what it costs new, what it’s worth used, and who has one near you.
The 1997 Subaru Legacy is a vehicle we track across the used market in Canada. It comes in gas (10.3 L/100 km) and hybrid (7.8 L/100 km) forms, so the main choice is fuel — the hybrid earns its premium back over enough kilometres. A 20-year-old one keeps roughly 7% of a current model's market price — what actually matters over five years of ownership.
Gas — combined
10.3L/100 km
Hybrid — combined
7.8L/100 km
Fuel / year (20k km)
$3,667
Hybrid saves
$890/yr
Typical figures. See what it costs for your commute.
Median market price by vehicle age
Fuel economy & range: Natural Resources Canada (Open Government Licence — Canada). Safety recalls & owner-reported complaints: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (public domain); complaint shares are a relative signal, not a failure rate. Prices, payments, depreciation, listing counts and dealer inventory: Conquest market data; payment estimates use market-average terms and are not an offer of credit. Independent service — not affiliated with or endorsed by Subaru.
Owner-reported problems and open safety recalls
Most-reported problems
Across 146 owner complaints filed on the 1997 Subaru Legacy
Share of complaints naming each system — a signal of what owners report most on this model, not a failure rate. The denominator is people who filed a complaint, not every owner. Complaints are filed with the US regulator; the same models are sold in Canada.
Safety recalls
6 campaigns issued by the manufacturer
Electrical System · Alternator/generator/regulator
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM THAT CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF CHARGING CAPABILITY.
Campaign 00I002000
Suspension · Front · Springs · Coil Springs
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Campaign 01V216000
Exterior Lighting · Hazard Flashing Warning Lights · Switch
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE WITHIN THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH HOUSING CAN CAUSE A BINDING BETWEEN THE ACTUATING BUTTON AND THE HOUSING.
Campaign 97V210000
Suspension · Front · Springs · Leaf Spring Assembly · Hanger,bracket
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.
Campaign 98V091000
Power Train · Automatic Transmission · Gear Position Indication (prndl)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. DUE TO POOR WELDS, IGNITION KEYS CAN STICK, SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES CAN BREAK AND SHIFT LEVERS CAN MOVE.
Campaign 98V042000
+ 1 more campaign.
Recall campaigns are manufacturer-issued and fixed free of charge. This is the US campaign set matched by year, make and model — it is not a check against a specific VIN, and Canadian campaigns may differ.