2010 Subaru LEGACY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Subaru LEGACY has 218 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: my 2010 subaru legacy 3.6r has a very noticeable delay when attempting to accelerate the vehicle after a rolling stop. this is very common in everyday traffic, heading towards a red light that turns green, as well as with speed bumps. there is almost a full 2 second delay and the car then thrusts it. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 14 crash reports 10 injuries

218

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

50 complaints

23%

• MY 2010 SUBARU LEGACY 3.6R HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AFTER A ROLLING STOP. THIS IS VERY COMMON IN EVERYDAY TRAFFIC, HEADING TOWARDS A RED LIGHT THAT TURNS GREEN, AS WELL AS WITH SPEED BUMPS. THERE IS ALMOST A FULL 2 SECOND DELAY AND THE CAR THEN THRUSTS IT
• 2010 SUBARU LEGACY 3.6R HAS A LONG DELAY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AFTER A ROLLING STOP, GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP, ETC.... VERY DANGEROUS IN EVERYDAY DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN HEADING TOWARDS A RED LIGHT THAT TURNS GREEN. AFTER THE DELAY, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE IN REVERSE AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE BRAKES HAD NOT ENGAGED WHEN APPLIED. THE FAILURE WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THE BRAKES NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“MY 2010 SUBARU LEGACY 3.6R HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AFTER A ROLLING STOP. THIS IS VERY COMMON IN EVERYDAY TRAFFIC, HEADING TOWARDS A RED LIGHT THAT TURNS GREEN, AS WELL AS WITH SPEED BUMPS. THERE IS ALMOST A FULL 2 SECOND DELAY AND THE CAR THEN THRUSTS IT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

35 complaints

16%

• I BOUGHT A NEW 2010 SUBARU AND IT MAKES AN ABNORMAL NOISE. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOT FIX TO THE PROBLEM. PURCHASED 8/19/09 FROM SHORTLINE SUBARU. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY HAVE NO DATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THERE MY CERT
• DRIVING A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY ON A NARROW STREET WITH A 90 DEGREE TURN. ENTERING THE TURN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS PRESSED DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED SLIGHTLY - THE CAR STALLED AS THE ENGINE DIED. SINCE IT WAS A TURN AND THE CAR HAS POWER STEERING THE NOSE WAS IN THE OPPOSITE LANE
• START CAR , ENGINE COLD, OR AT LEAST NOT FULLY WARMED UP. WHILE DRIVING, PUSH CLUTCH IN , TAKE FOOT OFF GAS TO SHIFT. ENGINE REVS DROP TO NEAR ZERO. ENGINE STALLS. ITS INTERMITTENT. BUT SOME ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT HOT WEATHER EXAGGERATES THE ISSUE. SEEMS TO HAPPEN LESS WHEN ENGINE IS FULLY WARMED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I BOUGHT A NEW 2010 SUBARU AND IT MAKES AN ABNORMAL NOISE. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOT FIX TO THE PROBLEM. PURCHASED 8/19/09 FROM SHORTLINE SUBARU. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY HAVE NO DATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THERE MY CERT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

29 complaints

13%

• AIR BAG SENSOR / SWITCH FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MALFUNCTIONING. TESTED AND VERIFIED WITH BOTH 125LB AND 135LB ADULT FEMALE. INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS PASSENGER AIR BAG AS OFF MOST OF THE TIME AND INTERMITTENTLY CHANGES TO ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THE TECHNICIANS BOTH LOOK AT AND VERIFY THE PROBL
• PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY LIGHTS BUT, SAYS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF MOST OF THE TIME WHEN MY WIFE OR TEENAGE DAUGHTER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I COMPLAINED TO WALSER SUBARU SERVICE CENTER IN MINNEAPOLIS. THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BUT, NO CORRECTIVE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE FOUR TIMES AND REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE RECENT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“AIR BAG SENSOR / SWITCH FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MALFUNCTIONING. TESTED AND VERIFIED WITH BOTH 125LB AND 135LB ADULT FEMALE. INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS PASSENGER AIR BAG AS OFF MOST OF THE TIME AND INTERMITTENTLY CHANGES TO ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THE TECHNICIANS BOTH LOOK AT AND VERIFY THE PROBL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

16 complaints

• 2010 SUBARU LEGACY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MATS KEEPS MOVING AND COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO BRAKE/ACCELERATE. THERE ARE 2 "PEGS" STICKING UP TO HOLD THE FLOOR MAT IN PLACE BUT AS YOU DRIVE, THE FLOOR MAT SHIFTS AND COMES OFF THE RIGHT PEG PUSHING THE MAT UP AND TURNING IT. THIS HAPPENS ROUTINELY EVERY D
• CAR STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR BRAKING TO STOP. NO ERROR CODES OR ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. CAR STARTS RIGHT AFTER BUT STALLS AGAIN FREQUENTLY. CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS OK. HAPPENS WITH HOT OR COLD WEATHER.
• ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME ,HITTING THE FRONT OF MY CAR WITH FORCE. THEN THAT CAR ABRUPTLY LEFT THE SCENE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND I WAS SEVERELY JOLTED. THEN THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. I WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND CONFUSION. LEFT THE SCENE AND RAN HOME AS MY BODY WAS IN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“2010 SUBARU LEGACY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MATS KEEPS MOVING AND COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO BRAKE/ACCELERATE. THERE ARE 2 "PEGS" STICKING UP TO HOLD THE FLOOR MAT IN PLACE BUT AS YOU DRIVE, THE FLOOR MAT SHIFTS AND COMES OFF THE RIGHT PEG PUSHING THE MAT UP AND TURNING IT. THIS HAPPENS ROUTINELY EVERY D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

13 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE IN REVERSE AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE BRAKES HAD NOT ENGAGED WHEN APPLIED. THE FAILURE WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THE BRAKES NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHI
• INCIDENT HAPPENED YESTERDAY 9AM, EXTREME HOT WEATHER. I WAS PARKED ON A HILL- STEEP PARKING. LEFT MY SISTER INSIDE TO GET A PARKING TICKET TO PLACE ON MY DASH BOARD THEN I CAME BACK TO PUT IN THE DASHBOARD, IT WAS STILL ON PARKED- MY SISTER WENT AT THE BACK OF THE CAR THIS TIME AND AS SOON AS I REMO
• CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE BREAKING. USED TO HAPPEN WHEN STOPPED BUT NOW HAPPENS A FEW TIMES A DAY WHEN JUST TRYING TO BREAK. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT A FEW TIMES. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE IN DRIVE, LIGHTS FLASH ON THE DASH, I HAVE TO PUT IN PARK AND TURN THE KEY OFF. IT STARTS UP FINE, BUT HAPPENS AGAI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE IN REVERSE AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE BRAKES HAD NOT ENGAGED WHEN APPLIED. THE FAILURE WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THE BRAKES NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 218 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: MY 2010 SUBARU LEGACY 3.6R HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AFTER A ROLLING STOP. THIS IS VERY COMMON IN EVERYDAY TRAFFIC, HEADING TOWARDS A RED LIGHT THAT TURNS GREEN, AS WELL AS WITH SPEED BUMPS. THERE IS ALMOST A FULL 2 SECOND DELAY AND THE CAR THEN THRUSTS IT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I BOUGHT A NEW 2010 SUBARU AND IT MAKES AN ABNORMAL NOISE. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOT FIX TO THE PROBLEM. PURCHASED 8/19/09 FROM SHORTLINE SUBARU. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY HAVE NO DATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THERE MY CERT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG SENSOR / SWITCH FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MALFUNCTIONING. TESTED AND VERIFIED WITH BOTH 125LB AND 135LB ADULT FEMALE. INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS PASSENGER AIR BAG AS OFF MOST OF THE TIME AND INTERMITTENTLY CHANGES TO ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THE TECHNICIANS BOTH LOOK AT AND VERIFY THE PROBL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2010 SUBARU LEGACY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MATS KEEPS MOVING AND COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO BRAKE/ACCELERATE. THERE ARE 2 "PEGS" STICKING UP TO HOLD THE FLOOR MAT IN PLACE BUT AS YOU DRIVE, THE FLOOR MAT SHIFTS AND COMES OFF THE RIGHT PEG PUSHING THE MAT UP AND TURNING IT. THIS HAPPENS ROUTINELY EVERY D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)