NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from exposure to high humidity, temperature changes, and heat over time.
What the fix does
This page covers 10 recalls, 53 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2014 Subaru Legacy.
20–27 mpg combined
8.7–11.8 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2014 Subaru Legacy, the most commonly reported issue involves the airbag system, specifically the passenger seat occupancy sensor failing and causing the passenger airbag to switch off. Owners report the sensor stops detecting a passenger correctly, leaving the airbag disabled with no clear path to reset it without a repair. Visibility complaints make up the next notable cluster, with owners describing problems related to the windshield or wiper systems interfering with sightlines. The electrical system also draws repeat reports, including warning lights activating together, modules losing communication, and gear selection behaving unexpectedly after certain repairs. A smaller number of owners describe transmission hesitation, sluggish acceleration, lag above highway speeds, and stalling, though these reports are fewer in number. Brake-related clicking sounds and slight vehicle movement during stops appear across a handful of complaints as well.
53
Total Complaints
4
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Subaru Legacy has 10 recalls, the most serious being a Takata airbag inflator defect where the passenger-side frontal airbag can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
These airbag recalls cover multiple filing campaigns for the same underlying defect and are particularly relevant to vehicles registered in warm, high-humidity states and territories. On the ignition side, a replacement ignition switch with a failing internal spring can cause the engine to shut off unexpectedly while driving, and if a crash follows, the airbags may not deploy. The wiper motor on certain model years can overheat and fail, leaving the driver without wipers in rain or poor conditions. Two separate transmission concerns round out the list: on automatic transmission models, a fault in the park mechanism can allow the vehicle to roll away or become impossible to move, and on manual transmission models, the electronic parking brake may fail to hold the vehicle when parked, also creating a rollaway risk.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from exposure to high humidity, temperature changes, and heat over time.
What the fix does
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown caused by long-term exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown caused by prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator with a different design at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The ball spring inside the ignition switch may break, weakening it. Key ring weight or road conditions could then shift the switch from run to accessory position, shutting off the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the ignition switch and replace it if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator can explode during deployment due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode during deployment in a crash. This can happen because the propellant inside degrades over time when exposed to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant breaking down after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electronic parking brake may fail to engage properly, which could allow the vehicle to roll away if the transmission is not in the correct gear when parked.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electronic parking brake actuator assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Contaminated components in the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If snow or ice buildup prevents the wiper arms from stopping in the parked position, the motor can overheat and the cover may melt.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The PARK function in the automatic transmission may not work properly, allowing your vehicle to roll away unexpectedly or preventing it from moving at all.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace your transmission with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
