my 2017 Subaru Legacy. Had to jump the vehicle on two different occasions. Brought the vehicle to the dealer and was told I needed a new battery. Cost to me was $235.78. I now hear that there has been an issue with Subaru batteries and a class action lawsuit has been filed. How do I join the lawsuit or file for a reimbursement for the battery I had to buy?”
Filed Sep 27, 2022

“Battery drains resulting in no start condition. Taken to dealer and they say all is fine but problem happens over again. On second battery and need to purchase a third now because of this issue.”
Filed Sep 25, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 25 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.