Last updated: 2026-07-26
Nissan Altima vs Subaru Legacy: Reliability Compared
Nissan Altima
Subaru Legacy
Choosing between the Nissan Altima 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 Nissan Altima currently leads with an average score of 79/100 compared to 75/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
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.
The Nissan Altima edges out the Subaru Legacy in terms of reliability, with a higher average reliability score of 79/100 compared to the Legacy's 75/100. The Altima also boasts a significantly lower owner complaint rate of 1.6 per 10,000 sold versus the Legacy's 21.2, suggesting better overall owner satisfaction. While both vehicles have similar recall histories, the Altima presents a lower estimated annual repair cost at $483, compared to the Legacy's $563. These factors make the Altima a more reliable choice for midsize sedan buyers.
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?
The Nissan Altima and Subaru Legacy exhibit distinct problem profiles in terms of reliability issues. The Altima shows a higher incidence of complaints in the electrical system, unknown or other, and service brakes categories, with notable crash-linked issues in the air bags (18) and service brakes (14). Conversely, the Subaru Legacy's most frequent problem lies in visibility/wiper complaints, although it has fewer crash-linked complaints overall, with vehicle speed control being the most significant at 7. While both models have electrical system concerns, the Altima's issues are more diverse and severe, particularly in safety-critical areas such as air bags and brakes.
| 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 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | —None |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —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 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
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?
- Based on our data, the Nissan Altima is more reliable with an average score of 79/100 compared to 75/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Nissan Altima or the Subaru Legacy?
- The Nissan Altima has more recalls (20) 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 Nissan Altima or the Subaru Legacy?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Altima has a lower complaint rate at 1.6 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 Nissan Altima or the Subaru Legacy?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Altima is cheaper to maintain at $483/year versus $563/year for the Subaru Legacy.
- Is the Nissan Altima or Subaru Legacy safer?
- Both the Nissan Altima 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
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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.
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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