Subaru as a brand has always prioritized providing its users with cars they can rely on. The 2014 Subaru Legacy sticks to the brand standards and offers a value-for-money deal at $20,295, undercutting the price of a few other cars in the midsize sedan segment. Subaru managed to sell over 52,000 units of the Legacy, which is a decent number. The car does however carry some issues and holds a total of 45 complaints with 10 recalls, out of which, the majority of recalls were regarding a faulty airbag inflator. The Subaru is joined by market rivals like the Mazda 6, the Toyota Camry, and the Ford Fusion. The common issue which the Legacy holds is extensive oil usage but overall, the car offers a good value.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Headlights - Multiple users complained that the headlights would go on and off very often. This flickering made it extremely difficult to drive safely at night and the users also claimed the bulbs to be brand new. The dealers looked into the issue and were able to identify the cause as a blown-out fuse in the fuse box.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – Users noticed their cars made noise while moving and it was found that the engine temperature went high very often. This forced the users to stop the car in order to let the car cool down. The dealers inspected the vehicle and found the oil to be very low. They ran an oil consumption test and found that the car was burning oil at a higher rate. This was said to have no solution.
- Powertrain – The car lost power drastically and failed to move forward when trying to accelerate from a standing stop. This was said to happen due to a throttle body failure which disturbed the airflow into the engine.
- Steering – The users were finding the car to require constant steering correction and this leads the car to behave in an unsafe manner. The dealers stated the steering unit to be normal and to perform as designed. Some studies online revealed that a design flaw in the steering unit was the reason and cannot be fixed.
Interior Problems
- Seats – The seatback adjustment was said to not work as the lever was stuck in a certain position. The users had to pull the seat all the way forward in order to adjust the seatback. This was claimed to be a common issue by the dealers and was also said to be found in other models.
Miscellaneous Problems
- Recall – The users received a recall notification and when the dealers were approached, they weren’t able to perform the repair as they claimed they did not have the necessary parts.
2014 Subaru Legacy recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
2nd January 2020 |
20V002000 |
Passenger frontal airbag may explode. |
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or occupants, leading to serious injury or even death. |
Dealers will replace the airbag inflators. |
|
2. |
2nd January 2020 |
20V001000 |
Passenger frontal airbag may explode. |
Explosion of the airbag can lead to sharp objects being sent toward the occupants, leading to serious injuries. |
The airbag inflator will be replaced. |
|
3. |
2nd January 2020 |
20V003000 |
Passenger frontal airbag may explode. |
The occupants were exposed to serious injury as the airbag inflator could explode and send sharp metal fragments at them. |
The passenger airbag inflator will be replaced. |
|
4. |
11th April 2019 |
19V297000 |
Ignition switch may turn off. |
The engine turning off all of a sudden can increase the risk of a crash. |
The ignition switch will be replaced. |
|
5. |
9th January 2019 |
19V008000 |
Passenger frontal airbag may explode. |
If the airbag inflators explode, several metal pieces can be shot at the passenger or the driver. |
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator. |
|
6. |
9th January 2019 |
19V009000 |
Passenger frontal airbag may explode. |
The Passenger airbag inflator may explode and cause serious injury to the occupants. |
The airbag inflator will be replaced by the dealers. |
|
7. |
9th January 2019 |
19V007000 |
Passenger frontal airbag may explode. |
Inflator within the front passenger airbag module could explode and send sharp metal objects toward the occupants. |
The airbag inflator will be replaced. |
|
8. |
13th September 2018 |
18V626000 |
Electronic parking brake may fail. |
This increases the chances of the vehicle rolling away while in ‘park’. |
The electronic parking brake actuator assembly will be replaced. |
|
9. |
27th September 2016 |
16V694000 |
Windshield wiper motor bottom cover may melt. |
The wiper motors overheat and fail, disturbing the visibility. The heat also melts the motor cover, increasing the risk of fire. |
The wiper motor bottom cover assembly will be replaced. |
|
10. |
1st August 2013 |
13V336000 |
Possible detachment of parking rod. |
This might not let the transmission move from the Park position, preventing the vehicle from being moved. |
Dealers will replace the transmission. |
Should you buy the 2014 Subaru Legacy?
The 2014 Subaru Legacy holds the reliability all Japanese cars a known for and even though the car has a long list of recalls, 6 out of 10 recalls were pertaining to the same issue. This also validates the brand support that Subaru offers its users. The Subaru Legacy definitely hasn’t sold the number that brands like Toyota achieve but the value and reliability the car holds are equally good. It is important to get the passenger airbag inflator checked and replaced as it imposes a serious safety hazard. There isn’t any evident reason why the Subaru Legacy should be skipped and we highly recommend picking this car if you are looking for a comfortable sedan that is affordable and practical without any compromises when compared to its rivals.
