SubaruLegacy2017Overview/subaru/legacy/2017/base/

2017 Subaru Legacy

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2017 Legacy.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2017 Subaru Legacy is a passenger car requiring 6.9 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. It carries 118 documented owner complaints and two recalls, with visibility and wiper systems representing the top complaint category. Within the model's 1990-2025 reliability spectrum—a historical band stretching from a high of 216 complaints in 1995 to a low of six in 2025—this model year sits at a moderate concern level relative to the nameplate's broader track record.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque88.5 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 25 · 355 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 25 · 355 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225/55R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height59.1 in
Wheelbase108.3 in
Curb weight3402 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Legacy of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.10 sec — 2017 2.5i Sport PZEV
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
20172.5i Sport PZEV 2.5L F-49.10 sec17.00 sec175 hpAWD
20182.5i Sport 2.5L F-48.60 sec16.70 sec175 hpAWD
20153.6R Limited 3.6L F-67.00 sec15.30 sec256 hpAWD
20153.6R Limited 3.6L F-67.10 sec15.50 sec256 hpAWD
20153.6R Limited 3.6L F-67.30 sec15.70 sec256 hpAWD
20152.5i Limited PZEV 2.5L F-48.80 sec16.70 sec175 hpAWD
20152.5i Premium PZEV 2.5L F-48.80 sec16.90 sec175 hpAWD
20152.5i Premium PZEV 2.5L F-49.20 sec17.00 sec175 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.9 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 88.5 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-3-2-5-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity12.0-13.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Clutch FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantUse Subaru coolant part number SOA68V9270
Engine Coolant Capacity8.2
Engine CoolantUse Subaru coolant part number SOA68V9270
Engine Coolant Capacity7.4
Engine Oil5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18.4
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22 FT/LBS
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts6
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22 FT/LBS

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts88.5 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts34.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub162.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub177.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2-4
Cylinder Firing Order1-6-3-2-5-4
Spark Plug ManufacturerSubaru
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerSubaru
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Standard BCI Group Number25
Standard BCI Cranking Performance355 cca
Standard BCI Group Number25
Standard BCI Cranking Performance490 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)41-46 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)33-38 psi
RPM49-58 @ IDLE rpm
RPM49.3-58 @ IDLE rpm

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20; Rear: 18
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 89; Rear: 49
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.059; Rear: 0.059 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishStamped on rotor
Maximum Rotor Runout0.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

121.4 ft. lbs.21.4 ft. lbs
273.8 ft. lbs.73.8 ft. lbs
3Loosen all bolts completely in reverse order
431.0 ft. lbs.31 ft. lbs
531.0 ft. lbs.31 ft. lbs
6100 degrees100 degrees
7Bolts 1 and 2 75 degrees75 degrees
8Bolts 3,4,5,630 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 9 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

114.8 ft. lbs.14.8 ft. lbs
236.9 ft. lbs.36.9 ft. lbs
3Loosen all bolts completely in reverse order
414.8 ft. lbs.14.8 ft. lbs
5Bolts 1-435.4 ft. lbs
6Bolts 5-832.5 ft. lbs
7All bolts90 degrees
8Bolts 1-445 degrees
9Seat Bolt4.7 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
235.0
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
189.0 inch lbs.89 in
241.0-45.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 72,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 137,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2017 Subaru Legacy sits in a favorable position within its generation's complaint arc, as complaints declined steadily from the 2015 redesign's peak of 159 to 118 by 2017, while recalls dropped to just 2—the lowest in the entire 2015–2020 window. The prior year (2016) recorded 145 complaints and 3 recalls, and the following year (2018) held essentially flat at 116 complaints and 3 recalls, suggesting 2017 marked a stabilization point where early-generation teething issues had largely been addressed. Notably, TSBs fell from 457 in 2016 to 381 in 2017 before rising again to 429 in 2018, reinforcing that 2017 was a relatively well-sorted model year. The top complaint areas—Visibility/Wiper (30), Electrical System (25), and Unknown/Other (16)—don't point to a single dominant systemic failure, though 10 crash complaints and 1 fire complaint warrant attention; the federal data does not specify root causes for these. With complaints, recalls, and investigations all at or near generational lows, and no clear pattern of escalating defects in adjacent years, the 2017 Legacy represents a solid buying choice within this generation, provided a pre-purchase inspection addresses the visibility and electrical complaint areas.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
381
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
118
Owner complaints
10 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 118 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility/Wiper30
Electrical System25
Unknown Or Other16
Air Bags6
Steering6
Structure5
Power Train3
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V716000Steering:ColumnReported 06/10/2016

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be… Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began…

16V292000Steering:ColumnReported 11/05/2016

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been… Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 381 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SubaruNet Annoucement (E2026-06-11Unknown Or OtherThis announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood…
16-156-25R2026-06-02Power TrainThis bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which…
02-195-262026-06-01Electrical SystemThis bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control…
01-167-08R2026-05-18Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
16-156-25R2026-05-13Power TrainThis bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Legacy. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2017 Legacy take?

6.9 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2017 Legacy have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.