Last updated: 2026-07-26
Honda Accord vs Subaru Legacy: Reliability Compared
Honda Accord
Subaru Legacy
Choosing between the Honda Accord and the Subaru Legacy? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize sedans.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Honda Accord currently leads with an average score of 76/100 compared to 75/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Honda Accord is more reliable than the Subaru Legacy, scoring 76/100 vs 75/100.
The Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy both offer similar reliability scores, with the Accord slightly leading at 76/100 compared to the Legacy's 75/100. However, the Accord has a significantly lower rate of owner complaints at 5.7 per 10,000 units sold, in contrast to the Legacy's 21.2, highlighting a better track record in user satisfaction. While the Accord has a higher number of recalls over nine years, its estimated annual repair cost is notably lower at $400 compared to the Legacy's $563. Overall, the Honda Accord presents a more reliable option with fewer complaints and lower maintenance costs, despite a higher recall count.
Key Differences
- 1Honda Accord costs $163 less per year to repair
- 2Subaru Legacy has 27 fewer total recalls
- 3Honda Accord has 15.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Honda Accord vs Subaru Legacy: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Honda Accord | Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 76/100 | 75/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 46 | 19 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 5.7 | 21.2 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $400/yr | $563/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 9% | 12% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2025 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 4 (1 tied) | 3 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy?
The Honda Accord exhibits a broader spectrum of complaints, with significant issues in the electrical system and forward collision avoidance, both with substantial counts of crash-linked incidents (18 and 8, respectively). Notably, the Accord also has a considerable number of complaints related to service brakes, with 18 crash-linked, indicating a potential safety concern. In contrast, the Subaru Legacy's primary issue lies in visibility/wiper problems, with no crash-linked complaints, but it does show some concern with vehicle speed control, accounting for 7 crash-linked incidents. Overall, the Honda Accord presents more diverse and severe problem areas, particularly in safety-critical systems.
| Component | Honda Accord | Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 6.5Average |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.9Very Low | 4.5Average |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.6Very Low | 3.6Average |
| ENGINE | 0.7Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | 0.9Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.7Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.5Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.4Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.3Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.4Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda Accord or Subaru Legacy?
How Does Honda Accord vs Subaru Legacy Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Honda Accord | Subaru Legacy | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 84/1001R / 65C | 80/1000R / 6C | Honda Accord |
| 2024 | 76/1006R / 166C | 81/1000R / 16C | Subaru Legacy |
| 2023 | 74/10010R / 199C | 77/1002R / 10C | Subaru Legacy |
| 2022 | 77/1003R / 201C | 77/1002R / 32C | Tie |
| 2021 | 78/1005R / 215C | 75/1003R / 31C | Honda Accord |
| 2020 | 73/1008R / 344C | 67/1006R / 121C | Honda Accord |
| 2019 | 70/1005R / 574C | 69/1003R / 123C | Honda Accord |
| 2018 | 63/1008R / 1739C | 70/1003R / 116C | Subaru Legacy |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Honda Accord scored 84/100 and the 2024 Subaru Legacy scored 81/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Honda Accord vs the Subaru Legacy?
Honda Accord vs Subaru Legacy: Common Questions
- Is the Honda Accord more reliable than the Subaru Legacy?
- Based on our data, the Honda Accord is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 75/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Honda Accord or the Subaru Legacy?
- The Honda Accord has more recalls (46) compared to the Subaru Legacy (19). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda Accord or the Subaru Legacy?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Honda Accord has a lower complaint rate at 5.7 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 21.2 for the Subaru Legacy. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Accord or the Subaru Legacy?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Accord is cheaper to maintain at $400/year versus $563/year for the Subaru Legacy.
- Is the Honda Accord or Subaru Legacy safer?
- Both the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Honda Accord comparisons
Decided between Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
See incorrect data? Report an issue