Last updated: 2026-10-10
Subaru Legacy vs Volkswagen Passat: Reliability Compared
Subaru Legacy
Volkswagen Passat
Choosing between the Subaru Legacy and the Volkswagen Passat? 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 Volkswagen Passat currently leads with an average score of 76/100 compared to 75/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
Verdict
The Volkswagen Passat is more reliable than the Subaru Legacy, scoring 76/100 vs 75/100.
Key Differences
- 1Subaru Legacy costs $76 less per year to repair
- 2Volkswagen Passat has 11.8 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Volkswagen Passat has 10 fewer total recalls
Category Scoreboard
Subaru Legacy vs Volkswagen Passat: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Subaru Legacy | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 75/100 | 76/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 5 |
| Total Recalls | 19 | 9 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 21.2 | 9.4 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $563/yr | $639/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.4/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 12% | 9% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2025 NHTSA | 2022 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 0 (1 tied) | 4 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen Passat?
| Component | Subaru Legacy | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 6.5Average | —None |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4.5Average | 1.5Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3.6Average | 0.6Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.2Very Low | 1.6Low |
| ENGINE | 0.5Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.4Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.9Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.5Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.3Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Subaru Legacy vs Volkswagen Passat Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Subaru Legacy | Volkswagen Passat | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 77/1002R / 32C | 77/1000R / 11C | Tie |
| 2021 | 75/1003R / 31C | 78/1001R / 18C | Volkswagen Passat |
| 2020 | 67/1006R / 121C | 75/1003R / 15C | Volkswagen Passat |
| 2019 | 69/1003R / 123C | 77/1001R / 12C | Volkswagen Passat |
| 2018 | 70/1003R / 116C | 71/1004R / 45C | Volkswagen Passat |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Subaru Legacy scored 77/100 and the 2021 Volkswagen Passat scored 78/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Subaru Legacy vs Volkswagen Passat: Common Questions
- Is the Subaru Legacy more reliable than the Volkswagen Passat?
- Based on our data, the Volkswagen Passat is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 75/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Subaru Legacy or the Volkswagen Passat?
- The Subaru Legacy has more recalls (19) compared to the Volkswagen Passat (9). 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 Volkswagen Passat?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Volkswagen Passat has a lower complaint rate at 9.4 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 Volkswagen Passat?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Subaru Legacy is cheaper to maintain at $563/year versus $639/year for the Volkswagen Passat.
- Is the Subaru Legacy or Volkswagen Passat safer?
- Based on NHTSA crash test ratings, the Subaru Legacy has a higher overall safety rating of 5/5 stars compared to 4/5 for the Volkswagen Passat. Check sub-ratings (frontal, side, rollover) above for a more detailed safety comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Subaru Legacy comparisons
Decided between Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen Passat? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen Passat
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.
See incorrect data? Report an issue