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 …
2017 subaru Legacy electrical problems
moderate 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
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 d…
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 p…
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 prob…
Car seems to have an electrical issue. Battery dies several times a year. Sometimes, you can jump it, but not always.
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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.