"How reliable is the 2009 Subaru Legacy?"

"Based on 74 NHTSA complaints, the 2009 Subaru Legacy has a median complaint mileage of 75497 miles. The most common issue is AIR BAGS."

"What are common problems with the 2009 Subaru Legacy?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Subaru Legacy is AIR BAGS, accounting for a significant portion of the 74 total complaints filed."

2009 Subaru Legacy: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 74 complaints

Total Complaints

75,497mi

Median Mileage

AIR BAGS

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

43,954 25th Percentile

75,497 Median Mileage

113,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS

ENGINE

SERVICE BRAKES

STRUCTURE:BODY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VISIBILITY/WIPER

POWER TRAIN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM: THERE IS NO CUSTOMER RESET FOR THIS FEDERAL MANDATED DEVICE ON MY 2009 SUBARU LEGACY. I HAVE TO PAY $50.00 EACH TIME TO HAVE IT RESET AT THE DEALER WHEN I CHANGE TIRES IN THE SPRING AND FALL. THANKS A LOT FOR THIS FIX THAT WAS NOT THOUGHT OUT BY MY ELECTED REPRESENT..."

"2009, 2010 HEAD RESTS ARE SO UNCOMFORTABLE I AM ACTUALLY DEVELOPING LOWER BACK PAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. YOU HAVE SACRIFICED PERMANENT DISABLING BACK PROBLEMS FOR A SAFETY ISSUE. THE HEAD IS PUSHED TO FAR FORWARD, STRAINING MY NECK. I AM A TALL WOMAN SO I SIT UP STRAIGHT UNLIKE A MAN. I..."

"OPENED DRIVER SIDE DOOR ONE NIGHT AND AS I WAS PULLING DOOR OPEN I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AND HIT MY NECK ON THE WINDOW SINCE IT HAS NO FRAME. IT WAS DARK, COULDN'T SEE THE CLEAR GLASS AND NEVER GAVE IT A THOUGHT. THE WINDOW CAUGHT MY NECK AT AN ANGLE EXACTLY WHERE I HAD ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28