8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,450
Average Mileage:
59,150 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
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problem #3

Sep 012022

Legacy Limited 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,500 miles

I've owned a 2016 Subaru Legacy Limited 3.6, for coming on 2 years. In the last 3 months I've had to replace my battery twice. The last being a red top battery costing $300+ and only lasted 2 days. The first incident that was most disruptive was, driving home in rush hour traffic when I lost all power, radio cut out, all lights on dash go out, my car begins to sputter and there is no power steering. Once traffic rolled to a stop it dies and wouldn't turn back over, couldn't pull my key from the ignition, roll the windows up, and once in park I couldn't change to neutral. It was very dangerous due to traffic, and I was stuck on a bridge that was a main arterial, with no emergency flashers. Had to have the city law enforcement call to get my car removed from the roadway. Had it towed to the dealership I purchased it from. The next day they told me my battery was dead and I needed a new one. Tested my alternator and that test good. Then again it died under the same symptoms as it did the first time. Leaving me stranded on a busy highway, at 10 at night.

All of my symptoms were directly related to my a/c being on and sitting too long without driving, at idle or stop and go traffic and progressively got to being a main battery drain. My key intermediately wont pull from the ignition, steering wheel won't lock in place. My windows will randomly not roll up, but bounce down and stop halfway and lock temporarily in that position. I believe its all electrical problems or voltage issues. None the less... if there is no way to repair this, than it should be a recall..... because it's a serious problem with no solution and Subaru is fully aware of it.

- Adrienne L., Spokane, WA, US

problem #2

Oct 012022

Legacy B4 2.5L Dohc

  • CVT transmission
  • 63,865 miles

Our battery was dead when the car was being regularly driven and nothing was left on. We have probably replaced the battery 4 times since purchasing the car. The latest time, we would just keep jumping the car. Finally the car wouldn't jump anymore so we took it in to the shop and they had to fix things, $900 later. About 2 months after the fix, the battery was dead again. I am just waiting for it to happen again. I had called Subaru and they gave me a website to go on to see if it was covered under one of their issues but it was not according to the website. The dealership we purchased the car at was also very unhelpful and just said we had to call Subaru directly.

- Russell S., Pittsburgh, US

problem #1

Feb 012021

Legacy Limited 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

I've gotten the car jumped by AAA around 10x in 2020. Paid to replate the battery then went through 3 more battery changes under warranty. Paid $800 to repalce alternator. Paid anotehr $800 at dealership recently to replace computer module...after which they tested it but didnt tell me there was a known problem with the battery.

- Christopher M., Princeton, US