Last updated: 2026-07-26
Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Camry: Reliability Compared
Subaru Legacy
Toyota Camry
Choosing between the Subaru Legacy and the Toyota Camry? 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 Toyota Camry currently leads with an average score of 78/100 compared to 75/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Camry is more reliable than the Subaru Legacy, scoring 78/100 vs 75/100.
The Toyota Camry edges out the Subaru Legacy in reliability with a higher average score of 78/100 compared to 75/100. Despite having more recalls (35 vs. 19), the Camry exhibits significantly fewer owner complaints per 10,000 vehicles at 2.1, compared to the Legacy’s 21.2. Additionally, the Camry benefits from lower estimated annual repair costs at $388 versus the Legacy's $563. While both vehicles share some common issues, the Camry’s lower complaint rate and repair costs make it a more reliable choice.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Camry costs $175 less per year to repair
- 2Toyota Camry has 19.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Subaru Legacy has 16 fewer total recalls
Category Scoreboard
Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Camry: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Subaru Legacy | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 75/100 | 78/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 19 | 35 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 21.2 | 2.1 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $563/yr | $388/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 12% | 11% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2025 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 2 | 6 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry?
The Toyota Camry exhibits a broader range of issues across its components, with notable concerns in the power train, air bags, and service brakes, which collectively account for a significant portion of complaints and are linked to crashes more frequently than other categories. The air bags issue stands out with 58 crash-linked complaints, suggesting a critical area of concern for safety. In contrast, the Subaru Legacy shows a concentrated problem profile, primarily with visibility and electrical system issues, which make up the bulk of its complaints. Although the Legacy has fewer total complaints, the vehicle speed control category is a noteworthy safety concern with a high proportion of crash-linked incidents relative to its total number.
| Component | Subaru Legacy | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 6.5Average | —None |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4.5Average | 0.2Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3.6Average | 0.2Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.9Very Low | —None |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.4Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.5Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.5Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.3Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —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: Subaru Legacy or Toyota Camry?
How Does Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Camry Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Subaru Legacy | Toyota Camry | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 80/1000R / 6C | 76/1004R / 6C | Subaru Legacy |
| 2024 | 81/1000R / 16C | 83/1002R / 35C | Toyota Camry |
| 2023 | 77/1002R / 10C | 79/1004R / 47C | Toyota Camry |
| 2022 | 77/1002R / 32C | 84/1002R / 47C | Toyota Camry |
| 2021 | 75/1003R / 31C | 82/1002R / 144C | Toyota Camry |
| 2020 | 67/1006R / 121C | 75/1005R / 253C | Toyota Camry |
| 2019 | 69/1003R / 123C | 70/1008R / 364C | Toyota Camry |
| 2018 | 70/1003R / 116C | 65/1008R / 708C | Subaru Legacy |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Subaru Legacy scored 81/100 and the 2022 Toyota Camry scored 84/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Subaru Legacy vs the Toyota Camry?
Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Camry: Common Questions
- Is the Subaru Legacy more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
- Based on our data, the Toyota Camry is more reliable with an average score of 78/100 compared to 75/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Subaru Legacy or the Toyota Camry?
- The Toyota Camry has more recalls (35) 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 Subaru Legacy or the Toyota Camry?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota Camry has a lower complaint rate at 2.1 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 Subaru Legacy or the Toyota Camry?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota Camry is cheaper to maintain at $388/year versus $563/year for the Subaru Legacy.
- Is the Subaru Legacy or Toyota Camry safer?
- Both the Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry 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 Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry? 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