2019 Subaru Legacy: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
123 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2020 Subaru Legacy, which has 121 complaints, six recall campaigns and a score of 45, and treat the 2015 to 2019 cars, all CAUTION with between 117 and 159 complaints, the same way. Buy a 2021 or later car, where the 2021 has 31 complaints and scores 86 and the 2023 has 10 and scores 90, or a 2013 or 2014 car with its air bag inflator recall list confirmed. Read the full note on the model page. 2019 specifically: 123 complaints on record, score 56/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used Subaru Ascent and Legacy: the years to avoid, including 2019 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 123 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 17.57
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle intermittently stalled. The contact stated that seconds later, the vehicle returned to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure reoccurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was …
The Cam Carrier has a leak due to Subaru using a cheap sealant. My car only has 80,000 miles and it is leaking. The subaru is know for this leak after researching it online. They say it is a safety issue cause the oil can fall on the exhaust making in a fire issue.
driver side mirror can not be adjusted to effectively see visually car in blind spot; fortunately car saw me changing lane when it was just off rear driverside fender; did not seen in mirror or in window; 70 years used visual; blind spot light inconsistent; visual is
Recalls: 3 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 20V218000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. |
| 19V493000 | Structure | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Legacy and Outback vehicles. |
| 21V587000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 23 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,650
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Visibility/Wiper49 complaints · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Electrical System35 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other20 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine6 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Forward Collision Avoidance5 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Vehicle Speed Control4 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
Other Subaru Legacy years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Subaru Legacy?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Visibility/Wiper (49 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2019 Subaru Legacy a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 56/100, computed from 123 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2019 Subaru Legacy's most common problem?
49 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2019 Subaru Legacy sit in the Visibility/Wiper group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement: about 2.5 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $490–$1,200 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2019 Subaru Legacy cost to run per year?
About $4,633 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $23,165 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2019 Subaru Legacy have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2019 Subaru Legacy, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 16/04/2020. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2019 Subaru Legacy really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 123 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 123 NHTSA complaints on record (17.6/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (8.5/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems