Parking Brake
NHTSA campaign 18V626000 · 2018 · reported 09/13/2018
A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2011 Subaru Legacy Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Power Train — runs 3.1× the fleet median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
167Complaints
16Recalls
7Crashes
2Fires
3Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Power Train (26.3% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Power Train complaints here are 3.1× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
3 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 3 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 44 · 26.3% | Recalled | Recall 10V326000 |
| Air Bags | 25 · 15% | Recalled | Recall 19V009000 · Recall 19V007000 · Recall 19V008000 · Recall 20V001000 · Recall 20V003000 · Recall 20V002000 · Recall 17V014000 · Recall 18V012000 · Recall 16V358000 |
| Engine | 22 · 13.2% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 18 · 10.8% | Recalled | Recall 19V297000 · Recall 13V061000 |
| Service Brakes | 18 · 10.8% | No official action | — |
| Suspension | 17 · 10.2% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 167 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 16 campaigns
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 19V009000 · 2019 · reported 01/09/2019
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 19V007000 · 2019 · reported 01/09/2019
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 19V008000 · 2019 · reported 01/09/2019
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 20V001000 · 2020 · reported 01/02/2020
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 20V003000 · 2020 · reported 01/02/2020
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 20V002000 · 2020 · reported 01/02/2020
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Electrical System:ignition:switch
NHTSA campaign 19V297000 · 2019 · reported 04/11/2019
The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
NHTSA campaign 16V694000 · 2016 · reported 09/27/2016
If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the wiper motor cover may melt, increasing the risk of a fire. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 17V014000 · 2017 · reported 01/10/2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 18V012000 · 2018 · reported 01/09/2018
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 16V358000 · 2016 · reported 05/25/2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
NHTSA campaign 11V467000 · 2011 · reported 09/07/2011
THE MOONROOF GLASS CAN LOOSEN AND DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE DURING DRIVING, RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD FOR OTHER VEHICLES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Electrical System
NHTSA campaign 13V061000 · 2013 · reported 02/25/2013
The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 12V602000 · 2012 · reported 12/26/2012
Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system. This may generate heat which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:manual Transmission
NHTSA campaign 10V326000 · 2010 · reported 07/20/2010
IF THE TRANSMISSION GEARS ARE NOT PROPERLY LUBRICATED, A GROANING SOUND MAY BEGIN TO DEVELOP ALERTING THE DRIVER OF A PROBLEM. IF THE SOUND IS IGNORED AND NO ACTION IS TAKEN, THE GEARS WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK AND THIS CONDITION WILL LEAD TO VEHICLE POWER LOSS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUES BEGAN AT 104,000 MILES, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT INTO SUBARU TO LOOK AT UNTIL 108,000. I AM NOW…”NHTSA complaint 11182499 — filed 02/26/2019 · POWER TRAIN
“VERY ROUTINELY WHEN COMING TO A STOP FROM THE CAR MOVING WHEN YOU DECREASE YOUR SPEED WHEN STOPPING FOR A LIGHT, TRAFFIC, OR ANYTHING THAT…”NHTSA complaint 11174622 — filed 02/05/2019 · POWER TRAIN
“WHEN CAR IS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN IT STALLS AND DIES ON ME AND I HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND START…”NHTSA complaint 11165890 — filed 01/08/2019 · POWER TRAIN
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Subaru Legacy?
Power train issues are the most-reported category, cited in 44 of 167 NHTSA complaints (26.3%), followed by air bags (25), engine (22), electrical system (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2011 Subaru Legacy have?
167 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 7 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 3 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2011 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?
Yes — 16 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 18V626000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2011 Subaru Legacy's reported problems?
3 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
