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2017 Subaru Legacy Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Critical

140 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.46 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical16V292000 Do not drive

Steering:Column

The loss of steering ability would raises the risk of a crash.

Remedy & full details

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.

Serious16V716000

Steering:Column

If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, raises the risk of injury.

Remedy & full details

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.

Complaint volume

140 this model-year 7 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

13Crashes
2Fires
8Injuries
0Deaths

Across 140 complaints. Severity Index 0.46.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Visibility/Wiper33 · 24%Electrical System28 · 20%Unknown Or Other21 · 15%Steering9 · 6%Air Bags7 · 5%Structure · Body6 · 4%Service Brakes5 · 4%Engine5 · 4%
  1. Visibility/Wiper — 33 reports
  2. Electrical System — 28 reports
  3. Unknown Or Other — 21 reports
  4. Steering — 9 reports
  5. Air Bags — 7 reports
  6. Structure:Body — 6 reports
  7. Service Brakes — 5 reports
  8. Engine — 5 reports
  9. Fuel/Propulsion System — 4 reports
  10. Power Train — 3 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (2) · 1996 (4) · 1997 (6) · 1998 (5) · 1999 (3) · 2000 (4) · 2001 (8) · 2002 (5) · 2003 (15) · 2004 (11) · 2005 (9) · 2006 (7) · 2007 (9) · 2008 (9) · 2009 (13) · 2010 (18) · 2011 (16) · 2012 (16) · 2013 (12) · 2014 (10) · 2015 (3) · 2016 (3) · 2017 · 2018 (3) · 2019 (3) · 2020 (6) · 2021 (3) · 2022 (2) · 2023 (2) · 2024 · 2025

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.