Last updated: 2026-10-10
Nissan Altima vs Subaru Legacy: Reliability Compared
Nissan Altima
Subaru Legacy
The Nissan Altima has a slight reliability edge over the Subaru Legacy, with lower annual repair costs of $483 versus $563. Both rate good and tie on shop visits. The Altima also draws far fewer owner complaints per car sold, though its crash-linked problems are more serious.
How Do the Nissan Altima and Subaru Legacy Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Altima is more reliable than the Subaru Legacy, scoring 79/100 vs 75/100.
Slight edge to the Altima. Both sedans land at a good standing, and they match on shop visits and the chance a repair is major. The gap comes from yearly repair cost and complaint rate. The Altima costs less to fix and draws far fewer owner complaints per car sold. The edge is small, though. The Altima's complaints include serious air bag, brake, and steering reports, while the Legacy's biggest problem is cracked windshields. A shopper who weighs crash risk heavily could reasonably read the Legacy differently.
Key Differences
- 1Nissan Altima costs $80 less per year to repair
- 2Nissan Altima has 19.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Nissan Altima scores 4 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Nissan Altima vs Subaru Legacy: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Nissan Altima | Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 79/100 | 75/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 20 | 19 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 1.6 | 21.2 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $483/yr | $563/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 12% | 12% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2025 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 7 | 1 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Nissan Altima and Subaru Legacy?
Fewer complaints but more dangerous ones define the Altima. Owners report air bags that did not deploy in serious frontal crashes, automatic emergency braking that stops the car on the highway, and tie rods that separate during turns. Electrical complaints include fires. Those four areas all carry crash links. The Legacy's top complaints are windshields that crack with no visible impact, which can block the EyeSight cameras, and water leaking into the cabin. Its crash-linked areas are narrower: surging at low speed while parking, and unintended acceleration. The Legacy has no crash-linked air bag, brake, or steering group in this data.
| Component | Nissan Altima | Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 6.5Average |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.3Very Low | 4.5Average |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.2Very Low | 3.6Average |
| VISIBILITY | —None | 0.9Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Nissan Altima or Subaru Legacy?
How Does Nissan Altima vs Subaru Legacy Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Nissan Altima | Subaru Legacy | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78/1001R / 4C | 80/1000R / 6C | Subaru Legacy |
| 2024 | 82/1001R / 31C | 81/1000R / 16C | Nissan Altima |
| 2023 | 84/1000R / 24C | 77/1002R / 10C | Nissan Altima |
| 2022 | 83/1000R / 20C | 77/1002R / 32C | Nissan Altima |
| 2021 | 79/1002R / 53C | 75/1003R / 31C | Nissan Altima |
| 2020 | 71/1006R / 162C | 67/1006R / 121C | Nissan Altima |
| 2019 | 72/1008R / 230C | 69/1003R / 123C | Nissan Altima |
| 2018 | 76/1002R / 217C | 70/1003R / 116C | Nissan Altima |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Nissan Altima scored 84/100 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 Nissan Altima vs the Subaru Legacy?
Nissan Altima vs Subaru Legacy: Common Questions
- Is the Nissan Altima more reliable than the Subaru Legacy?
- Slightly, yes. Both earn a good standing, and both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year with a 12% chance a repair is major. The Altima pulls ahead on lower yearly repair cost and a much lower complaint rate per car sold. The margin is small, not decisive.
- Which has more recalls, the Altima or the Legacy?
- The Altima has slightly more. Federal recall records show 20 recalls across 9 model years for the Altima and 19 across 8 model years for the Legacy. The totals are close, so recalls should not decide the choice. Check any specific VIN for open recalls before you buy.
- Which is cheaper to repair, the Altima or the Legacy?
- The Altima is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $483 a year against $563 for the Legacy, a gap of $80. Over five years that adds up to about $400. Legacy owners with a cracked windshield also face camera recalibration on top of the glass.
- Why do Subaru Legacy windshields crack so often?
- The data does not give a cause. Owners report cracks with no visible impact, cracks that appear overnight in parked cars, and cracks that start at the lower edge. Some replacement windshields cracked again within weeks. Cracks can reach the driver's line of sight or block the EyeSight cameras.
- What are the most serious Nissan Altima problems?
- The most serious are air bags, brakes, and steering. Owners report air bags that did not deploy in serious frontal crashes and tie rods that came apart during turns. Others describe automatic emergency braking that stops the car with nothing ahead. Electrical complaints include fires, some after the car was parked and shut off.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Nissan Altima and Subaru Legacy? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Nissan Altima 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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