Short answer
Among Subaru Legacy/Outback model years through 2024, 2024 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2010 has the most (18). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Subaru Legacy/Outback: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 74
- Fewest recalls
- 2024 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2010 (18)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (90)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2013, 2014, 2015 and 10 more years
Subaru Legacy/Outback Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2024 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2023 | 2 | 5 stars | Power train |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Power train |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 stars | Power train, Air bags |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 stars | Power train, Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Structure |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Visibility |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic, Steering |
| 2016 | 4 | 5 stars | Power train, Air bags, Steering |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 stars | Electronic stability control (esc), Forward collision avoidance, Power train |
| 2014 | 10 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Parking brake |
| 2013 | 12 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2012 | 16 | 4 stars | Air bags, Visibility, Electrical system |
| 2011 | 16 | 4 stars | Air bags, Visibility, Electrical system |
| 2010 | 18 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 | 13 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2008 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2007 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2006 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system |
| 2005 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system |
| 2004 | 10 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Vehicle speed control |
| 2003 | 14 | Not rated | Air bags, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2002 | 4 | Not rated | Power train, Service brakes, hydraulic, Suspension |
| 2001 | 7 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Seat belts |
| 2000 | 3 | Not rated | Power train, Steering, Suspension |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20250 recalls
- 20240 recalls
- 20232 recalls
- 20224 recalls
- 20214 recalls
- 20206 recalls
- 20193 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20174 recalls
- 20164 recalls
- 20155 recalls
- 201410 recalls
- 201312 recalls
- 201216 recalls
- 201116 recalls
- 201018 recalls
- 200913 recalls
- 20089 recalls
- 20079 recalls
- 20067 recalls
- 20059 recalls
- 200410 recalls
- 200314 recalls
- 20024 recalls
- 20017 recalls
- 20003 recalls
Subaru Legacy/Outback: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Subaru Legacy/Outback recalls are air bags (90), power train (18), electrical system (14), service brakes, hydraulic (14) and visibility (9). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 27 model years, and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 10 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Subaru Legacy/Outback Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Subaru Legacy/Outback?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Subaru Legacy/Outback model years have the most recalls?
2010 has the most, with 18 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Legacy/Outback", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy