Used Subaru Legacy Saloon 1998 - 2003 reliability

Category: Family car

The cabin is dull and the car is not cheap to run, but it's very underrated

Subaru Legacy Saloon (98 - 03)
  • Subaru Legacy Saloon (98 - 03)
  • Subaru Legacy Saloon (98 - 03)
Used Subaru Legacy Saloon 1998 - 2003 review
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by
Steve Huntingford
Published01 January 2006

What should I look for in a used Subaru Legacy saloon?

Despite the dowdiness of the Legacy's cabin, it is well made and sturdy. Our experience is that the plastics can take plenty of abuse, too, shrugging off scrapes and scuffs well. We know of many very high-mileage examples that have stood up to the rigours of family life very well.

However, although Subaru has a great reputation for unproblematic motoring, according to Warranty Direct, the Legacy hasn't performed as well as many of the company's models for overall reliability, with engine glitches accounting for the majority of repairs.

Other causes for concern are the heating and cooling systems, and fuel pump problems, while older cars are known to have issues with their suspension. Whatever the problem, the subsequent repairs will probably be costly, because fixing these cars is complex and the spares are expensive. Our advice is to make sure the car has a full service history.

What are the most common problems with a used Subaru Legacy saloon?

Is a used Subaru Legacy saloon reliable?