2011 Subaru LEGACY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Subaru LEGACY has 234 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: engine speed surges occasionally ( 4 episodes in 6 months) when moving very slowly (parking) and wheel is being turned. hard braking stops car and engine speed returns to normal. *ln. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 7 crash reports 4 injuries

234

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

47 complaints

20%

• ENGINE SPEED SURGES OCCASIONALLY ( 4 EPISODES IN 6 MONTHS) WHEN MOVING VERY SLOWLY (PARKING) AND WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. HARD BRAKING STOPS CAR AND ENGINE SPEED RETURNS TO NORMAL. *LN
• 2011 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5I CVT PREMIUM MODEL : AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60+ MPH, THE VEHICLE FEELS "WOBBLY". THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GETTING SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, EVEN ON GOOD ROAD IN GOOD CONDITIONS. I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH THE AWD SYSTEM. I SLOW DOWN AT TIMES WHEN I SENSE THIS A
• VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL AT ALL SPEEDS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ENGINE SPEED SURGES OCCASIONALLY ( 4 EPISODES IN 6 MONTHS) WHEN MOVING VERY SLOWLY (PARKING) AND WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. HARD BRAKING STOPS CAR AND ENGINE SPEED RETURNS TO NORMAL. *LN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

28 complaints

12%

• I STARTED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AS USUAL. PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, SLOWLY LETTING FOOT OFF BRAKE, ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL. BRAKED AND PUT IN PARK TO LET ENGINE WARM FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE WITHOUT INCIDENT.
• DRUMMING NOISE THAT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR-END OF THE VEHICLE, CAN BE HEARD AND VIBRATIONS FELT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON AND THE VEHICLE IS AT REST OR MOVING. SUBARU OF AMERICA FACTORY AND DEALERSHIP SERVICE TECHNICIANS ARE NOT CERTAIN THAT THE ISSUE IS THE FUEL PUMP,
• DASH TROUBLE LIGHTS FLASHING CONSTANTLY ON AND OFF CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE FAILURE, ALL WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, TEMPERATURE LIGHT, OIL WARNING LIGHT, ENGINE NOT ENGAGING WHEN GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED. CAR WOBBLES SIDE TO SIDE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH, STEERING WHEEL EXCESSIVE VIBRA

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

“I STARTED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AS USUAL. PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, SLOWLY LETTING FOOT OFF BRAKE, ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL. BRAKED AND PUT IN PARK TO LET ENGINE WARM FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE WITHOUT INCIDENT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

25 complaints

11%

• FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT WHEN A 150 POUND 5 FOOT 1 ADULT IS SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AIRBAG LIGHT SAYS OFF. MOVING AROUND IN THE SEAT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. *TR
• PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHOW INDICATOR AS OFF WITH OCCUPANT IN PASSENGER SEAT (WEIGHT APPROX. 110 POUNDS). PASSENGER REMOVES ALL WEIGHT FROM SEAT AND REAPPLIES WEIGHT IN SAME POSITION AND/OR RESET PROCEDURE DETAILED IN MANUAL PERFORMED AND SENSOR WILL USUALLY COM
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL 4 OR 5 SECONDS LATER. PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING, BURNING FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CON

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

“FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT WHEN A 150 POUND 5 FOOT 1 ADULT IS SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AIRBAG LIGHT SAYS OFF. MOVING AROUND IN THE SEAT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

19 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, SHE NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE BATTE
• RADIO CONTROLS ON LEFT SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL STOP FUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY. HAS HAPPENED ON 2 OCCASIONS IN THE 2 1/2 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTED WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL ROLL CONNECTION RECALL (SUBARU RECALL WVR-28), HOWEVER, THAT RECALL
• DASH TROUBLE LIGHTS FLASHING CONSTANTLY ON AND OFF CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE FAILURE, ALL WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, TEMPERATURE LIGHT, OIL WARNING LIGHT, ENGINE NOT ENGAGING WHEN GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED. CAR WOBBLES SIDE TO SIDE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH, STEERING WHEEL EXCESSIVE VIBRA

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

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, SHE NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE BATTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

19 complaints

• AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60-75MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION/SHAKE THAT IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES THIS VIBRATION CAUSES DISCOMFORT TO HANDS/ARMS. DECREASED TIRE PRESSURE, ROAD FORCE BALANCE, AND STEERING WHEEL REPLACEMENT (SOA TSB) DID NOT FIX. NEXT STEP IS
• DASH TROUBLE LIGHTS FLASHING CONSTANTLY ON AND OFF CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE FAILURE, ALL WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, TEMPERATURE LIGHT, OIL WARNING LIGHT, ENGINE NOT ENGAGING WHEN GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED. CAR WOBBLES SIDE TO SIDE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH, STEERING WHEEL EXCESSIVE VIBRA
• AT APPROX 60-65 MPH I AM GETTING VIBRATION TO THE CAR- STEERING AND DRIVER SEAT. *JS

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

“AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60-75MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION/SHAKE THAT IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES THIS VIBRATION CAUSES DISCOMFORT TO HANDS/ARMS. DECREASED TIRE PRESSURE, ROAD FORCE BALANCE, AND STEERING WHEEL REPLACEMENT (SOA TSB) DID NOT FIX. NEXT STEP IS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 234 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: ENGINE SPEED SURGES OCCASIONALLY ( 4 EPISODES IN 6 MONTHS) WHEN MOVING VERY SLOWLY (PARKING) AND WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. HARD BRAKING STOPS CAR AND ENGINE SPEED RETURNS TO NORMAL. *LN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I STARTED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AS USUAL. PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, SLOWLY LETTING FOOT OFF BRAKE, ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL. BRAKED AND PUT IN PARK TO LET ENGINE WARM FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE WITHOUT INCIDENT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT WHEN A 150 POUND 5 FOOT 1 ADULT IS SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AIRBAG LIGHT SAYS OFF. MOVING AROUND IN THE SEAT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, SHE NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE BATTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)