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	21 (19/26)	423	$3,200/yr
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L	Front-Wheel Drive	22 (19/27)	404	$3,050/yr

Economy & emissionsCompact Cars

$3,250

more over 5 yrs vs. avg

13.5

Barrels/yr

Safety — NHTSA crash test

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

Recalls & complaints

Recalls: 3 · Complaints: 111

Power train
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN CONTINUOUSLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES (-22 DEGREES F.) AND HIGH HUMIDITY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION BREATHING (AIR) VENT CAN BE BLOCKED DUE TO MOISTURE FREEZING AT THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE. IF THIS OCCURS, PRESSURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE WILL INCREASE AND PUSH OUT THE REAR OIL SEAL, CAUSING TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKAGE. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN BURN THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP.
Power train
UNDER CERTAIN LOAD CONDITIONS, THE PARK GEAR MAY NOT DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.
Latches/locks/linkages
TORQUE OF LATCH SCREWS ON FRONT DOORS MAY LOOSEN OVER TIME DUE TO A GAP BETWEEN THE LATCH BASE PLATE AND INNER DOOR PANEL UNDER THE SCREW HEAD.

Top recall areas: Power train · Latches/locks/linkages

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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