Last updated: 2026-10-10
Kia K5 vs Subaru Legacy: Reliability Compared
Kia K5
Subaru Legacy
The KIA K5 and Subaru Legacy come out effectively tied on reliability, with each carrying a different serious problem. The K5 draws fewer complaints per car sold. Its swelling fuel tanks and sudden power loss offset that, while the Legacy deals with cracked windshields and water leaks.
How Do the Kia K5 and Subaru Legacy Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Kia K5 and Subaru Legacy are evenly matched with a reliability score of 75/100.
Reliability is effectively tied. Both cars stand well, and neither has a clear edge. The K5 draws far fewer owner complaints for the number sold, but its list includes swelling fuel tanks and sudden power loss. The Legacy draws more complaints, mostly about cracked windshields and water leaks, plus a few unintended-acceleration crashes. Recall counts are close. Pick based on which set of problems you can live with, not on a winner.
Key Differences
- 1Kia K5 has 11.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 2Subaru Legacy has 1 fewer total recalls
Category Scoreboard
Kia K5 vs Subaru Legacy: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Kia K5 | Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 75/100 | 75/100 |
| Years Tracked | 6 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 20 | 19 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 10.2 | 21.2 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2025 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 0 | 5 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Kia K5 and Subaru Legacy?
Loss of function while moving defines the K5's worst complaints. Headlights and the instrument cluster cut out, the transmission slams or holds the car near 20 mph, and the fuel tank swells with a loud bang from the rear. The Legacy's biggest group is windshields that crack with no visible impact, which can block the EyeSight cameras, along with water leaking into the cabin. Only the Legacy has unintended-acceleration crashes, in parking and driveway situations. The K5 has one crash-linked power train report and one crash-linked structure report, and its airbag reports are too few to show a pattern.
| Component | Kia K5 | Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | 6.5Average |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.7Low | 4.5Average |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.9Very Low | 3.6Average |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.2Low | 0.4Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1.2Low | 0.3Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.6Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.6Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.8Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | 0.9Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.4Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.6Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| SEATS | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| TIRES | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| WHEELS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Kia K5 vs Subaru Legacy Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Kia K5 | Subaru Legacy | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 79/1002R / 29C | 80/1000R / 6C | Subaru Legacy |
| 2024 | 77/1002R / 20C | 81/1000R / 16C | Subaru Legacy |
| 2023 | 71/1004R / 81C | 77/1002R / 10C | Subaru Legacy |
| 2022 | 69/1005R / 106C | 77/1002R / 32C | Subaru Legacy |
| 2021 | 71/1006R / 132C | 75/1003R / 31C | Subaru Legacy |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Kia K5 scored 77/100 and the 2024 Subaru Legacy scored 81/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Kia K5 vs the Subaru Legacy?
Kia K5 vs Subaru Legacy: Common Questions
- Is the KIA K5 more reliable than the Subaru Legacy?
- No, they are effectively tied. The K5 has fewer owner complaints for the number sold, at 10.2 per 10,000 against 21.2 for the Legacy. But the K5 has fuel tank swelling and power loss reports, while the Legacy has windshield cracking and a few unintended-acceleration crashes.
- Which has more recalls, the K5 or the Legacy?
- The K5 has slightly more, at 20 across 6 model years in federal recall records. The Legacy has 19 across 8 model years. That means the K5 has had more recalls per model year, though the counts are close overall.
- Which is cheaper to repair, the K5 or the Legacy?
- The page has repair-cost data only for the Legacy, so a direct comparison is not possible. The Legacy averages about $563 a year in repairs, 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and a 12% chance that a repair is major.
- What is the biggest problem with the Subaru Legacy?
- Windshield cracking. It is the largest complaint group at 139 reports. Glass cracks with no visible impact, sometimes overnight in a parked car, and can reach the driver's view or block the EyeSight cameras. Replacement requires camera recalibration, which adds cost.
- What goes wrong with the KIA K5 fuel tank?
- Owners report the tank swelling while driving, often with a loud bang from the rear that lifts the back seat. Warning signs include a check engine light, fuel smell, and a gauge that reads wrong. Some cars sat undrivable for weeks, and several owners were offered buybacks.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Kia K5 and Subaru Legacy? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Kia K5 and Subaru Legacy
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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