Subaru Legacy

About

The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by Japanese automobile manufacturer Subaru from 1989 to 2025. The maker's flagship car, it is unique in its class for offering all-wheel drive as a standard feature, and Subaru's traditional boxer engine.

Photo & info: Wikipedia

Specifications

From Wikipedia — confirm against the actual car before purchase.

Drivetrain: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (1989–1999)
Body: 4-door sedan
Class: Mid-size car / Compact executive car
Also sold as: Subaru Liberty (Australia, until 2020)
Assembly: 🇯🇵 Japan: Ōta, Gunma (Yajima plant; 1989–2020)
Successor: Subaru Outback (wagon model)

Generations

BC/BF/BJ1989–1992 BD/BG/BK1993–1997 BE/BH1998–2002

BL/BP2003–2008

BM/BR2009–2013

BN/BS2014–2018

BW/BT2019–present

Photos

Real cars from Wikimedia Commons — colours and trims as photographed.

BC/BF/BJ 1989–1992

BD/BG/BK 1993–1997

BE/BH 1998–2002

BL/BP 2003–2008

BM/BR 2009–2013

Sedan

BN/BS 2014–2018

2015

Photos: Wikimedia Commons — click any for full resolution & licence.

By year

Trims, economy and safety change year to year — pick one (US market).

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Trim · engine	Drive	MPG comb (city/hwy)	CO₂ g/mi	Fuel cost
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L	Front-Wheel Drive	24 (21/29)	370	$2,800/yr

Economy & emissionsCompact Cars

$2,000

more over 5 yrs vs. avg

12.4

Barrels/yr

Safety — NHTSA crash test

Stability control · NoCollision warning · NoLane-keep assist · No

Recalls & complaints

Recalls: 5 · Complaints: 124 · Investigations: 10

Electrical system
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM THAT CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF CHARGING CAPABILITY.
Suspension
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Service brakes, hydraulic
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.
Engine and engine cooling
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.

Top recall areas: Electrical system · Suspension · Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Power train

Trims & economy: fueleconomy.gov · recalls & rating: NHTSA

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Reviews & research

Independent reviews, news and owner communities — off-site.

Video reviews

Road tests & walkarounds on YouTube

Expert reviews

Edmunds, Car and Driver, MotorTrend & more

News

Latest coverage and updates

Owner community

Real-world ownership on Reddit

Full history

The complete Wikipedia entry

For sale

Find one for sale

Search the open market for a Subaru Legacy now — eBay Motors plus sellers who list directly with rTracer. Live listings land here as the feed goes live.

Market value. No used Subaru Legacy has one set price — see what they actually sold for recently, then compare with what's on the market now.

Search eBay Motors ↗See sold prices ↗

Maintenance & ownership

Check the Subaru Legacy's recall history, investigations and owner complaints at NHTSA — the best free read on reliability and what tends to go wrong before you buy.

Check at NHTSA ↗

The universe

Coming: a full spec sheet, and a drivable 3D model of the Legacy on any road in the rTracer atlas.

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