2018 Subaru LEGACY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Subaru LEGACY has 161 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: purchased a new subaru legacy feb. 28, 2018. after only 70 miles the warning light for seat belts and airbag malfunction appeared on a starlink system and dash. after immediately taking it in at the local car dealer, service agents claimed that a "rodent" has caused the damage. after further rese. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 9 crash reports 1 injury

161

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

40 complaints

25%

• PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU LEGACY FEB. 28, 2018. AFTER ONLY 70 MILES THE WARNING LIGHT FOR SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON A STARLINK SYSTEM AND DASH. AFTER IMMEDIATELY TAKING IT IN AT THE LOCAL CAR DEALER, SERVICE AGENTS CLAIMED THAT A "RODENT" HAS CAUSED THE DAMAGE. AFTER FURTHER RESE
• CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED. KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM ALLOWED DOORS TO BE OPENED. UPON SITTING IN DRIVERS SEAT, BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT TO START CAR, A MESSAGE ON DASH SAID "REMOTE KEY DEACTIVATED". AFTER THAT, NOTHING WORKED, NO FURTHER MESSAGES, COULD NOT LOCK DOORS, COULD NOT START CAR, NOTHING FUNCTIONED
• RAN OUT OF GAS ON A FLAT HIGHWAY, WHEN THE INDICATOR SAID THERE WERE 30 MILES LEFT. GAGUE WENT FROM 1/4 TO 0 IN LESS THAN 20 MILES.

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

“PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU LEGACY FEB. 28, 2018. AFTER ONLY 70 MILES THE WARNING LIGHT FOR SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON A STARLINK SYSTEM AND DASH. AFTER IMMEDIATELY TAKING IT IN AT THE LOCAL CAR DEALER, SERVICE AGENTS CLAIMED THAT A "RODENT" HAS CAUSED THE DAMAGE. AFTER FURTHER RESE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

32 complaints

20%

• SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT FOR POTENTIAL ROCK DAMAGE.SUNROOF WAS COVERED SO MOST OF THE GLASS WAS CONTAINED ON THE COVER. THE GLASS WAS BOWED OUTWARD AS IF THERE MAY BE TOO MUCH STRESS FORCED UP ON THE GLASS.
• THE RADIO/NAVIGATION SCREEN WENT BLANK. THE REAR VIEW CAMERA, NAVIGATION, STEREO. ETC. NO LONGER WORK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TODAY AND WAS TOLD THE RADIO HEAD NEEDS REPLACED. PROBLEM IS THEY ARE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND NO ONE CAN SAY HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY
• I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL ON THE FUEL GAUGE. SUPPOSEDLY THE WORK WAS DONE. THE WEBSITE LISTS IT AS INCOMPLETE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS OR WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT IT. PLEASE ADVISE.

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

“SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT FOR POTENTIAL ROCK DAMAGE.SUNROOF WAS COVERED SO MOST OF THE GLASS WAS CONTAINED ON THE COVER. THE GLASS WAS BOWED OUTWARD AS IF THERE MAY BE TOO MUCH STRESS FORCED UP ON THE GLASS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

32 complaints

20%

• THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR OF 2018/2019 LEGACY'S WITH BLIND SPOT DETECTION WILL NOT ADJUST OUT FAR ENOUGH TO SEE BLIND SPOT OF VEHICLE FOR SEAT POSITION ADJUSTED FOR AVERAGE TO TALL DRIVERS. WHILE THE MIRROR DETECTION LIGHT WORKS THERE IS NO WAY TO PHYSICALLY CONFIRM SIDE TRAFFIC POSITION. DANGEROUS,
• THE SUBARU LEGACY WINDSHIELD IS EXTREMELY BRITTLE, SMALL SALT DEBRIS CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO HAVE SEVERAL CHIPS ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD, IN ALL MY YEARS I'VE NEVER SEEN WINDSHIELDS BEING THIS BRITTLE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON SUBARU FORUMS ABOUT WINDSHIELDS THAT HAVE THE EYESIGHT EQUIPP
• ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NOT ANY NICKS IN MY WINDSHIELD, WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK STARTING FROM THE EDGE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING AND WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY SO DAMAGE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A ROCK. IT APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY WINDSHIE

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

“THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR OF 2018/2019 LEGACY'S WITH BLIND SPOT DETECTION WILL NOT ADJUST OUT FAR ENOUGH TO SEE BLIND SPOT OF VEHICLE FOR SEAT POSITION ADJUSTED FOR AVERAGE TO TALL DRIVERS. WHILE THE MIRROR DETECTION LIGHT WORKS THERE IS NO WAY TO PHYSICALLY CONFIRM SIDE TRAFFIC POSITION. DANGEROUS, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

10 complaints

• ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWED THAT THE REMAIN MILEAGE WAS 70, BUT IT STOPPED ALL THE SUDDEN DUE TO NO GAS. I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR STOPPED ON A PUBLIC STREET WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. AFTER MANY TIMES TRYING TO START THE CAR, IT DID NOT WORK; IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR S
• WHILE EXITING OFF HIGHWAY, THE CAN UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF NEARLY CAUSING A WRECK. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THE ENTERTAINMENT SCREEN REMAINED WORKING THE ENTIRE TIME. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLACK AND REMAINED THIS WAY. AUTOMATIC WINDOWS, ENTERTAINMENT SCREEN, RADIO ALL WORKED BUT CAR WOULD NOT STA
• WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AS SOON AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE AND HEARD A RATTLE AND THEN A LOUD BOOM EXPLOSION SOUND. MY TORQUE CONVERTER, ENGINE, AND FLEXPLATE EXPLODED CAUSING IT IN OPERABLE AND PLACED ME IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION STRANDED ON THE ROADWAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA

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

“ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWED THAT THE REMAIN MILEAGE WAS 70, BUT IT STOPPED ALL THE SUDDEN DUE TO NO GAS. I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR STOPPED ON A PUBLIC STREET WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. AFTER MANY TIMES TRYING TO START THE CAR, IT DID NOT WORK; IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

10 complaints

• DRIVING TO WORK EARLY THIS AM NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A HEAR A SMALL POP AND LOOK OVER TO NOTICE MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT.
• DRIVING TO WORK EARLY THIS AM NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A HEAR A SMALL POP AND LOOK OVER TO NOTICE MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT.
• My car's belt had been screeching for a few weeks. I was planning on taking my car in the next day. When i turned my car off, all the electrical went out and it started smoking on the driver's side. I got my car towed to the nearest auto shop. They replaced the battery and belt and yet the electrica

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

“DRIVING TO WORK EARLY THIS AM NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A HEAR A SMALL POP AND LOOK OVER TO NOTICE MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 161 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU LEGACY FEB. 28, 2018. AFTER ONLY 70 MILES THE WARNING LIGHT FOR SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON A STARLINK SYSTEM AND DASH. AFTER IMMEDIATELY TAKING IT IN AT THE LOCAL CAR DEALER, SERVICE AGENTS CLAIMED THAT A "RODENT" HAS CAUSED THE DAMAGE. AFTER FURTHER RESE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT FOR POTENTIAL ROCK DAMAGE.SUNROOF WAS COVERED SO MOST OF THE GLASS WAS CONTAINED ON THE COVER. THE GLASS WAS BOWED OUTWARD AS IF THERE MAY BE TOO MUCH STRESS FORCED UP ON THE GLASS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR OF 2018/2019 LEGACY'S WITH BLIND SPOT DETECTION WILL NOT ADJUST OUT FAR ENOUGH TO SEE BLIND SPOT OF VEHICLE FOR SEAT POSITION ADJUSTED FOR AVERAGE TO TALL DRIVERS. WHILE THE MIRROR DETECTION LIGHT WORKS THERE IS NO WAY TO PHYSICALLY CONFIRM SIDE TRAFFIC POSITION. DANGEROUS,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWED THAT THE REMAIN MILEAGE WAS 70, BUT IT STOPPED ALL THE SUDDEN DUE TO NO GAS. I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR STOPPED ON A PUBLIC STREET WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. AFTER MANY TIMES TRYING TO START THE CAR, IT DID NOT WORK; IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)