Subaru

Legacy (3rd)

2000-2004 · Midsize Sedan ยท 1 engine
Best Engine โŒ Avoid (1.5)
336 NHTSA Complaints
23 Recalls
5 Fire Reports
33 Crash Reports
View all 5 generations of the Subaru Legacy → ๐Ÿ“‹ Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (11.8% risk)
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

Subaru Legacy Unidentified Engine

โŒ Avoid (1.5)
335 complaints 67.0 per year
5 fire reports 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
64
fuel system
52
safety systems
49
cooling
47
wheels tires
40

Known Issues

Engine Issues (64 complaints)
Fuel System Issues (52 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (49 complaints)
Show 1 additional engine variant with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

3.0-V6-Gas

3.0L 6-cyl
โœ… Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

suspension
1

Known Issues

Suspension Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

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Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Subaru Legacy regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (64 complaints)
engine critical
Fuel System Issues (52 complaints)
fuel_system critical
Safety Systems Issues (49 complaints)
safety_systems critical
Cooling System Issues (47 complaints)
cooling critical
Wheels & Tires Issues (40 complaints)
wheels_tires critical

Recalls (23)

20V001000Jan 31, 2020critical
Air Bags

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

20V002000Jan 31, 2020critical
Air Bags

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

20V003000Jan 31, 2020critical
Air Bags

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

16V361000May 24, 2016critical
Air Bags

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, and Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or "Zone C.". These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V358000May 24, 2016critical
Air Bags

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V359000May 24, 2016critical
Air Bags

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

15V323000May 27, 2015critical
Air Bags

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

14V763000Jan 11, 2014critical
Air Bags

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy and Outback vehicles, and 2003-2005 Baja vehicles sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Florida and adjacent counties in southern Georgia, as well as the coastal areas of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

13E065000Nov 28, 2013serious
Fuel System

Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full.

04V128000Mar 15, 2004serious
Vehicle Speed Control

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER SEDANS, WAGONS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE COULD COME OUT OF ITS TRACK ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER AND LODGE ON THE CONTROL LEVER TAB WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION AND WILL REMAIN IN AN OPEN POSITION.

03V232000Jun 25, 2003serious
Suspension

ON SOME PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CERTAIN LEFT-HAND FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FORM AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN A SALT-BELT AREA, CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO SALT COULD CAUSE THE LEFT FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK TO RUST AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.

03V153000Apr 21, 2003serious
Suspension

THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.

03V303000Aug 19, 2003serious
Fuel System

CERTAIN PASSENGER OR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE A LOOSE OR OUT OF POSITION FUEL FILLER HOSE CLAMP.

02V282000Oct 29, 2002serious
Powertrain

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.

02V240000Sep 12, 2002cosmetic
Engine & Cooling

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES, THE WATER PUMP PULLEY CENTER HOLE WAS IMPROPERLY MACHINED.

02V079000Dec 2, 2002serious
Service Brakes

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).

02V235000May 8, 2002serious
Wheels

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES, THE ALUMINUM WHEELS MAY HAVE AN OFF-CENTER DIAMETER.

01V034000Jul 1, 2001serious
Seats

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUALLY-ADJUSTABLE (NON-POWERED) SEATS. CERTAIN INNER FRONT SLIDE RAIL LATCH MECHANISMS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY WELDED.

00V091000Mar 23, 2000cosmetic
Steering

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT-SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE ARM WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.

00V393000Nov 20, 2000serious
Fuel System

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKAGE OF UNDER-HOOD FUEL HOSES AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (-40 DEGREES C) ONCE THE FUEL HOSES AGE AND BECOME LESS FLEXIBLE.

00V392000Nov 20, 2000serious
Seat Belts

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INCORRECT BEIGE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WEBBING WAS INSTALLED. THE BELT LENGTH IS TOO SHORT.

00V391000Nov 20, 2000cosmetic
Steering

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A CASTING FLAW IN THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING HOUSING COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING IF THE CASTING FLAW SHOULD EXIST IN THE TIE-ROD ARM.

99V249000Sep 16, 1999cosmetic
Powertrain

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN L MODEL PASSENGER VEHICLES. ANTI-RUST COATING WAS INCORRECTLY APPLIED TO THE TRANSVERSE LINK MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE BODY. OVER TIME THE COATING SHRINKS, CAUSING A TORQUE DECREASE OF THE BOLT THAT SECURES THE TRANSVERSE LINK BRACKET TO THE VEHICLE BODY.

Alternatives in Midsize Sedan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2000-2004 Subaru Legacy problems?

The 2000-2004 Subaru Legacy has accumulated 336 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Fuel System, Safety Systems. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Subaru Legacy engine is most reliable?

The 2000-2004 Subaru Legacy was offered with 2 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3.0L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2000-2004 Subaru Legacy a good used car?

The 2000-2004 Subaru Legacy can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 336 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2000-2004 Subaru Legacy have?

The 2000-2004 Subaru Legacy has 336 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2000-2004 Subaru Legacy?

There are 23 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2000-2004 Subaru Legacy vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN โ€” check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Subaru Legacy?

Before buying a used Subaru Legacy, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, Fuel System, Safety Systems, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Legacy?

The 2004 Subaru Legacy received an overall N/A-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: N/A stars. Side crash: N/A stars. Rollover: 4 stars (11.8% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Optional. Forward Collision Warning: No. Lane Departure Warning: No. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 336 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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