Used car safety, rank #142 of 188
Subaru Legacy Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Subaru Legacy, a midsize car, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Subaru Legacy has an IIHS driver death rate of 37 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize cars average of 67, which is 45% below the class average. That places it #142 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 30.7/100.
What the Subaru Legacy death rate means
At 37 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Subaru Legacy beats the midsize cars average of 67 by 45%. The 95% confidence interval is 12 to 61, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 26 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Subaru Legacy. Its 95% confidence interval is 4β47. It is no higher than the Subaru Legacy's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used cars
The safest midsize cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Subaru Legacy highlighted. It ranks 2 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota Camry 4WD at a death rate of 15.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry 4WD | 2020-23 | 15 (0 to 35) | 62.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru Legacy (this page) | 2020-23 | 37 (12 to 61) | 30.7 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Camry hybrid | 2020-23 | 51 (26 to 75) | 22.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Camry 2WD | 2020-23 | 61 (50 to 73) | 18.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Sonata | 2020-23 | 83 (58 to 108) | 14.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia K5 | 2021-23 | 94 (61 to 127) | 12.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nissan Altima | 2021-23 | 105 (72 to 138) | 11.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Nissan Maxima | 2020-23 | 105 (47 to 163) | 11.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2023 | 116 (39 to 194) | 10.1 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize cars: 67 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
Safety recalls for the Subaru Legacy
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
2 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering power train.
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Power train: automatic transmission, park/neutral start interlock switch
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge.
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Power train: driveline, driveshaft
Risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Subaru Legacy: Common Questions
Is the Subaru Legacy a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 37 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Subaru Legacy, 45% below the class average (67 for midsize cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 30.7 out of 100 and rank #142 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Subaru Legacy driver death rate?
37 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 12 to 61. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Subaru Legacy died at a rate of 26 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Subaru Legacy compare with other midsize cars?
The midsize cars class averages 67 driver deaths per million; the Subaru Legacy sits at 37. Among the 9 midsize cars compared above it ranks 2 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota Camry 4WD with a death rate of 15.