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Chevrolet Malibu vs Subaru Legacy: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2025, owners filed an average of 613 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Malibu and 83 about the Subaru Legacy.

Side by side

Chevrolet MalibuSubaru Legacy
Model years compared2006-20252006-2025
Owner complaints12,2661,664
Complaints per model year61383
Recalls4250
Years to avoid200920112015
Best years201920212022200720212022
Most common problemSteeringElectrical
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy31 mpg combined (2025)26-30 mpg combined (2025)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,1192006 Subaru Legacy: 8720062007 Chevrolet Malibu: 9772007 Subaru Legacy: 332008 Chevrolet Malibu: 9892008 Subaru Legacy: 6520082009 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,5112009 Subaru Legacy: 652010 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,3632010 Subaru Legacy: 15120102011 Chevrolet Malibu: 9782011 Subaru Legacy: 1672012 Chevrolet Malibu: 9072012 Subaru Legacy: 9020122013 Chevrolet Malibu: 8372013 Subaru Legacy: 662014 Chevrolet Malibu: 3512014 Subaru Legacy: 5320142015 Chevrolet Malibu: 2702015 Subaru Legacy: 1602016 Chevrolet Malibu: 8412016 Subaru Legacy: 14720162017 Chevrolet Malibu: 7052017 Subaru Legacy: 1192018 Chevrolet Malibu: 7012018 Subaru Legacy: 11820182019 Chevrolet Malibu: 1932019 Subaru Legacy: 1232020 Chevrolet Malibu: 2032020 Subaru Legacy: 12120202021 Chevrolet Malibu: 902021 Subaru Legacy: 322022 Chevrolet Malibu: 1002022 Subaru Legacy: 3420222023 Chevrolet Malibu: 732023 Subaru Legacy: 102024 Chevrolet Malibu: 462024 Subaru Legacy: 1720242025 Chevrolet Malibu: 122025 Subaru Legacy: 6
Chevrolet MalibuSubaru Legacy

Problems compared

MalibuLegacy
Steering3,94581
Electrical3,002309
Engine2,100218
Transmission1,400211
Driver assistance1,32265
Brakes1,129121
Visibility219300
Airbags772210

Questions about the Chevrolet Malibu vs Subaru Legacy

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Subaru Legacy?

Between 2006 and 2025, the Chevrolet Malibu has 1 year to avoid and the Subaru Legacy 2. The Chevrolet Malibu has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Subaru Legacy drew fewer complaints per model year (83 vs 613), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Subaru Legacy?

From 2006 to 2025, the Chevrolet Malibu was covered by 42 recalls and the Subaru Legacy by 50.

What years of the Chevrolet Malibu and Subaru Legacy should you avoid?

Chevrolet Malibu: 2009. Subaru Legacy: 2011 and 2015.

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