Most common 2017 Subaru Legacy problems
Share of the 119 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Legacy complaints by model year
Best Legacy years: 2023, 2025, 2021. Years to avoid: 2015, 2016, 2011, 2020, 2019. Compare all years →
2017 Subaru Legacy recalls (2)
Air bags › Knee bolster
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.
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.
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2017 Subaru Legacy:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
What 2017 Subaru Legacy owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 35 →
The windshield formed a crack towards the bottom of the passenger side and was about 3-5inches to start. Over time, the crack grew to approximately over 1ft. Later on, another crack began forming on the drivers side of the windshield, also starting at only a few inches, and now has grown into almost 1ft long. Am in process of looking to have it repaired, but have not set a date yet. Having a cracked windshield is an overall safety risk any time you drive the car due to it's ability to impact visibility as it grows/becomes worse. The windshield has not yet been inspected by: manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, but has been seen during State Inspection. There were no warnings/messages/symptoms before seeing the crack - They first appeared a day or two after I had recently had my car's oil changed at an autobody shop. …
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud popping noise was heard, and then a crack formed from the bottom of the windshield without impact. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the windshield needed to be replaced another time. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the failure reoccurred after she started the vehicle. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V712000 (Visibility); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. …
Electrical system all 30 →
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.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while attempting to remove the key from the ignition, the key remained stuck in the ignition. The contact restarted the vehicle, shifted to reverse and back to park, and was able to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The mechanic stated that sometimes the key might get rusted, causing it to be difficult to remove from the ignition. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
Steering
Purchased the car used took to dealership for rattle from front end, they diagnosed and recommended replacement of steering rack as it was defective, so it was replaced, a month later same noise, same diagnosis, replaced again, repeated this 7 times and they have reconfirmed it is the rack, the dealership technician states it's the rack and not as it should be. The manager however is trying to state now that it's a normal noise and they won't warranty the repairs anymore. It continues to get worse and louder and feels unsafe to have defective steering racks on the roadways that are non repairable. I've reached out to corporate Subaru as well and they can only make decisions based off info the manager gives them which is opposite of what the technicians state. Please help me this car is unsafe.
Vehicle is difficult to control, especially when driving on uneven roads, or when it is windy. It takes a lot of effort to keep the car in one lane. The ride is rough, and you can hear and feel every little bump in the road. More than a rough ride, this will oftentimes throw my vehicle off path which feels like the car is not in my control momentarily. For instance, it will follow the direction of any cracks/grooves in the road, despite both my hands being on the wheel. This deviation requires immediate correction or risk collision. A passing vehicle moving at a high rate of speed will also push my car off track, which is obviously dangerous on the freeway.
2017 Subaru Legacy engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | 25 / 34 / 29 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | CVT | AWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Subaru Legacy a good car?
Based on 119 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Legacy rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Legacy at the same age. It is one of the Legacy years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Subaru Legacy?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 35 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about sun/moon roof assembly. Next are the electrical system (30) and steering (9).
How many recalls does the 2017 Subaru Legacy have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2017 Subaru Legacy, the most recent from October 6, 2016 (knee bolster). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Legacy?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2025 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2016, 2011, 2020 and 2019. See the full Subaru Legacy years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Subaru Legacy problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 31,000 miles; 78% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.