10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,450 miles

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problem #11

Jan 052022

Legacy

  • miles
Vehicle had significant amount of oil pooled in the battery case holder back approximately Jan 2022 or earlier. Contacted Subaru of Las Vegas and they offered to clean the vehicle believing it was a careless oil change. Next oil change Subaru said I had a minor oil leak. Took it to an outside vendor to have them look at it and they said I didn't have an oil leak. Every oil change after that subaru continued to say I had a leak. But, my oil levels never changed enough to show low oil. Took it to the same vendor again and again they said no oil leak. Took it to another vendor and they changed the gasket cover and leak, but mentioned there was a leak with the cam carrier that needed to be revealed. They recommended taking it to their neighbor vendor that specializes in Subaru and they looked at it and confirmed, but mentioned to contact Subaru and that it should be a covered repair as it is a known issue with Subaru and that they were currently working on one with the same issue. While recently driving it, I noticed what smelled like burning oil. When I looked online I can see numerous years and models of owners reporting the same issue with their Subaru. Contacted my dealer and they said it wasn't covered. Contacted Subaru of America and they are currently investigating it. If your camshaft seal is leaking oil, you need to get it replaced right away. The leak can lead to a fire, and your engine could seize up. It can also damage your timing belt which can cause bent valves, cylinder head damage or camshaft damage. Prior to this, I actually have already repaired the timing belt. I want to ensure that no injury or damage comes to another Subaru vehicle owner having the same issue. I have also just had to repair both axles and my Subaru is a 2016 with 90,000 miles on it.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #10

Sep 142022

Legacy

  • miles
I had a transmission failure on my 2016 Subaru Legacy and there were no warning signs before this incident occurred. I was on a road trip driving at highway speeds and suddenly without warning I heard a loud bang. Then the "at oil temp" light came on, then the "check engine light", smelled something burning and also felt some slipping in the transmission. I pulled over as soon as I could. I towed it to the nearest dealer and they diagnosed the problem as being a bad valve body based on the code "P0712: Transmission Temperature Sensor Circuit Low" without test driving the vehicle. The valve body was replaced. Since my car's mileage was outside the extended warranty for this issue, Subaru only contributed half the cost of the repair. After the completion of the repair, the dealer told me they heard loud transmission noises and they recommended that my transmission may have to be replaced I test drove the vehicle with the service manager, except for the noise, the car had no warning lights and the car was shifting smoothly and was reassured that the car would not stall. After leaving the dealership, I drove 25 miles before the car started jerking and violently shaking. Then at a stop light on a highway, the car stalled. When I press the accelerator, the engine would rev but the car would not move. The vehicle was towed home, my car still would not move when I pressed the accelerator and the check engine light came on. I towed it to my local dealer, they checked the vehicle and said the transmission had an internal failure and replaced the transmission. The bad transmission was sent back to Subaru per their policy. Subaru did a goodwill warranty repair that covered a significant portion of the cost. This sudden transmission failure was a huge safety risk to myself and others. I could have rear-ended both times my car stalled.

- Howell, NJ, USA

problem #9

Apr 182022

Legacy

  • 17,000 miles
The contact owned a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated crashing a small tree causing the contact to reverse the vehicle. When placed in reverse the vehicle accelerated and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There was damage done to both the tree and other vehicle. The vehicle was towed and deemed total. A police report was filed. The contact had received a bruise on their knee and sought out medical attention. The contact dealer was not made aware of the falure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000.

- Setauket, NY, USA

problem #8

Sep 282020

Legacy

  • 49,000 miles
When the car is stationary and shifted into park and ignition turned off, the key becomes stuck in the accessory position and key is not able to be removed. Exterior lighting and interior electronics remain on. Subaru is aware of this shift plate sensor malfunction is present in 2016 Legacy and 2017 forrester models, as far as I know, but have not recalled them. In order to remove key, the vehicle must be turned back on and the gear shift slammed into park, usually multiple times, to allow for the ignition to be fully turned off and the key to be removed. Once it started, it will not quit until the sensor has been replaced. The backup cam with also turn on while not in reverse, presumably related to the shift plate sensor malfunction.

- Rigby, ID, USA

problem #7

Dec 282018

Legacy

  • 64,810 miles
Cvt transmission is failing after the recommended service interval for fluid changes in the cvt, front differential and rear differential. Failure at 64,800 at freeway speeds on 12/28/2018. Had vehicle towed to Subaru dealership and they performed a cleaning of carbon build up and checked the fluid levels and reset everything. Subaru claimed the computer was erased because the car wouldn't start once and had been charged. Dealership declared everything was correct and roadworthy. Picked up car on 1/1/2019 and transmission failed again at freeway speeds after approximately 12 miles of driving, this is the second failure, 01/01/2019. Vehicle is being towed into Subaru dealership again on 1/2/2019. Transmission failing at 70 mph and causing a sudden decrease in speed is a major safety issue that could result in being hit from the rear or losing control of the vehicle.

- Mukwonago, WI, USA

problem #6

Jul 052017

Legacy

  • 35,500 miles
In less than 36,000 miles it developed a grinding noise that can be felt above 50 mph. Dealer found a problem with the auto transmission. It will being replaced under warranty. Strange, I thought Subaru is known for better transmission. In the same car the cd player stopped working and making noise similar to what you hear when a cd is being ejected. Dealer changed it under warranty. I received a recall letter on dcm software in the car & I took car to the dealer. However, this recall is not listed on web. Why?

- Old Bridge, NJ, USA

problem #5

Mar 082016

Legacy

  • 40 miles
The transmission does not immediately engage, when shifting from reverse to drive or drive to reverse, with or without engaging the foot brake. The transmission goes into a significant neutral state before it engages, in either direction, allowing the vehicle to drift until the transmission engages with a lurch. The occurs whether or not the engine is hot or cold. This is particularly dangerous and noticeable when backing from my driveway, which is inclined, to proceed uphill, and the vehicle drifts several feet rearward before engaging. The delay is not as pronounced, when exiting to proceed down the street. Pages 7-24 and 7-27 of the Subaru owner's manual specifically state not to use inertia to move the vehicle. There is, also, a harsh, premature downshift that quickly takes the car from 25 mph to 15 mph and a rolling stop, when removing your foot from the accelerator, while approaching the crest of a hill or stop sign. The braking force will actually throw you body forward. This, also, occurs while travelling at low speeds on residential streets. These conditions have existed since March 8, 2016, and after 4 repair requests, at 3 different Subaru dealers, and an inspection by a factory engineer, their claim is nothing is wrong. Sorry, but I do not agree. Engineer, continue to exist. Their claim being this is normal.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #4

Nov 112016

Legacy

  • 12,000 miles
When resumed cruise control, it did not. Instead the steering wheel was uncontrollable and had no direction. Was on interstate 84west in ct. Put on break and then was able to stop the vehicle on side of road. Went to the dealer and told no issue. Also have had gear shifting problems. Was in touch less car wash where the car is in park and when told (flashing sign) to move forward the car would not go into drive. After several attempts, shut car off and then was able to put in drive. On occasions the shifting gear has not remained in park and vehicle has moved forward.

- Wethersfield, CT, USA

problem #3

Jul 012016

Legacy

  • 500 miles
When shifting from reverse to drive there is an extended delay and application of throttle causes a severe lurching of the car which can cause an accident.

- Kirkwood, MO, USA

problem #2

Jun 172016

Legacy

  • 2,000 miles
Following are two main issues, causality/correlation uncertain. After the "Subaru eyesight" failed for about two minutes while underway (dashboard cluster lit up in numerous places, too), the eyesight system reset while driving. Thereafter, the vehicle began to "buck (e.g. lurch forward several inches with a lot of force)" when the vehicle's cvt was in "drive" and I was stopped with the brake depressed at normal pressure. This has happened about six times in the last four days, and I am extremely concerned. The "buck" is so severe that the first time it happened, I felt like I was rear-ended. The most recent time that it occurred, my best friend could have been severely injured when the car lurched forward as he was standing outside of the running vehicle, gathering things from the front seat (e.g. foot or leg run over had he been taking groceries out of the back seat). At this point, the Subaru dealership is being coy about situation resolution. What is especially concerning is that the eyesight system is supposed to "kill" acceleration when the vehicle is stopped, and an object forward of the car is detected. Yet, the vehicle tried to proceed forward when stopped in traffic?

- Champlin, MN, USA

problem #1

Nov 162015

Legacy

  • 100 miles
3.6 liter 6-cyl engine surges after a cold start. When the car is started, the idle speed is high. When the car is put into gear, as the brakes are released and the car begins to move, the idle speed drops. If the car is brought to a stop or a very low (creeping) speed, the idle speed increases, causing the car to lurch. Foot never touches accelerator pedal at all. This behavior causes the car to move unexpectedly after it is brought to a stop by the brakes. It also makes it impossible to move the car at creeping speed - easing off the brakes, as the car starts to move, the idle speed drops, causing the brakes to slow the car. After a second, as the car comes to a stop, the engine speed kicks up again. This makes the car lurch into motion again. Operator must quickly increase brake pressure, but simultaneously the engine idle speed drops due to the increased speed. Therefore the car slows again and the cycle repeats. The described behavior happens equally in forward or reverse gear. The described behavior is only an issue on a cold start. It does not happen with a warm engine. I experience this on a daily basis. It has affected control of my car in the following situations: Backing out of my driveway; entering an intersection; in a parking lot.

- Somerville, MA, USA