What Subaru Legacy owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Subaru Legacy safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 146 |
| 2024 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 230 |
| 2023 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 316 |
| 2022 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 374 |
| 2021 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 452 |
| 2020 | 121 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 587 |
| 2019 | 123 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 422 |
| 2018 | 117 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 438 |
| 2017 | 119 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 387 |
| 2016 | 147 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 462 |
| 2015 | 159 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 521 |
| 2014 | 53 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 366 |
| 2013 | 66 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 498 |
| 2012 | 90 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 328 |
| 2011 | 167 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 345 |
| 2010 | 150 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 315 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Subaru Legacy complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
The vehicle engaged the automatic braking system also known as phantom breaking while there was no objects on the roadway at the time of the incident it was 5:15 a.m. dark and light rain when approaching a curve on the road driving approximately 30 mph the system engaged and applied the brakes in the curve which in turn put the t legal into a slide causing a vehicle crash. Furthermore the airbags did not deploy the police officers were very dumbfounded with the amount of damage and also the speed in which occurred I obtained back injuries and also hit my head
The infotainment screen would do random cycling through source, maps and other functions all without the driverâs input. Also the screen would just randomly freeze and become insensitive to touch inputs. The steering wheel controls for the infotainment randomly malfunctions. The most concerting thing is when placed in reverse, the camera display is very delayed or doesnât come on at all. These events happens quite often.
Since the battery replacement settlement I've had 3 batteries die from my car being off, the latest battery replacement was 3/2026. I can't tell what my milage is since the battery is so dead that none of the displays turn on when I hit the start button
Headlights are horrible Not effective during rain, did not see a tree in road in time. Had a collision 5k in damages.
Following an engine-out service at an authorized dealer (Bill Kolb Jr. Subaru), a primary powertrain mounting bolt was left unthreaded by approximately 1 inch, creating an undetected 8,000-mile safety hazard that resulted in extensive drivetrain and suspension component failures. Subsequently, during a diagnostic inspection at another authorized dealer (All American Subaru), heavy rusted metal pliers and loose cowl trim panels were abandoned unsecured inside the wiper cowl tray beneath the windshield, posing a severe roadway projectile and steering/wiper obstruction hazard.
While traveling approximately 70 mph, my 2016 Subaru Legacy experienced a sudden drivetrain failure. The vehicle made a loud bang, immediately lost acceleration/power, and approximately five seconds later the front drivetrain locked, causing the tires to skid and leaving a long skid mark. The engine remained running. After stopping, the vehicle would not move forward and felt as if it was stuck in Park, but it could roll backward. This occurred without warning and created a dangerous highway situation
To start, I had to replace the engine in my 2024 Legacy that I purchased brand new in June 2024. Subaru of America handled the situation incredibly poorly, I was unable to use any warranty and I was out over 6,000 dollars. Second, my passenger airbag light has been on since September 2024. I was told to replace the sensor the whole seat rail would need replaced and would be over 1000 dollars. Apparently not covered under warranty either. Lastly, god forbid you have to drive West when the sun is going down. MULTIPLE times my vehicle has popped the âobstacle detectedâ while Iâm traveling 75 down the interstate and spikes the brakes automatically causing a massive hazard. This is my third…
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle intermittently stalled. The contact stated that seconds later, the vehicle returned to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure reoccurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4 Denso CP1 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
This service bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for TR690 and TR580 CVT-equipped vehicles. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin announces availability of new reprogramming files developed to address SYMPTOM 1: A jerk or judder sensation felt from the powertrain during braking with the air conditioning on. SYPMTOM 2: A shudder is felt from the powertrain along with a screeching type of sound. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin announces a reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4.5 Denso CP1.5 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20
The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2025, owners most often name: electrical system, visibility/wiper, unknown or other. 1,409 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
