Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I’m having an issue with my vehicle stalling when I brake and when I come to a stop slowly or on an incline. I haven’t had it tested at a dealership but I have read about the issue among other Subaru owners stating it is possible the torque converter in the CVT and that Subaru isn’t recalling it. I see this as a major safety concern for myself and others on the road due to its stalling out at a stop or on an incline.
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the emergency brake warning light, traction control, oil pressure warning light, and the cruise control warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission valve body had failed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred a week later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an unknown electrical failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred less than a week later. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer who advised the contact to turn off the vehicle, disconnect the battery for 5 minutes, and to then restart the vehicle. The contact followed the instructions however, the failure persisted and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the gas cap was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
AFTER 2 RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CARS TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS STUTTERING AND WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR JAMS. I WORRY ABOUT MY AND MY PASSENGERS SAFETY.
MANY WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. USUALLY THE LIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE AUTO CHECKED BY A GARAGE SERVAL TIMES BUT THE VEHICLE INDICATES THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WHEN TESTED BY A TECHNICIAN. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE CAR. WHEN AN OIL CHANGE SHOP LEFT THE LID TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM OPEN I DID NOT RECOGNIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND SAW STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE, IE MANY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE FLASHING NOT JUST THE ONE FOR COOLANT SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS LIKE BOY WHO FALSELY CALLED "WOLF" TOO OFTEN.
THERE WAS A RECALL WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN ITS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR. I HAVE NO HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, NO RADIO CONTROLS AND I DON,T KNOW IF THE AIR BAG WORKS. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND SUBARU REFUSES TO REPAIR I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $200. PLUS JUST TO DIAGNOSE IT WHEN THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
VEHICLE WILL SHUDDER AND STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP MOST OFTEN IN THE UPHILL POSITION, IT WILL ALSO STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP AFTER BRAKING HARD. THIS PROBLEM IS AVOIDED IF YOU PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL BUT THAT IS THE ONLY WAY. ENGINE IDLE WILL DROP DRASTICALLY AND THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD TIME REENGAGING INTO DRIVE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. I ASSUME IT IS THE CVT TRANSMISSION OR THE TORQUE CONVERTOR.
A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY [XXX], 67,381 MI ON 02/03/16 WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN FORWARD OR REVERSE. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF ATTEMPTS OF DIFFERENT SELECTION OF SWITCHES, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO D DEALER. A PART, NUMBER 22641AA54A SEN AY-A/F R WAS INSTALLED TO CORRECT THE DISCREPANCY. THIS DISCREPANCY IS SUFFICIENTLY DANGEROUS TO WARRANT A RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME ,HITTING THE FRONT OF MY CAR WITH FORCE. THEN THAT CAR ABRUPTLY LEFT THE SCENE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND I WAS SEVERELY JOLTED. THEN THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. I WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND CONFUSION. LEFT THE SCENE AND RAN HOME AS MY BODY WAS IN TURMOIL. I HAD TO USE THE BATHROOM IMMEDIATELY. I THEN CALLED THE POLICE. REGARDING THE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER CAR HAS STILL NOT BEEN FOUND. PROGRESSIVE IS MY INSURANCE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOT IN TURNERSVILLE,N.J. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS ALL THE INFORMATION.
CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE BREAKING. USED TO HAPPEN WHEN STOPPED BUT NOW HAPPENS A FEW TIMES A DAY WHEN JUST TRYING TO BREAK. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT A FEW TIMES. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE IN DRIVE, LIGHTS FLASH ON THE DASH, I HAVE TO PUT IN PARK AND TURN THE KEY OFF. IT STARTS UP FINE, BUT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT HALF A YEAR AND IS GETTING WORSE. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND ANY FAIL CODES OR ANYTHING.
CAR STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR BRAKING TO STOP. NO ERROR CODES OR ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. CAR STARTS RIGHT AFTER BUT STALLS AGAIN FREQUENTLY. CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS OK. HAPPENS WITH HOT OR COLD WEATHER.
ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2014 MY SON LEFT FOR WORK AT HIS USUAL TIME AND STARTED THE SUBARU. IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE ROARED AT FULL THROTTLE, AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF DOWN THE STREET, WHERE IT JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 45 MPH. DISTANCE TRAVELED WAS LESS THAN 400 FEET FROM WHERE IT STARTED. BASED ON AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT, IT IS PRESUMED THAT THE VEHICLE SUFFERED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION MECHANICAL ISSUE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S CONTROL. EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSONNEL ARRIVED WITHIN MINUTES, AND HE WAS TAKEN TO THE MAJOR METRO-AREA 833 BED HOSPITAL (LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER) WHERE HE WAS ADMITTED TO CRITICAL CARE. HE DIED PEACEFULLY AND WITHOUT PAIN ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, NOVEMBER 26, 2014, AT AGE 37. SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS INCIDENT ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014; A DETAILED DESCRIPTION, POLICE CRASH REPORT, AND 18 PICTURES WERE PROVIDED, WITH A REQUEST FOR THEM TO INSPECT THE TOTALED VEHICLE AND DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE INFORMATION FROM THE BLACK BOX RECORDER/EVENT DATA RECORDER. (NOTE: AS OF TODAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014 NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN).
THE 2010 SUBARU LEGACY GT HAS A DEFECT IN THE SENSOR THAT DETERMINES WEIGHT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SENSORS FUNCTION IS TO TURN THE AIRBAG ON OR OFF DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT IN THE SEAT. WITH A 114 POUND WOMAN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AUTOMATIC AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT SIGNAL FOR THE AIRBAG TO BE READY TO DEPLOY AND CONTINUES TO BE IN THE OFF MODE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO MULTIPLE SUBARU DEALERSHIPS, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE NEEDED WEIGHT TO TURN THE AIRBAGS TO THE ON MODE WAS 17 POUNDS. MY 114 POUND WIFE IS FAR MORE THAN 17 POUNDS BUT THE AIRBAG SENSOR STILL DOES NOT TRIP TO THE ON MODE. I AM WORRIED THAT A PASSENGER WILL NOT BE PROTECTED IN A POSSIBLE CRASH. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .