2015 Subaru Legacy/Outback
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 191 of 669 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (11) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 261 in 2014 to 669 in 2015.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | vs. 2015 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,300–3,100 | 2,300–3,100 | 2,150–2,850 | 2,150–2,850 | 2,150–2,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–27 | 20–27 | 22–29 | 22–29 | 22–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 18–24 / 24–32 | 18–24 / 24–32 | 20–26 / 27–35 | 20–26 / 27–35 | 20–25 / 27–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 330–443 | 330–444 | 302–398 | 302–398 | 311–398 | |
| Complaints filed | 362 | 261 | 669 | 789 | 1,036 | |
| Recalls issued | 12 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 24 | 18 | 35 | 31 | 42 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 18 | 22 | 27 | 16 | 31 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Legacy/Outback have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2015 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
Visibility & Lighting: 191 of 669 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2015 Subaru Legacy/Outback get?
EPA rates it 22–29 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2015 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
EPA estimates $2,150–$2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 319 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 398 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 26 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,150 (low) | 302 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 387 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 74 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 52 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 33 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical | 164 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 45 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 28 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 55 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 50 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 191 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 143 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
STEERING:COLUMN · Campaign 16V292000 · May 11, 2016
Defect: 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.
Consequence: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · Campaign 16V251000 · Apr 27, 2016
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTC-64.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT · Campaign 15V502000 · Aug 10, 2015
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Consequence: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING · Campaign 15V366000 · Jun 12, 2015
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Consequence: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
TRAILER HITCHES · Campaign 14V577000 · Sep 19, 2014
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Outback vehicles manufactured January 22, 2014, to August 18, 2014, and equipped with a Subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs.
Consequence: The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break. If this were to happen while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not be able to operate the vehicle as desired or the trailer may detach from the vehicle. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2014. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQN-50.