2008 Subaru Legacy Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Subaru Legacy.

20072009
Complaints
83
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Fatalities
Recalls
8

Worst 2008 Subaru Legacy Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#125 complaints

AIR BAGS

Avg mileage:75,327 mi
Crash-related:1
#211 complaints

SERVICE BRAKES

Avg mileage:144,151 mi
#39 complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Avg mileage:282,481 mi
Considering a 2008 Subaru Legacy?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Subaru Legacy.

AIR BAGS
25
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
75,327
SERVICE BRAKES
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
144,151
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
282,481
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
35,060
ENGINE
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
807,500
POWER TRAIN
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
103,250
VISIBILITY/WIPER
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
64,667
WHEELS
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,620
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
9,005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
10
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
75,000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,981
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
95,000
EQUIPMENT
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
25,000
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
SEAT BELTS
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
35,000
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
3,420
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
183,000
TIRES
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,509
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Subaru Legacy. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Subaru Legacy

8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,766,316 vehicles.

20V001000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~258,813 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

20V003000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~111,562 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

20V002000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~127,547 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

19V297000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
~511 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

16V738000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
~100,127 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.

15V323000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~432,016 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

14V311000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
~461,338 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.

13V110000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
~274,402 affected

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.

Other Subaru Legacy Years

Wider context: See the full Subaru Legacy reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2008 Subaru Legacy

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99