2011 Subaru Legacy Engine Problems

An issue has surfaced with my car that it turns off while driving. Obviously this is a serious safety hazard and likely to result in an accident. Now that it has happened, it is continuing and frequently happening. I reached out to Subaru as I saw there was a recall for my car's make and model that is causing the same issue. The issue is listed as NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V297000, described as "The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. " and affecting many Subarus, including the 2011 legacy. I believe my car is impacted given the behavior it is exhibiting. When I reached out to Subaru, they dismissed it saying it did not apply to my car and they were not willing to investigate. I believe this poses a grave risk to many people given that it will cause an accident and the severity of the defect.

NHTSA ID

11695074

Incident

Oct 22, 2025

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER DAUGHTER WHO OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIRST TEAM SUBARU NORFOLK (6633 E VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, NORFOLK, VA 23502, (877) 274-7828) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT FUEL ADDITIVE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE FUEL TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY FIX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11415504

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

Mileage

100,000 mi

WAS WARNED BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT SEVERAL TIMES. CLOCK AND SAVED RADIO STATIONS WENT OUT AND NOW BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR YEARLY INSPECTION AND MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM GASKET. 16,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. NEVER HAVE I HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

11399636

Incident

Mar 6, 2021

Mileage

16,000 mi

CHANGED OUT THE TIMING BELT AS PART OF RECOMMEND SERVICE BY SUBARU ONLY TO LEARN THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING AND IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL SUBARUS BUILT BEFORE 2013. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND HAS CREATED A CONDITIONER THAT IS ADDED TO THE COOLING SYSTEM AS A "BAND AID."

NHTSA ID

11352699

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

123,000 mi

MY SUBARU HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. IT WILL STALL AT HARD STOPS OR WHEN I ROLL TO A STOP. IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN GOING UP A HILL WHERE YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN OR IF SOMEONE STOPS HARD IN FRONT OF ME. IT SHUDDERS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SUBARU NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS CAUSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329321

Incident

May 10, 2019

Mileage

146,000 mi

WHEN COMING TO STOP SIGN OR SUDDEN STOPS THE CAR WILL STALL. YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK AND RESTART CAR OR YOUR GOING TO GET HIT, YOU LOSE ALL CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN APRIL OF 2019

NHTSA ID

11316257

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

195,000 mi

ALL POWER CUTS OFF PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11289717

Incident

Dec 17, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY 2011 SUBARU LEGACY IS EXPERIENCING SHUDDERING AND STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP RESULTING IN THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF. I CAN DESCRIBE THIS CONDITION SIMILAR TO COMING TO A STOP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED VEHICLE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH. IT IS SEEM SIMILAR TO LIKE THE VEHICLE IS STALLING OR CAUSE IT TO STALL.

NHTSA ID

11270075

Incident

Aug 27, 2019

THE ENGINE TURNING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN I AM DRIVING. ESPECIALLY WHEN I GO TO SLOW DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. FROM DAY ONE.

NHTSA ID

11269096

Incident

Apr 4, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE CAR IS JUST SHY OF 8 YEARS OLD. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY STOP, SHUT OFF AND LOSE POWER STEERING WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. CURRENTLY THE ENGINE IS LEAKING EXHAUST FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT CAN BE SMELLED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT IS ALSO LEAKING HOT OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD ONTO THE LOWER EXHAUST AND LEAKING HOT COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR. THE EXHAUST AND FLUID LEAKS OCCUR WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11244202

Incident

Jul 5, 2019

Mileage

167,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEN COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP THE CAR STALLED. THE CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC. APPARENTLY SUBARU DISTRIBUTED A BULLETIN NOTING THAT THIS WAS COMMON IN LEGACY AND OUTBACK MODELS MADE BEFORE 2013 (SEE ATTACHED) AND IS DUE TO A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS DANGEROUS AS IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OTHER CARS MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. APPARENTLY THIS IS OVER $1500 TO FIX, BUT I BELIEVE SUBARU SHOULD COVER SOME IF NOT ALL OF THE COST. THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS 147K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11208024

Incident

May 14, 2019

Mileage

147,000 mi

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 WOULD REQUIRE A QUICK STOP, THE CAR WILL STALL OUT AS YOUR SPEED IS LESS THAN 10-20 MPH AND YOU LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING, BRAKES. ECT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU IMMEDIATELY. THIS CAN OCCUR ON ANY STREET, HIGHWAY AND WILL DO THIS WHILE TURNING AS WELL. THIS HAPPENS DAILY IN MY COMMUTE AND IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. IT OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP FROM A MOVING POSITION.

NHTSA ID

11174622

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

Mileage

230,000 mi

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 IT BACK UP. I HAD A TIME WHERE IT IDLED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE AND DIDN'T BUT IT DOES THIS 4 TO 8 TIMES A DAY. NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON BUT I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK DUE TO IT STALLING. PLEASE HELP THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED IT IS NOT SAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN MY CAR . I NEED ANSWERS.

NHTSA ID

11165890

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

1,380,000 mi

MY CAR HESITATES AND TURNS OFF SOMETIMES WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP OR RED LIGHT, RPMS FLUCTUATE AS I BRAKE OR ACCELERATE, MY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON SOLID AND I GET A AT OIL TEMP LIGHT FLASHING AND THEN I CAN'T USE MY PADDLESHIFTERS AT ALL, CAR SOUNDS HIGHLY REV'D BUT DOESN'T GO AS FAST! PLEASE HELP AS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, I DRIVE ON CALIFORNIA FREEWAYS EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A DANGER TO MY FAMILY WHEN COMMUTING.

NHTSA ID

11128791

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

Mileage

148,450 mi

ENGINE IDLE RPM IS UNSTABLE. (+ / - 500 RPM) ENGINE STALLED MANY TIMES (6 OR 7) WITHOUT REASON AND IN DANGEROUS SITUATION AS TURNING IN THE INTERSECTION OR CROSSING RAIL ROADS, WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN. I WENT TWICE IN SUBARU SERVICE. AT FIRST THEY REPLACED THE "TORQUE CONVERTER" AND PROCEEDED WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN THE ENGINE. SECOND TIME THEY "RE-PROGRAMMED" THE COMPUTER. AS OF TODAY I AM GETTING SAME ISSUE WITHOUT HELP FROM SUBARU SERVICE. THEY ADVISED TO FILE A CLAIM AND EVENTUALLY SUE THE COMPANY.

NHTSA ID

10945061

Incident

Jul 22, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

01/07/2016 SHORTLY AFTER TAKING THE FREEWAY EXIT WIFE NOTICED THE BATTERY LIGHT TURNED ON AND POWER STEERING GOT HEAVY. ALL OTHER WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH STARTED TO FLICKER AS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT QUICKLY FILLED WITH SMOKE. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET BOTH KIDS OUT BEFORE THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF HER 2011 SUBARU LEGACY 3.6R LIMITED. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ID

10823290

Incident

Jan 7, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

CAR SPUTTERS & STALLS WHEN BRAKING

NHTSA ID

10809113

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

59,000 mi

WHENEVER THE BRAKE IS PRESSED HARD TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR STALLS AND ALL ELECTRICAL SHUT OFF. IT DOESNT SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU BRAKE VERY SLOW BEFORE COMING TO A FULL STOP. BUT IF YOU BRAKE SLOWLY AND THEN PRESSED THE PEDAL FULL, THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR. THIS CAN CAUSE PANIC AND ALSO DELAY ON CARS RUNNING BEHIND THE CAR. IT APPEARS THIS IS SIMILAR PROBLEM REPORTED UNDER 10395739. I ALSO FOUND A NUMBER OF SIMILARLY REPORTED PROBLEMS ONLINE WITH SUBARU CARS.

NHTSA ID

10762795

Incident

Aug 10, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

CAR CONTINUES TO STALL WHEN REDUCING SPEED. OCCURS MOSTLY AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS; HOWEVER, HAS OCCURRED WHEN SLOWING FOR TRAFFIC. CAR HAS COMPLETED ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES AS REQUIRED. INITIALLY TOLD TO SERVICE AIR FLOW SENSOR AND HAVE INSPECTED FOR VACUUM LEAK. VEHICLE SERVICE DID NOT RESOLVE STALLING. SERVICE BULLETIN 16-90-13 SHOWS SUBARU KNOWS THE TORQUE CONVERTER TO BE FAULTY ON THESE VEHICLES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNDER THESE EXACT CONDITIONS. THIS IS CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THE POTENTIAL TO BE REAR ENDED DUE TO STALLING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW VEHICLE. SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND TORQUE CONVERTER SHOULD BE REPLACED BY SUBARU DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10711902

Incident

Mar 5, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS MY SUBARU LEGACY HAS BEEN STALLING AND LOSING POWER WHEN I ROLL TO A STOP AND/OR WHEN SUDDENLY BRAKING. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY SEMI TRUCK ON THE FREEWAY AND MULTIPLE TIMES AT STOP LIGHTS IN FOGGY SITUATIONS. SUBARU DEALERSHIP SAID IF IT WAS AN ANNOYANCE I SHOULD BRING IT IN. ALMOST DYING IN A SUBARU WITH MY DAUGHTERS IS MORE THAN AN ANNOYANCE. DEALERSHIP HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT BUT PERFORMED A THROTTLE BODY SERVICE, WHICH WAS FUTILE. ONLINE FORUMS SUGGEST A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER AND A SERVICE#16-90-30. QUOTES FOR REPLACING IT ARE AROUND $2000. SUBARU KNOWS IT IS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF TORQUE CONVERTER...THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I USED TO LOVE SUBARUS AND THIS CAR, I AM NOW FORCED TO TAKE A LOSS FINANCIALLY AND BUY A SAFER CAR. COMPLETELY UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701824

Incident

Mar 25, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

I WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT SLOWING DOWN FROM 15 MPH WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR ACTS LIKE SOMETHING IS GRABBING & IT SHUTS DOWN THE MOTOR. THE CAR WAS NOT COLD IT WAS WARMED UP & DROVE ABOUT 28 MILES BEFORE DOING THIS. THE SKID LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS A DRY ROAD. THIS CAR HAS DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET & HAVE SEEN OTHERS SAYING THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED WITH THEIR SUBARU. ITS SCARY TO THINK THIS MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME ON ONE OF OUR SLICK ROADS GOING OFF A HILL. I HAVE NOT HAD IT CHECKED OUT YET DO TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. I HAVE NOTICED WHILE APPLYING THE BREAKS WHEN IT STARTS FEELING LIKE THE ROTORS ARE GRABBING IF YOU EASE OFF JUST A LITTLE AND THEN APPLY AGAIN THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF IT WILL STAY RUNNING. I HAVE SHUT OFF THE SKID PROTECTION AND DROVE IT & STILL IT WILL DO THIS AND THE SKID LIGHT WILL SHOW UP. ON THE INTERNET IT SAYS IT COULD BE THE ICV VALVE. BUT IM NOT SURE THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SKID PROTECTION. I BOUGHT THE CAR THIS SUMMER & I HAD THE DEALER SHIP TO PUT NEW BREAKS AND ROTORS ON IT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. HAD NO TROUBLE AT ALL WITH THIS UNTIL LAST MONTH. I JUST HAD THE OIL AND FILTER CHANGED THIS WEEK. THERE ARE NO SERVICE LIGHTS STAYING LIT. & IT STILL DOES THIS. I WILL BE GETTING THIS CHECKED OUT. A GUY MENTIONED THAT IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC & DOES HAVE THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFTERS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR WAS IN THE AUTOMATIC MODE WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT IS NOT DROVE IN THE MANUAL SIDE. IM THINKING I SHOULD TRY DRIVING IN THE MANUAL SIDE TO SEE IF IT WILL DO THIS. I'VE HAD NO COMPLAINTS WITH ANY OF MY OTHER SUBARUS WEVE OWNED. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEM. HOWEVER I HAVE NEVER OWNED ONE WITH THE SKID PROTECTION OR IN THE 2000 MODEL UNTIL THIS ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671506

Incident

Dec 4, 2014

Mileage

114,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. UPON LIGHT ACCELERATION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (AND STAYED ON), PARKING BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK, CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR BEGAN TO BLINK, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. DRIVER DID NOT DETECT ANY SLIPPAGE. AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH OIL CONTROL VALVE (OCV) DESPITE COMPUTER CODE INDICATING POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THAT PART. DEALER, HOWEVER, INDICATED OIL FLUSH, RATHER THAN SIMPLY AN OIL CHANGE, WAS NECESSARY DESPITE LESS THAN 5,000 MILES SINCE PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE. DEALER ASSERTED THAT OIL LEVEL WAS NOT LOW, HOWEVER. CAUSE OF WHAT TRIGGERED THE INDICATORS TO BE SET OFF REMAINS UNCLEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659768

Incident

Nov 19, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, BEFORE ACCELERATING; THE CAR ROLLED FORWARD IN A SHUTTERING MANOR AND THEN LUNGED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET (4-6 FT). THE RPMS SEEMED TO DROP (500-700 RPM) AND THEN SPIKE (1,200-1,500 RPM) WITH NO ACCELERATION AT TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKE AND STOPPED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO RUN FINE. THE ENGINE WAS NOT COLD AT THE TIME ON OCCURRENCE; IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROX. 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456791

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

6,000 mi

6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE STALLS, AND ROUGH IDLES INTERMITTENTLY WHILE AT STOP LIGHT OR OTHER TRAFFIC CONTROL. VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE ON HIGHWAY TWICE DISABLING POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKING. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE ISSUE. ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN, BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER 2ND TIME SAME RESULTS. 3RD TIME ISSUE WAS REPLICATED WHILE I WAS IN VEHICLE WITH TECH. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY WILL ADDRESS IT. LEFT OVER WEEKEND. TUESDAY DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A POWER DRAW AFTER THE WINDOW OR ELECTRONIC BRAKE WERE USED, AND THE FACTORY ADVISED THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO BE "RE-FLASHED" BUT CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO RE-FLASH PROGRAM DEVELOPED, AND THERE IS NO TIME LINE AS TO WHEN IT WOULD BE. CONTACTED SUBARU AMERICA CUST. SERV. DISTRICT MANAGER TEST DROVE AND WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE. SO AS FAR AS THE DEALER AND SUBARU ARE CONCERNED, THERE IS NO ISSUE. VEHICLE STILL STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. FILED COMPLAINT WITH CT DVM LEMON LAW, AND NOW WITH NHTSA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453229

Incident

Mar 13, 2012

Mileage

13,000 mi

FEELING UNSTEADY ON HIGHWAY SPEEDS 60+, WHISTLE NOISE IN HEATER VENT NOT FIXED BY DEALER, VOLUME BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL NOT WORKING BROUGHT IN 4 TIMES TO DEALER TO FIX, WHISTLE NOISE IN WINDOW WAS TOLD IS THE MIRRORS OUTSIDE HOWEVER WHEN ROLL WINDOW UP AND DOWN SEVERAL TIMES...IT HITS THE TOP HARD, BUT SHUTS FULLY AND NOISE STOPS SOUND LIKE WINDOW WILL BREAK, HARD START 3X DEALER ASKED WHERE I BUY MY GAS, HOOD OF CAR VIBRATES ON HIGHWAY, HEAT COMES OUT STRONG ON WINDSHIELD ON FOOT SETTING, DEALER SAID NORMAL AND SHOWED MAP HOWEVER ITS THE SAME AS SETTING IT TO FOOT AND WINDSHIELD SETTING, MILEAGE: ON FULL SAYS 430, I CLOCKED IT AND WHEN IT SHOWED 380 WE HAD ONLY DROVE 17 MILES INACCURATE. CUP HOLDER BROKE AFTER PUTTING WATER BOTTLE IN IT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING DOWN BY BUCKING DEALER STATED MEMORIZES DRIVING. INSIDE SCRATCHES EASY CHEAP. HAVE CASE W SUBARU OF AMERICA BUT GETTING NOWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448112

Incident

Aug 20, 2011

Mileage

100 mi