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2 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 65 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 54,463 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
I was driving on a local highway at around 55 MPH which is just under the posted 65 MPH limit. Suddenly the hood opens and slams into the windshield. It scared the heck out of me, but I was able to maintain control and pull over despite the surrounding traffic. It could have…
I was driving my 2009 Subaru legacy sedan on a rural highway on my usual daily commute to work. It was december 18, 2019 in montana, so cold, but not unusually cold, and it was sunny . I was driving for about 50 minutes, and was probably going around 65-70mph, when I heard a…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Subaru legacy. The contact stated that during routine matinencance, the private mechanic stated that there was corrosion on both sides of the control arms and oil pan. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and…
Takata airbags-- incident not mv related-- beaurucratic issue. I have received no help getting my airbags replaced. Tried several dealers. Their lies do not match up. Getting the run around. Very upset. Unacceptable service or lack there of, really.
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Subaru Legacy has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2009 Subaru Legacy is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 28 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 54,463 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 65 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 54,463 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 28 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 54,463 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 54,463 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 65 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.