Last updated: 2026-10-10
2022 Subaru Legacy Reliability Report
The 2022 Subaru Legacy has good reliability and a 5-star crash rating. Its main complaint is windshields that crack with no visible impact.
Recalls
2
Complaints
32
Complaint Rate
14.2per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$563
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,000–$2,200
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Good reliability and a 5-star crash rating, held back by frequent windshield cracking and two reports of low-speed surging that ended in crashes.
Top Issues to Watch
- VISIBILITY/WIPER (14)
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2)
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2022 is year 3 of the Seventh generation (BW/BT).
- Redesigned for the 2020 model year.
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- 7th generation Legacy (US).
What this means for buyers
Well into the generation cycle — most design and manufacturing issues should be resolved by now.
2020: Seventh generation (BW/BT) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2022: This Model Year
2022 is year 3 of the Seventh generation (BW/BT).
Should You Buy the 2022 Subaru Legacy?
Good reliability puts this Legacy above average among 2022 sedans and among the stronger of the eight scored Legacy years. It carries a 5 of 5 federal crash-test rating. The 2021 and 2023 model years rate about the same. Owners filed 32 complaints, close to the 31 for the 2021. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs for the model a little above its class.
Windshields are the main problem. Owners report cracks with no visible impact, some appearing overnight and some spreading after a cold start with the defroster on. Several saw new cracks in replacement glass within weeks, and replacement needs EyeSight camera recalibration, which adds cost. Two owners describe the car surging forward at low speed while parking, and both ended in crashes. No injuries were reported. Federal recall records show two recalls, covering air bags and power train.
Ask the seller for proof that both recalls were completed. Look over the glass for cracks and find out whether it has been replaced. On a test drive, check that the touchscreen and driver aids respond normally.
Compared to the 2023 Subaru Legacy, which scored the same. See also the 2021 Subaru Legacy for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (12%)
- +Low recall count
Cons
- −VISIBILITY/WIPER: Windshields crack, often with no visible impact (14 complaints)
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Windshield cracks dominate this category too (7 complaints)
Compare 2022 Subaru Legacy With
2022 Toyota Camry
Reliability: 84/100
2022 Honda Accord
Reliability: 77/100
2022 Nissan Altima
Reliability: 83/100
2022 Hyundai Sonata
Reliability: 65/100
2022 Kia K5
Reliability: 69/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 2 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- VISIBILITY/WIPER (14)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (7)
Recall Overview
2
recalls on record
The 2022 Subaru Legacy carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
14.2
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 17.8
Safety Incidents
3
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2022 Subaru Legacy Recall Details
2 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Subaru Legacy. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
AIR BAGS
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.
Consequence
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.
POWER TRAIN
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Consequence
An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
Buying a used 2022 Subaru Legacy? Check its history first
Visibility/wiper problems lead owner complaints about the 2022 Subaru Legacy, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2022 Subaru Legacy NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 10.1%
Safety Technologies
Subaru LegacyRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$563
vs $526 avg for midsize cars
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.3
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
12%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
27–30 MPG
Running cost: $2,550–$2,750/yr
Fuel + repair
24–27 city / 32–35 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2022 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy AWD 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,000 |
| Legacy AWD 2.4L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 24 | 32 | 27 | $2,200 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2022 Subaru Legacy.
Inspect the whole windshield, especially the lower edge near the heating grid, for cracks or chips.
Ask for glass replacement records and proof the EyeSight cameras were recalibrated afterward.
Check the sunroof glass for chips or cracks and ask whether it was ever replaced.
Lift the floor mats and feel the footwell carpets for dampness or water stains.
With the car on, confirm the green LED next to the Starlink buttons is lit.
Buckle every seat belt on the test drive and listen for false seat belt warning chimes.
Use the touchscreen throughout the test drive and watch for freezes that shut off driver-assist features.
Ask the seller about any sudden acceleration events or front or rear bumper repairs.
2022 Subaru Legacy Common Problems by Component
32 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
14 complaintsWindshields crack, often with no visible impact. Cracks appear overnight in parked cars or spread up from the lower edge near the heating grid, sometimes right after a cold start with the defroster on. Small pebbles leave long, branching cracks that grow within minutes and reach the driver's line of sight or block the EyeSight cameras. Several owners report new cracks in replacement glass within weeks. Replacement requires camera recalibration, which adds cost. A separate complaint says the sun visor is too short to block low sun.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7 complaintsSafety-relatedWindshield cracks dominate this category too. Some appear in parked cars, and others spread within minutes from tiny stone chips at highway speed. A few owners are on their second windshield. One report describes the sunroof glass bursting outward at highway speed with no impact and dropping glass onto the driver. Seat belt warning chimes sound loudly with the belts buckled, and one dealer seat belt replacement did not fix it. A fleet report describes a fire under the hood near the AC pipe and the battery and fuse box while the car was off.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
2 complaintsSafety-relatedEyeSight fails to warn or brake in one crash report. Another car pulled into the driver's path at 39 mph, and the system gave no alert and applied no braking before impact. A separate complaint describes the touchscreen freezing about twice a month. Each freeze shuts off cruise control, emergency braking, lane keep assist and other driver aids for 30 seconds to several minutes. Dash warnings appear only after the system reboots, so the driver is not told the features are off while they are down.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaintsSafety-relatedThe car surges forward at low speed without accelerator input. Both reports involve pulling into a parking space or a driveway, and both ended in crashes. In one, the car kept accelerating after being shifted into reverse, hit a neighbor's garage, and was declared totaled at about 15,000 miles. The other car hit a light post and damaged its front bumper. No injuries are reported. With only 2 complaints this is not a broad pattern, but the crash outcomes make it serious.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2 complaints)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 complaintsWater leaks into the cabin, soaking the carpets and damaging the radio and amplifier. In one report the dealer replaced those parts at about 8,000 miles. The other report describes the DCM telematics unit failing twice, even after a full replacement. Remote app commands stop working and the Starlink buttons stop responding. The only sign is a missing green LED, so automatic collision notification may fail without the driver knowing.
STEERING (1 complaints)
STEERING
1 complaintEmergency breaking deployed during traffic where no indication of collision was about to take place; vehicle safety features disabled and enabled off and on automatically while driving, this led up to sudden stop of vehicle in heavy traffic and vehicle would never restart. Subaru starlink emergency services failed to work or respond after trying for several minutes. Steering wouldn’t work to guide vehicle safely out of traffic
TIRES (1 complaints)
TIRES
1 complaintThe first tire had an air bubble and I brought it in. They said it was a manufacturer error. In September 2023 I had a blowout and Subaru declared that it was a manufacturer defect. I asked him to check all the tires and they kept the original set on. This month a third tire from the original set blew while being driven. Three tires out of four have had manufacturer defects.
LANE DEPARTURE (1 complaints)
LANE DEPARTURE
1 complaintThe lane assistance feature almost made me hit a semi truck that had drifted over its lane. I moved to the left to allow for space, the lane assist function tried to turn me back into the semi truck I was driving over the lane to avoid. It failed to recognize a major hazard and in fact created a more dangerous situation for me. I had to jerk the wheel back to the left, fortunately it shut off and I was able to maintain control.
STRUCTURE (1 complaints)
STRUCTURE
1 complaintVehicle windshield developed a crack unknown reasons. Crack developed at the very bottom of the windshield below the trim. Nothing has impacted the windshield whatsoever.
VISIBILITY (1 complaints)
VISIBILITY
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2022 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while at a standstill the windshield cracked without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the windshield replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
Best & Worst Subaru Legacy Years
Best Subaru Legacy Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024
2023
2022
(Current Model)
Subaru Legacy Years to Avoid
Subaru Legacy Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 69/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 67/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 75/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 80/100 | Excellent |
Subaru Legacy Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2022 Subaru Legacy reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Subaru Legacy?
Does the 2022 Subaru Legacy have windshield problems?
Does the 2022 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?
Is the 2022 Subaru Legacy better than the 2023?
Don’t buy a 2022 Subaru Legacy without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2022 Subaru Legacy
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2022 Subaru Legacy does best on how many systems draw complaints (84/100) and worst on complaint severity (69/100). 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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