Subaru extended the CVT powertrain warranty on the 2015 Legacy to 10 years or 100,000 miles. Then it did the same for the 2016 and 2017 model years. Then it did it again for 2018. Three separate extensions, three separate years, one transmission complaint that Subaru never quite closed the book on. If you're shopping this generation, that warranty history matters more than anything in the brochure, because it means most of these cars still carry CVT coverage well past where you'd expect a 7-to-11-year-old car to be on its own.
That's the story of the 6th gen Legacy: a genuinely underrated AWD sedan with real, documented issues that Subaru mostly stood behind. This guide covers the 2015-2019 BN-platform Legacy, engine by engine, year by year, so you know exactly what you're buying before you go look at one.
This Generation at a Glance
The sixth-generation Legacy debuted for the 2015 model year, code-named BN, and ran through 2019 before the 7th gen's full redesign for 2020. It predates Subaru's Global Platform (SGP), which didn't arrive until the 2020 Legacy; this generation uses a stiffened evolution of the unibody that underpinned the 5th-gen (2010-2014) car. Subaru refreshed the exterior and interior for 2018: a wider grille, new C-shaped LED headlights, restyled mirrors, a new steering wheel, and a bigger standard touchscreen.
Two engines ran the entire generation, both paired exclusively with a Lineartronic CVT and standard Symmetrical AWD. There's no manual, no FWD option, and no turbo in this generation; the turbocharged XT trim didn't return to the Legacy until the 2020 redesign.
| Powertrain | Years Available | HP/TQ | Transmission | MPG (Combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L FB25 Boxer 4-cyl | 2015-2019 | 175 hp / 174 lb-ft | CVT (Lineartronic) | 29 mpg |
| 3.6L EZ36 Boxer 6-cyl | 2015-2019 | 256 hp / 247 lb-ft | CVT (Lineartronic) | 23 mpg |
Trim lineup grew over the generation. 2015-2016 offered 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, and 3.6R Limited. Subaru added the 2.5i Sport for 2017 and kept the five-trim lineup through 2019, when EyeSight driver assist became standard across every trim for the first time.
Current pricing and inventory: Subaru Legacy market data, with per-year pages for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Powertrain & Trim Breakdown
2.5L FB25: The Sensible Pick
Covers the 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Sport, and 2.5i Limited trims. 175 hp, 174 lb-ft, EPA-rated 29 mpg combined.
What owners like: Consumer reviews on Edmunds and KBB consistently frame the 2.5i as underrated value against a Camry or Accord: standard AWD, a quiet cabin, and better base equipment for similar money. KBB's owner survey for the 2015 model year found 85% of respondents (n=122) would recommend it, citing reliability and value. Forum posters and used-car shoppers alike report the FB25 reaching 200,000 miles routinely with basic maintenance, and some owners past 250,000 miles.
Known issue: oil consumption, mostly resolved but not eliminated. The FB25's reputation for burning oil traces back to a 2011-2014 class-action lawsuit over piston rings that didn't seal properly. Subaru revised roughly 80% of the 2.5L engine's internals, including the pistons and cylinder head, starting with model year 2015, so the 6th-gen Legacy launched with an already-updated engine rather than the hardware the lawsuit targeted. That said, a long-running subaruoutback.org thread on 2015 models still has owners reporting consumption around a quart every 3,000-4,000 miles at 60,000 miles. It's a smaller, less frequent problem than on 2011-2014 cars, not a solved one. Ask for oil top-off records and check the dipstick before buying.
Known issue: head gasket failure, uncommon but not impossible. The FB25 doesn't carry the old EJ25's reputation for near-inevitable head gasket failure by high mileage. Forum reports of FB25 failures do exist, though, including one 2018 Legacy at just 32,000 miles that needed both the head gasket and front cam cover replaced. Because the FB25's timing chain sits under a front cam cover the EJ25 didn't have, a head gasket job on this engine is a bigger, pricier repair than Legacy owners of the previous generation faced. Coolant or oil residue near the front timing cover on a test drive or inspection is worth walking away over.
Known issue: CVT shudder, real but concentrated in the first platform year. Subaru's own TSB 16-104-17 named the 2015 Legacy and Outback for a low-speed "bump" or shudder feeling from the Lineartronic CVT. Subaru then extended CVT powertrain coverage to 10 years/100,000 miles for 2015 models, then did it again for 2016-2017 (TSB 16-115-18, issued September 2018), then again for 2018. CarComplaints' aggregate data shows the complaint volume dropping sharply after 2015: 9 drivetrain complaints logged for 2016, versus a much heavier concentration in 2015. Some of what gets reported as "CVT shudder" on 2016-2017 cars turns out to be a worn front axle or normal torque-converter lockup behavior rather than a transmission defect, according to multiple subaruoutback.org threads. The practical upshot for a buyer: any 2015-2018 Legacy should carry CVT warranty coverage well into the 2026-2028 range or 100,000 miles, regardless of who currently owns it, because the coverage follows the VIN.
Known issue: brakes and wheel bearings wear faster than expected on some cars. One documented case: a 2016 Legacy needed rotors replaced for warping at just 22,500 miles and 30 months of ownership. TrueDelta's repair-frequency data flags rear brake wear becoming noticeable by roughly 45,000 miles on 2017 models. Separately, rear wheel bearing replacement at 75,000 miles has been reported as premature by owners who expected 100,000-plus. None of this is universal, but it's frequent enough to listen for a highway-speed hum or howl and to check for brake pulsation on any test drive.
Overall verdict on 2.5L: Once you've confirmed the CVT warranty extension is still active and checked for oil consumption and head gasket signs, the FB25 Legacy is a genuinely practical, AWD sedan that undercuts its own reputation. It's the trim range to shop if you want the lowest running costs in the lineup.
3.6L EZ36: The Underrated Flat-Six
Covers the 3.6R Limited trim only. 256 hp, 247 lb-ft, same CVT and AWD as the 2.5i, EPA-rated 23 mpg combined (real-world fuel logs on Fuelly put most 3.6R owners in the low-to-mid 20s, consistent with the EPA figure).
What owners like: The 3.6R draws a genuinely different kind of buyer than the four-cylinder trims. Enthusiast forum posts describe the flat-six as smooth and eager in a way the CVT doesn't dull, and long-time LegacyGT.com members talk about the engine with real affection rather than the resigned tone that shows up in a lot of four-cylinder threads. Part of that is scarcity value: when the 7th-gen Legacy went turbo-four-only for 2020, the 3.6R became the last affordable flat-six sedan Subaru sold. If you want that specific engine layout in this body style, this generation is your last chance to buy it new-ish.
Known strength: long-term durability. The EZ36's block and oiling system get less forum attention than the FB25's issues, largely because there's less to complain about. One LegacyGT.com owner reported a 2018 3.6R reaching 264,000 miles before needing anything beyond a CVT pump gasket replacement, a specific, nameable, and comparatively minor failure point rather than a transmission rebuild. Reviews describe examples passing 150,000 miles with no major engine work.
Known nuisance: oil seepage past 100,000 miles. The most consistently reported EZ36 issue across LegacyGT.com's dedicated oil-leak threads is seepage around the valve cover and cam carrier area, typically showing up once a car crosses 100,000 miles. It's a nuisance leak, not a symptom of an internal engine problem, but budget for a valve cover reseal on any high-mileage 3.6R you're considering.
The CVT warranty extensions apply here too. The same 2015, 2016-2017, and 2018 CVT warranty extensions covered 3.6R models alongside the 2.5i. A LegacyGT.com owner of a 2015 3.6R reported low-RPM CVT jerkiness shortly after purchase, so the six-cylinder pairing wasn't exempt from the early complaints, even though the six-cylinder engine itself doesn't share the oil-consumption or head-gasket history of the FB25.
Overall verdict on 3.6L: If you want the most engine for the money in this generation and don't mind the mpg tradeoff, the 3.6R is the pick. Confirm CVT warranty status the same way you would on a 2.5i, and budget for a valve cover reseal past 100,000 miles.
Trim Levels
| Trim | Key Equipment | What to Pay Extra For |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5i | Cloth seats, 17-in wheels, basic infotainment | Hardest trim to find used; skip unless price is the only factor |
| 2.5i Premium | Upgraded cloth, available moonroof, Starlink touchscreen | The volume trim. Best balance of price and available options |
| 2.5i Sport (2017+) | Unique wheel design, sport badging and trim, paddle shifters | Only if the styling appeals to you. Mechanically the same as Premium |
| 2.5i Limited | Leather, heated front seats, larger touchscreen, keyless access | Worth the premium for leather and heated seats in cold-weather states |
| 3.6R Limited | Same equipment as 2.5i Limited, plus the 3.6L flat-six | Buy this trim for the engine. It doesn't add equipment beyond Limited |
The 2018 facelift brought a bigger standard Starlink touchscreen (6.5 inches, up from 6.0) and a larger 8-inch unit on higher trims, plus a redesigned steering wheel and updated interior materials. It's the nicer cabin in this generation, but see the Starlink note below before assuming newer automatically means fewer headaches.
Skip the 2.5i and L trims unless the price is unusually good; used inventory for the base trim is thin because most original buyers optioned up, and you'll give up the moonroof, upgraded cloth, and larger touchscreen that make the Premium trim the better daily driver for similar money. The 2.5i Sport is a styling package more than a performance one: paddle shifters and unique wheels, not a retuned suspension, so don't pay a premium expecting it to feel meaningfully different from a Premium or Limited on the road. If leather and heated seats matter to you, the Limited trim is where they show up on the four-cylinder side, and it carries the same equipment list on the 3.6R.
Which Model Years to Target Within This Gen
| Year | Recalls | Key Changes | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 | Launch year. Windshield TSB and CVT shudder TSB both name this year specifically | Caution |
| 2016 | 3 | CVT warranty extended to match 2015 coverage; windshield warranty covers early-production cars | Good |
| 2017 | 2 | 2.5i Sport trim debuts; CVT warranty extended again | Best value |
| 2018 | 3 | Facelift: new grille, LED headlights, bigger touchscreen, new interior. Also the year named in a Starlink infotainment class action, and the highest raw NHTSA complaint count in the generation | Caution |
| 2019 | 3 | EyeSight standard on every trim for the first time. Final year of the generation | Best overall |
Recall counts here come directly from NHTSA's campaign database, not a marketing summary. The 2016-2017 steering column recall (16V292000) is the one to take most seriously: Subaru's own advisory told owners of affected vehicles not to drive until a dealer inspected the steering column, because an improperly machined part could leave the steering wheel with no effect on the front wheels. It only affects vehicles built between February 29 and May 6, 2016, so most 2016-2017 Legacys are unaffected, but confirming it on any specific VIN takes thirty seconds and matters more than any other item on this list.
2018 is the generation's most contradictory year. It has the nicest interior and the newest tech, and it also has the most owner complaints logged with NHTSA of any year in this generation and is one of the model years named in a class action over the Starlink infotainment system freezing and losing the backup camera. 2019 fixes the trim-gating problem on EyeSight but shares the same touchscreen hardware, so test it carefully regardless of year.
2017 is the sweet spot for buyers who don't need EyeSight standard: lower complaint volume than 2015 or 2018, the CVT warranty extension already applied, and the newly added Sport trim if you want it.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
If you're looking at a 2.5i:
- Pull the dipstick. Oil that's noticeably low or has a fuel smell is worth asking about; get service records showing regular top-offs if the seller mentions any consumption.
- Check under the front timing cover for coolant or oil residue. It's the early sign of the FB25's head-gasket failure mode, which shows up occasionally even though it's uncommon.
- Drive it at a steady 30-45 mph and pay attention to any bump, flare, or shudder from the CVT under light throttle. It might be normal torque-converter behavior, or it might be a symptom the warranty extension exists to cover. Either way, confirm the extension is still active on the VIN.
If you're looking at a 3.6R:
- Check the valve cover and cam carrier area for oil seepage, especially on anything past 100,000 miles. It's a nuisance leak, not a red flag, but it's a repair to budget for.
- Confirm real-world fuel economy expectations with the seller; low-to-mid 20s combined is normal for this engine, not a sign of a problem.
On any 2015-2019 Legacy:
- Spend real time in the touchscreen. Cycle through menus, plug in CarPlay or Android Auto if equipped, and watch for freezing, a lost backup camera image, or an unexpected reboot. Two separate class actions target this generation's infotainment hardware, one naming 2018 models with the "Generation 3.0" Harman head unit specifically, the other covering 2019-2023 models with the same freeze-and-lockup pattern. Subaru issued at least two software updates for the earlier wave; owners who received them describe the fix as incomplete.
- Ask about windshield replacement history on any 2015-2016 car. A material defect in the original glass, caused by an interaction between the ceramic perimeter print and the wiper deicer element, led Subaru to extend windshield warranty coverage to 5 years/unlimited miles and settle a class action for those two model years. If the glass has been replaced, ask whether the shop recalibrated EyeSight afterward if the car has it. A recalibration by a shop rated for it is a separate line item from the glass itself, and owner reports put the difference between a base windshield job and a full EyeSight-equipped replacement with calibration anywhere from a few hundred dollars to well over $2,000, depending on the shop and whether the calibration goes smoothly on the first attempt.
- Listen for a hum or howl that builds with speed. It can be a wheel bearing wearing out faster than expected.
- Check the brake pedal for pulsation under light-to-moderate braking, which points to warped rotors.
- On a 2015, ask whether the battery has been replaced. Factory batteries on launch-year cars are a repeated complaint, especially in cold climates, and a marginal battery combined with normal parasitic drain can leave you stranded even on an otherwise sound car.
- Run the VIN through a recall check, and specifically confirm the 2016-2017 steering column recall (16V292000) shows completed if the car was built between late February and early May 2016.
Running Costs
| Powertrain | Combined MPG | Key Maintenance Items | Est. Annual Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L FB25 | 29 mpg | CVT fluid service, oil top-off checks, brake wear monitoring | Lower than the 3.6R; AWD adds modest cost over a FWD competitor |
| 3.6L EZ36 | 23 mpg | Valve cover reseal past 100k miles, CVT fluid service | Higher fuel cost offset by fewer reported engine issues |
Subaru specifies CVT fluid service on an interval, but given how much of this generation's complaint history centers on the transmission, sticking closer to a 30,000-40,000-mile interval rather than stretching it is the more conservative approach. Both engines run on regular unleaded; neither requires premium fuel.
Insurance and parts costs track close to a Camry or Accord rather than running noticeably higher, since AWD adds modest maintenance cost but the Legacy isn't priced or insured as a performance car in either trim. The bigger swing factor is the CVT: if the warranty extension has already lapsed or was never applied to a specific VIN, a CVT replacement runs well into four figures out of warranty, which is exactly why confirming coverage status before you buy matters more than any routine maintenance line item on this table.
FAQ
Is the 6th gen Subaru Legacy 3.6R reliable? The EZ36 flat-six has a strong long-term durability reputation, with owners reporting 150,000-plus miles on the original engine and at least one case reaching 264,000 miles before needing more than a CVT pump gasket. Oil seepage around the valve cover past 100,000 miles is the main nuisance to expect.
What year Subaru Legacy should I avoid? Neither 2015 nor 2018 is a bad car outright, but both carry the most documented issues. 2015 has the heaviest CVT-shudder-era complaints and the windshield TSB; 2018 has the highest raw NHTSA complaint count and is named in a Starlink infotainment class action. 2017 and 2019 have cleaner records.
How many miles does a 6th gen Legacy last? Forum and owner-review reports of 200,000 miles are common with basic maintenance, and multiple owners report passing 250,000 miles on both the 2.5i and 3.6R. Regular CVT fluid service and prompt attention to oil consumption on the 2.5i are the biggest factors in reaching those numbers.
Does the 6th gen Legacy have CVT problems? Yes, concentrated most heavily in the 2015 model year, with Subaru extending the CVT powertrain warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles three separate times to cover 2015, then 2016-2017, then 2018 models. Most 2015-2018 Legacys still carry that extended coverage today. Confirm it's active before buying.
Is EyeSight worth it on a used Legacy? It's standard on every 2019 trim, so buyers who want it without hunting for the right options combination should look there first. On any year, confirm the windshield hasn't been replaced with uncalibrated glass, since a botched EyeSight recalibration after glass work is one of the more common owner complaints in this generation.
Bottom Line
A 2017 2.5i Limited or a well-documented 2019 with EyeSight standard are this generation's strongest picks. Confirm the CVT warranty extension is active on the VIN, check the touchscreen for freezing before you sign anything, and run every VIN through a recall check for the 2016-2017 steering column campaign specifically. CarScout members can track price drops on specific trims and years at usecarscout.com.
Data sourced from NHTSA's recall and complaint databases, EPA fuel economy data, and real owner experiences from LegacyGT.com, subaruoutback.org, CarComplaints.com, Edmunds owner reviews, and Subaru technical service bulletins. See the full Subaru Legacy market data for pricing and inventory.