2009 Subaru Legacy problems
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Subaru Legacy. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 41% of complaints. After that come brakes (12%) and engine (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 75 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 41% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 6 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 50 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 8 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 8 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 50 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 75,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 54,000 miles (20 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 6 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2009 ranks 29th most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Subaru Legacy with enough data (29 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 13 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 subaru legacy. While driving approximately 50 MPH the vehicle was involved in a crash and the air bags did not deploy. The seat belt also failed to hold her firmly. A police report was filed. The contact as well as the passenger of another vehicle were reported injured. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an insurance lot. The vehicle was not examined for the cause of failure and was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 18,000.
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 am in a chronic state of discomfort because of the new head rests. We have decided to lease a car versus purchasing a car because of this serious issue.
My airbag warning light has periodically gone off & on over the last 2 years. I currently have less than 45,000 miles on it. Of course the day I had an appointment with subaru, the light would not appear. Hoping airbag will work if ever in an accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 subaru legacy. While driving at various speeds, the low beam headlights failed and only the high beams headlights would illuminate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.