2017 Subaru Legacy Complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 09/04/2026

Since the battery replacement settlement I've had 3 batteries die from my car being off, the latest battery replacement was 3/2026. I can't tell what my milage is since the battery is so dead that none of the displays turn on when I hit the start button

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 02/15/2026

Major fuel leak within engine bay

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 01/25/2026

The battery has died several times and had to be replaced over the years due to a likely slow drain issue that Subaru is well aware of and was part of a class action suit against them.

SERVICE BRAKES,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 11/11/2025

I drove into the parking lot of Walgreens, then drove around and pulled into a parking spot facing the south side of the building and put my foot on the brake to stop and park. 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. When the police came, I told them my foot must have slipped off the brake and hit the accelerator, since I had no idea what else might have caused the car to accelerate like that. My wife drove the car home and then drove to the ER where the EMTs had taken me. A CT scan showed that I had a fractured sternum, since my chest hit the steering wheel full force after the air bags failed to deploy. I was in excruciating pain for a few weeks, and after I felt better, we submitted a claim to our insurance company. We then took our 2017 Subaru Legacy to a certified Subaru collision repair center. We were shocked to find that the car was totaled, since it was still drivable. Something kept bothering us about the crash, since EyeSight should have applied the brakes if I had accidentally accelerated and it detected a brick wall in front of our car. After some research, we stumbled on the information about the Class-Action Lawsuit that was just settled by Subaru for reports of Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA). The description of what happens with SUA was exactly what I experienced, but this was the first we had heard of it. We were never notified about the lawsuit, even though our VIN number shows our car was involved. Our Subaru dealership had all our contact information since we bought our Legacy from them and they have done all the maintenance work on it. Unfortunately, we released our car to Copart as part of our insurance settlement, so there’s no way to check the EDR data. PLEASE let others know about this major safety issue before anyone else is seriously injured!

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 12/01/2025

My 2017 Legacy is on it's 3rd windshield this year. I had impact damage on July 17th, had it replaced the first week of August, and it cracked without impact damage in October. Subaru refused to replace it under warranty and it was replaced through insurance in December. The genuine Subaru replacement windshields for 2015-2019 Legacy and Outback models appear to be defective and this should be investigated.

AIR BAGS — Filed 04/23/2025

The OCS sensor is faulty and doesn’t detect a passanger and may cause the airbag not to deploy, this is common according to other Subaru owners. This is a common problem on many cars and those cars have been recalled

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 01/01/2023

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. The dealer has confirmed the three converters installed have been defective. The manufacturer, Subaru, was contacted to inspect the car but refused. Precious years have recalls of the fuel mechanisms. The check engine light stays on when unsafe emissions are detected.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/17/2024

The mirror drivers side mirror wiggles. I. The even of a battery failure the electrical brake may fail

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 04/16/2021

The key frequently gets stuck in the ignition. It takes several attempts to release the key. Turning the wheel to ensure the wheel isn’t locked and turning the ignition/car on does not help release the key from ignition.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 10/23/2023

The key constantly stuck in ignition. Sometimes 10 minutes to get out. Then won’t start ignition Key broke off in ignition … your stuck with this situation that Subaru is pretending to not know about

STEERING — Filed 09/15/2023

Electric Power Steering failure

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 10/10/2023

The HOOD LATCH Failed, and hood came up at 70 mph on interstate. This has caused extensive damage.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 08/25/2023

the key gets stuck in the ignition and you have to slide the shifter back in forth till it unlocks. I'm showing recall on other Subaru but not on mine ? or at least my year of car. why is that ? everyday its takes longer and longer to get the key to release.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/10/2021

Jan 2021 my battery died. So I called AAA and they were able to replace it. Then last year I received a notice of a problem with batteries. I submitted a claim with the SUBARU BATTERY SETTLEMENT. I submitted my receipts. They denied my claim stating that I did not use a Subaru authorized dealer AND that I did not notify Subaru 10 days PRIOR to the new battery. I am at a loss to understand how this Settlement is working. I did not anticipate the battery dying. I needed to be able to drive, so I called AAA who I think is generally reputable. Do people actually call the car manufacturer and wait 10 days to put in a new battery? This is a joke. I appealed and they denied it twice. How can this be??

POWER TRAIN — Filed 05/16/2023

On May 16, 2023 I was driving a friend home. We were stopped at a red light and felt an impact. My friend said, "You've been hit." I went out to check. No one had hit the car. It had lurched forward while my foot was on the brake. On 6/1/23 I pulled out of a driveway, car was in drive, foot on brake, paused to set GPS, car lurched forward. I brought to the dealer. They said they drove it for seven miles and could not duplicate the problem. About a year prior, the car had also lurched, but at that time I was in drive doing approx 30 mph, and I used the brake to slow it back to my speed. At that time the dealer found some leak in the transmission and, I believe, changed a gasket. These problems are intermittent and did not register on the car's computer, according to the dealer. Have you had any such complaint? Is my car safe?

POWER TRAIN — Filed 03/01/2022

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 passenger remained in the vehicle, seated in the passenger seat. The motor idled for about 10 minutes after the driver exited the vehicle. No alarms sounded to alert the driver or passenger that the car was not left as intended—motor running and in park. The vehicle remained completely stationary for about 10 minutes until the passenger reached over and pushed the ignition button to turn off the engine. At this time, the vehicle started to roll forwards down the hill. The passenger was not able to climb over the center console into the driver seat, but found she was was able to steer the vehicle. The passenger steered the vehicle by reaching over from the passenger seat. The passenger steered the vehicle onto the service road and away from a group of people standing on the shoulder in front of the car down-hill from the vehicle. She steered the vehicle through an open chain-link gate. The service road ends at the bottom of the hill in a T with a public road— Glenallen Avenue. The car crossed the public road that momentarily was without traffic. The car continued onto the shoulder on the far side of Glenallen Avenue where it finally was stopped by crashing into a tree. The air bags deployed. The passenger sustained a fractured left hand, a fracture of the right shoulder and sprained right foot. The passenger pushed the ignition again and the gear selector in case the engine was still running, because she feared a potential explosion. Her injuries required medical attention, and she was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The car manufacturer was contacted. The insurance company determined that the vehicle was destroyed and not able to be repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 16,100.

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/11/2022

The contact owned a 2017 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 - 45 MPH on a two-lane road, he attempted to overtake the driver in front and crashed head-on into a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. 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. The contact stated that he was informed by the police officer that the other driver did not require medical attention. The contact was transported from the scene by ambulance to the local hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The contact stated that the insurance provider declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer on several occasions but was unable to speak with a representative. The approximate failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 07/15/2021

I do not know what caused the fire, but maybe the battery or something electrical. The car stalled and the. I re-started the car and no warning lights came on the dashboard. I then parked the car. Upon exiting I noticed the front driver’s hood smoking. I went into the bank was parked at and within minutes my car was in flames. The entire engine burned and my car is totaled. A fire marshal was coincidentally on scene and documented the entire event. Currently, this car is under investigation by both my insurance company Liberty Mutual and also Subaru. No warning lights were lit on the car. A fire and police report have been filed, and I have many pictures. If this car had gone on fire in my garage my house would also have burned.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/31/2021

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

AIR BAGS — Filed 04/16/2021

FRONT END COLLISION AIR BAD DID NOT DEPLOY FACE DAMAGE

AIR BAGS — Filed 03/24/2021

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. DURING THE CRASH, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY CAUSING THE DRIVERS HEAD TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED DOWN ONTO THE HEAD OF THE DRIVER CAUSING THE DRIVER ADDITIONAL INJURIES AND ALSO CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BECOMING ENTRAPPED BY THE AIR BAG. DURING THE CRASH THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH SIDES OF THE HEAD WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.*DT

STEERING,AIR BAGS — Filed 11/24/2018

I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2017 SUBARU LEGACY AND INITIALLY SAW A DEER TO MY LEFT AND TRIED TO STEER SLIGHTLY RIGHT. NEXT THING I KNOW THE COPS ARE THERE AND TOOK ME TO HOSPITAL. THEY SAID THE CAR WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. IT HAD MASSIVE DAMAGE AND AFTER TWO MONTHS IN SHOP, STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. 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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/14/2019

PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON HIGHWAY WITH NO IMMINENT THREAT OF A COLLISION. THIS CAUSED BY TO ABRUPTLY STOP WITH ME BIENG REAR ENDED.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/25/2017

HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT HITTING A DEER IN CENTER OF FRONT GRILL AT 45-50 MPH. DURING IMPACT STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND ALL SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. CANNOT GET ANSWER AS TO WHY...SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED?? SUBARU DEALER SAID THEY WILL ONLY DEPLOY WHEN YOU HAVE A ROLL OVER OR SIDE IMPACT. MECHANIC STATED THAT NONE OF THE SENSORS WERE EFFECTED AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 04/18/2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU LEGACY. 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 VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.