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Subaru Legacy vs Volkswagen Passat: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2022, owners filed an average of 96 complaints per model year about the Subaru Legacy and 219 about the Volkswagen Passat.

Side by side

Subaru LegacyVolkswagen Passat
Model years compared2006-20222006-2022
Owner complaints1,6313,726
Complaints per model year96219
Recalls4935
Years to avoid201120152006201220132014
Best years200720212022201620172018
Most common problemElectricalAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy27-30 mpg combined (2022)28 mpg combined (2022)

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 Subaru Legacy: 872006 Volkswagen Passat: 57620062007 Subaru Legacy: 332007 Volkswagen Passat: 2622008 Subaru Legacy: 652008 Volkswagen Passat: 16820082009 Subaru Legacy: 652009 Volkswagen Passat: 1462010 Subaru Legacy: 1512010 Volkswagen Passat: 16320102011 Subaru Legacy: 1672011 Volkswagen Passat: 162012 Subaru Legacy: 902012 Volkswagen Passat: 48420122013 Subaru Legacy: 662013 Volkswagen Passat: 7492014 Subaru Legacy: 532014 Volkswagen Passat: 59420142015 Subaru Legacy: 1602015 Volkswagen Passat: 2432016 Subaru Legacy: 1472016 Volkswagen Passat: 10620162017 Subaru Legacy: 1192017 Volkswagen Passat: 1102018 Subaru Legacy: 1182018 Volkswagen Passat: 4620182019 Subaru Legacy: 1232019 Volkswagen Passat: 122020 Subaru Legacy: 1212020 Volkswagen Passat: 1820202021 Subaru Legacy: 322021 Volkswagen Passat: 202022 Subaru Legacy: 342022 Volkswagen Passat: 132022
Subaru LegacyVolkswagen Passat

Problems compared

LegacyPassat
Electrical303551
Visibility294107
Engine213691
Transmission211231
Airbags2041,533
Brakes119196
Fuel system72501
Steering80385

Questions about the Subaru Legacy vs Volkswagen Passat

Which is more reliable, the Subaru Legacy or the Volkswagen Passat?

Between 2006 and 2022, the Subaru Legacy has 2 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Passat 4. The Subaru Legacy has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Subaru Legacy drew fewer complaints per model year (96 vs 219), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Subaru Legacy or the Volkswagen Passat?

From 2006 to 2022, the Subaru Legacy was covered by 49 recalls and the Volkswagen Passat by 35.

What years of the Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen Passat should you avoid?

Subaru Legacy: 2011 and 2015. Volkswagen Passat: 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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