2011 Subaru Legacy Suspension Problems

The subframe rotted through broke as I was driving on Thruway. My mechanic confirmed it needs to be replaced and is very common in heavy winter states.

NHTSA ID

11748911

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

While turning the wheel to back out of a parking spot, we heard a loud clunking sound. From that point on, while braking there were loud clunking sounds and the car pulled to the right. We brought it to our mechanic and was informed the front sub frame/ engine cradle, was completey rusted out due to corrosion from the inside. There was a mounting bolt protruding through a hole in the subframe and the suspension components were loose and damaged. They provided a photo showing the large hole and mounting bolt protruding. We were told it was unsafe to drive. We have to replace the sub frame, control arms and sway bar links. The sub frame supports these components, the engine and other parts!

NHTSA ID

11674244

Incident

Jul 15, 2025

This 2011 Subaru Legacy would pull severely to the right when braking, nearly jerking the steering wheel out of the drivers hand. The car was taken to a private auto repair shop where it was found the motor cradle (part #50527AJ00B) was completed rusted out so the A-arm to the wheel was unstable. In trying to locate a new part, online and from local dealers, it was found the part was on backorder. We were number 142 in line to receive the part. There is obviously a severe and dangerous problem with this issue as a car would veer into the other lane or offroad when braking. Subaru corporate office was contacted and I was told I would have to take the vehicle to the Subaru dealer. This would require a tow so I decided to have the private auto repair shop fix it as it was also undriveable. This complaint is to bring attention to this as a safety issue. My grandchildren were transported in this vehicle and were at risk of serious injury or death because of this problem. I feel Subaru should notify other owners of this problem on this make and model to avoid risk of serious injury or death. I have a video of the car and tire that shows what was happening before I took it to the auto repair shop. I was unable to upload the video file but would like to get it sent for your review. I can be emailed at [email protected]. My phone number is (309) 696-8849. Daniel Brune

NHTSA ID

11537308

Incident

Apr 15, 2023

Front sub-frame rusted through. Local mechanic said unsafe to drive. Insurance will not cover claim because this is "prior issue" not accident related. Subaru dealership confirmed safety risk and will repair for >$3000.

NHTSA ID

11515967

Incident

Mar 15, 2023

While braking at lower speed the driver's side lower control arm broke out causing the car to pull very hard to the left. Both lower control arms and the subframe had to be replaced.

NHTSA ID

11505073

Incident

Feb 1, 2023

The front subframe failed due to corrosion from the inside according to the service department. The vehicle is unsafe to drive with this condition. It only has 38,180 miles on it. It has not been driven in a reckless fashion. I have never heard of this failure in a low mileage auto.

NHTSA ID

11486094

Incident

Sep 21, 2022

The vehicle was diagnosed at a Subaru Dealership as having a rusted sub-frame with mounting bolt holes loose and suspension components moving freely. The vehicle is deemed unsafe to drive. (On April 8, 2022, my car suddenly made a loud clunking noise and drove very rocky). The car had not given any previous warning signals of this problem.

NHTSA ID

11466155

Incident

Apr 8, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE AND THE VEHICLE VEERED LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (THE MOTOR COMPANY, W 1680 US-41, MARINETTE, WI 54143, (715) 735-7474) WHO PROVIDED AN ALIGNMENT, BUT THE CONDITION CONTINUED TO PROGRESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ID

11061410

Incident

Jul 2, 2017

Mileage

18,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST ROUGH ROAD, NOT POTHOLES OR LARGE BUMPS, BUT SURFACES THAT SEEM TO BE JUST ROUGH OR SLIGHTLY RIPPLED MAYBE, IT VARIES FROM DIFFERENT SURFACES, THE STRUTS SHAKE AND CAUSE A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE AS IF THEY ARE LOOSE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS IN OTHER CARS AND THE PROBLEM WAS A BROKEN STRUT MOUNT. WHEN REPLACED IT WAS FIXED . I CAN'T GET THE SUBARU MECHANICS TO EXPERIENCE THIS WHILE THEY DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE STRUTS MOUNTS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE TIGHT. HOWEVER I BELIEVE THEY MAY STILL BE CRACKED OR BROKEN IN SOME WAY. SIMPLY PUTTING A WRENCH ON THEM AND FINDING THEM TIGHT WILL NOT REVEAL A BROKEN STRUT MOUNT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS OF THE 6 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. LATELY IT HAS BEGUN TO SORT OF DRIFT AND STEERING IS VERY SENSITIVE AT HIGH SPEED. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 54,000 AT 6 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10918954

Incident

Nov 15, 2012

Mileage

16,000 mi

VEHICLE SWAYS SIDE TO SIDE FROM ONE SIDE OF ROAD TO OTHER SIDE OF ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AROUND 60 MPH. WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ABOUT 45 HAD NOT EFFECT ON STEERING. WHEN DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING PULLS EXTREMELY, UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE GRIPING THE STEERING WHEEL HARD. THE CAR IS BEING PULLED SIDE TO SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEED 60 MPH CAN NOT GET THE SPEED UP PASS 60 MPH AND HAPPENS IN SLIGHT WINDY CONDITIONS. DEALER IS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM SINCE ALL THE TIRES ARE BRAND NEW, ALIGNMENT IS FULLY PERFECT. SUSPENSIONS ARE PERFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649503

Incident

Aug 28, 2014

Mileage

40,000 mi

2011 SUBARU LEGACY. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A FLAW OF WANDERING WHEN DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR LESS, THE STEERING WAS FINE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS CONSIDERABLY STIFFER. IN THE LOWER SPEED RANGE, THE DEAD-BAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NEAR ZERO. HOWEVER, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE DEAD-BAND APPROACHED 1 INCH. THE DEAD-BAND SEEMED TO BE WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO WANDER CONTINUOUSLY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE LANE TO THE OTHER. THE WANDERING ONLY OCCURRED ON A STRAIGHT WELL USED HIGHWAY. ON CURVES, THERE WAS NO WANDERING BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS AT THE EDGE OF THE DEAD-BAND. THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME. THE WHEELS WERE ALIGNED, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE SHOP COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO STRAIGHT WORN HIGHWAYS CLOSE BY. THE DEALER PERFORMED A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE WANDERING PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/19/12

NHTSA ID

10482985

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GOING AROUND TURNS STEERING IS VERY LOOSE, CAR TO WONDER AND NOT MAINTAIN TRACK CAUSING YOU TO JERK THE WHEEL TO CURRECT.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470709

Incident

Aug 12, 2012

Mileage

18,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60+ MPH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A SEVERE "SWAY" OR PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE SEVERITY OF THE SWAYING INCREASES WITH SPEED, THE DRIVER HAS TO "FIGHT" THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTERED IN ITS LANE. THE SWAY/PULL HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE FIRST HIGHWAY TRIP AT ABOUT 1000 MILES, AND IS STILL PRESENT AFTER DEALER CHECKS AND REALIGNMENTS. THE SWAYING CAN BE SO SEVERE AS TO MAKE THE DRIVER FEEL THE CAR IS UNCONTROLLABLE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SWAYING CAN BE SO SEVERE AS TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DEPART FROM ITS LANE. THE SWAYING/PULLING OCCURS IN ALL ROAD CONDITIONS. PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE HAVE COMMENTED ON THE SWAYING, STATING THEY FELT "UNSAFE". TIRE PRESSURES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ADJUSTED TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS BEFORE EACH HIGHWAY TRIP. WHEN TESTED WITH A CHASE VEHICLE THE 2ND VEHICLE DID NOT EXHIBIT THESE SYMPTOMS RULING OUT ROAD/WIND CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10461698

Incident

Jan 2, 2011

Mileage

1,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY WINDS OR WHEN A HEAVY VEHICLE WOULD PASS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR FOUND TO BE SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR PARTIALLY CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT ALL OF THE 2011 SUBARU LEGACY VEHICLES RODE THE SAME IN HEAVY WINDS DUE TO THE VEHICLE DESIGN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED ONE INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SOFTWARE IN THE PCM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BUT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID

10450515

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

WHEN TRAVELING AT 60 + MPH THE VEHICLE FEELS UNSTABLE AND TENDS TO "FLOAT" IN THE LANE. TIRE PRESSURE IN ACCORDING TO THE BOOK. THE CAR TRACKS NORMALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THE CAR IS 5 MO OLD AND GAS 8K MILES

NHTSA ID

10444679

Incident

Sep 30, 2011

DASH TROUBLE LIGHTS FLASHING CONSTANTLY ON AND OFF CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE FAILURE, ALL WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, TEMPERATURE LIGHT, OIL WARNING LIGHT, ENGINE NOT ENGAGING WHEN GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED. CAR WOBBLES SIDE TO SIDE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH, STEERING WHEEL EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. CURRENTLY IN REPAIR FOR OVER ONE WEEK. APPEARS DEALERSHIP CAN NOT CORRECT. WHEN ORIGINALLY REPORTED TO SERVICE ADVISOR HE STATED TO BRING IN THE CAR IN ONE WEEK. TOOK CAR IN IMMEDIATELY PER OWNERS MANUAL AND HE THEN STATED HE COULD NOT RELEASE CAR BACK TO ME BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH 1500 MILES. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413445

Incident

Jul 7, 2011

Mileage

1,500 mi

AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60-75MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION/SHAKE THAT IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES THIS VIBRATION CAUSES DISCOMFORT TO HANDS/ARMS. DECREASED TIRE PRESSURE, ROAD FORCE BALANCE, AND STEERING WHEEL REPLACEMENT (SOA TSB) DID NOT FIX. NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE TIRES. THESE ARE "BANDAIDS" TO THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FORCE A REAL SOLUTION.

NHTSA ID

10380818

Incident

Dec 23, 2010

Mileage

1,500 mi

SEVERE STEERING WHEEL/FRONT END SHIMMY ABOUT 60+ MPH WITH NORMAL DRIVING. PRETTY MUCH A CONSTANT OSCILLATION AT ROAD SPEED. ROAD FORCE BALANCING OF NO HELP, NOR DO NEW TIRES HAVE ANY EFFECT. FOR GOODNESS SAKE, NHTSA, PLEASE START A FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THIS SIGNIFICANT AND PREVALENT PROBLEM...PLEASE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359595

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

Mileage

350 mi

2011 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5I CVT PREMIUM MODEL : AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60+ MPH, THE VEHICLE FEELS "WOBBLY". THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GETTING SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, EVEN IN GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS FEELING IS VERY UNSAFE. IT CAUSES A FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL (NO EXCESSIVE WINDS OR CROSS WINDS). THIS SEEMS NOTICEABLE TO THE PASSENGERS AS WELL. THE SWAYING HAPPENS IN RIGHT AS WELL AS LEFT DIRECTIONS. NO AMOUNT OF STEERING WHEEL CONTROL SEEMS TO COUNTER THIS. TIRE PRESSURES ARE ACCURATE TO SPECIFICATIONS AND THE CAR IS BRAND NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10355120

Incident

Aug 9, 2010

Mileage

150 mi