This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Subaru Legacy electrical problems
moderate 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 29 electrical complaints filed for the 2017 Subaru Legacy, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 29 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Electrical accounts for 25% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for 2026 model year vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20 with gen 4 Telematics.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint is battery discharge during normal ownership. Multiple owners describe replacing batteries 2–3 times within 5 years, with new batteries failing within weeks to a year despite alternators testing normal and no warning lights appearing beforehand. The problem worsens during short-trip driving or periods of non-use—vehicles drain completely overnight or after a few days parked. Dealerships and independent shops have run extensive diagnostics without finding the root cause; some Subaru dealers suggest frequent driving as a workaround, and at least one customer was told to buy a jump starter and keep it in the car.
At least four owners mention a class action lawsuit and a Technical Service Bulletin referencing "potential battery discharge after repeated periods of short-trip driving," implying Subaru acknowledges the defect but has not issued a universal fix or recall for 2017 models.
A separate issue: key-stuck-in-ignition complaints cite the vehicle failing to sense Park engagement, preventing key release. Online forums show this is widespread, and some Subaru model years carry recalls for it—but 2017 owners report no recall and dealership repair quotes in the hundreds of dollars.
One owner's 2017 Legacy caught fire at a bank parking lot with no warning lights before or during the event. The vehicle burned completely; investigation by Subaru and the insurance company is ongoing.
Early in production (8,000 miles), one vehicle required complete disassembly for a wiring harness replacement, after which collateral damage became visible—exposed interior wiring, non-functional USB, loose trim.
Same Subaru Legacy electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Battery Discharge/Dead Battery
Vehicle battery drains excessively during periods of non-use or short-trip driving, requiring frequent jump-starts or replacements. Multiple owners report replacing batteries 2-3 times within warranty or shortly after, with new batteries failing within months to a year. Some vehicles drain completely overnight or after a few days of parking.
When: Varies from 30,000 miles to several years of ownership; problem worsens during extended non-use or short-trip driving patterns
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dies after a few days or weeks of no driving; Repeated need for jump-starts; Vehicle won't turn over; No warning lights or messages before failure; Newly replaced batteries go dead within weeks to a year; Problem persists even with new battery and alternator confirmed working
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacements range $235-$300+; Subaru dealership electrical testing ($250) found nothing out of spec; AAA diagnostics found nothing abnormal; some dealers suggest frequent driving to maintain charge; Subaru has reimbursed some owners for one battery
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action lawsuit filed regarding battery discharge; Technical Service Bulletin issued (TSB) for 'potential battery discharge (dead battery) after repeated periods of short-trip driving'; Subaru refused to check parasitic draw levels in at least one case; some owners mention software-related class action
Wiring Harness Defect
Early-production vehicle (8,000 miles, still under warranty) developed a wiring harness fault that disabled cruise control and triggered check engine light. Repair required complete vehicle disassembly (1,500 hours labor) at out-of-state dealer. Post-repair, vehicle exhibited collateral damage including non-functional USB outlet, exposed wiring and car liner in unintended locations, trunk liner detachment, and new scratches.
When: At 8,000 miles, very early in vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on constantly; Cruise control non-functional; Complete electrical system non-responsive in one case
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement required complete vehicle disassembly (1,500 hours labor); post-repair collateral damage: USB outlet inoperative, exposed wiring and liner in interior, trunk liner detached, paint scratches
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru repaired vehicle but owner reports loss of confidence; offered 5-year/60,000-mile extended warranty instead of buyout or trade-in; vehicle information flagged on CarFax due to repair history, reducing trade-in value
Key Stuck in Ignition
Key becomes stuck in ignition and cannot be removed when vehicle is in Park. Vehicle does not properly sense Park engagement, causing key lock mechanism to remain engaged. Problem occurs intermittently and worsens over time. Multiple complaints reference this as a known widespread problem with online discussion threads and possible recalls on other model years.
When: Occurs at 68,000+ miles; frequency increases over time
Symptoms owners cite: Key stuck in ignition when vehicle is in Park; Vehicle does not sense Park engagement; Requires shifting shifter back and forth to release key; Problem worsens over time—takes increasingly longer to release key; No warning lights or messages
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer estimates quoted in 'hundreds of dollars' for repair; problem described as widespread with online forums and discussions available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru referred customers to dealership for repair cost without acknowledging widespread nature; possible recalls exist on other model years of same vehicle but not on 2017 model year according to at least one owner
Battery Corrosion
Replacement batteries develop severe corrosion on terminals shortly after installation by Subaru dealership. Corrosion clears during service but returns repeatedly. One owner reports corrosion returning by next scheduled service despite clearing at previous visit.
When: Within 6 months of battery replacement; recurring within 1-year service intervals
Symptoms owners cite: Severe corrosion on battery terminals; Recurring corrosion despite cleaning; Low voltage issues in vehicle; Battery replacement needed due to corrosion buildup
Repairs/costs cited: Corrosion cleaning billed at $57-$90 per service; Subaru dealership unable or unwilling to address root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru refused to acknowledge battery corrosion issue as defect; continued recommending paid battery service rather than investigating underlying cause
Electrical Fire
Vehicle caught fire without warning while parked at a bank. Engine stalled briefly, was restarted with no warning lights, then parked. Minutes later, front driver's hood was smoking and vehicle became fully engulfed. Entire engine burned and vehicle totaled. Fire marshal documented event. Root cause uncertain but suspected electrical or battery-related.
When: Time and mileage not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalled, then restarted with no warning lights; Smoke coming from engine hood while parked; Vehicle ignited into complete flame; No warning indicators prior to fire
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; comprehensive investigation by insurance company (Liberty Mutual) and Subaru ongoing
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Investigation underway by Subaru and insurance company; fire marshal report filed
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
I have reviewed multiple threads on the internet talking about issues with the key being stuck in the ignition after putting the vehicle in park. They all suggested contacting Subaru america and that there would be a free fix since it impacts safety of the vehicle (seems easy to steal when the key is stuck in the car for example). Subaru did not respond as anticipated and instead responded with a…
Car keeps destroying cells in the battery. Car has died multiple times from sitting over night and has gone through 3 batteries in 3 years. Battery terminal has also corroded away. Car has failed to start many time. Seems to to be a battery drain issue with my car. Subaru has acknowledged the problem and reimbursed me for one of my batteries but I feel this isn't enough. I cannot rely on the…
Complete Battery drainage started when the car had about 30k miles. Batery was replaced around December 2020 at owners expense. Within a year the baterry drainage started happening again, randomly, after parking. Subaru dealer suggested to keep replacing baterry. Issue has not been reproduced by service department; it randomly happens. It has not been inspected by others.
Left town for 3 weeks and upon return the battery was dead. This happened the last time the car was not driven for several weeks, in Spring of 2020. A new battery was purchased at that time, even though the original battery was only ~3.5 years old. The current battery is only 2.5 years old and should be able to hold a charge for 3 weeks. Every time the car goes for an extended time without being…
Repeated failure to start due to dead battery. Original battery replaced and replacement battery continued to die 2 or 3 more times. $250 electrical testing by Subaru specialty shop found nothing out of spec. Two American Automobile Association service calls found nothing out of spec. Concerned about getting stranded when traveling outside of your home area. No warning lights during drives…
Battery went dead had it charged - went dead shortly after. Replaced battery and within a year of replacing with a brand new battery it is dead again. Car was on side of the road where I parked it. There is a Class action suit on the battery life but if we need to keep doing this every year or so that is a problem. Called the dealer to see if there is anything they can do to alleviate the…
Car seems to have an electrical issue. Battery dies several times a year. Sometimes, you can jump it, but not always.
Had electrical trouble with your 2017 Subaru Legacy?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2017 Subaru Legacy?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 29 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 44,875 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Subaru/Legacy.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.