2013 Subaru Legacy Problems

I want to add my report of oil loss in the hope a recall is made. I found out after purchase that 2012-2014 or 2015 has a known problem with piston rings. With normal local driving I need to top off the oil every couple of weeks. With longer trips, say a couple hours of driving one way, the oil gets a quarter to half way down on the dipstick. I carry oil for all roadtrips and can't forget to keep checking the level. My understanding from many sources online is that Subaru is aware they put in bad piston rings and just call it good enough or within spec, but dumping so much oil isn't right. This isn't a wear and tear problem, although it can get worse over time and lead to other problems. The problem goes away when the rings and the engine block is replaced. Scotty Kilmer on Youtube tells a story of a customer that complained enough and after being persistent had it fixed for free (piston rings and block), and still has no oil loss issues after 60k miles. He also recommended reporting it here. This engine is used in various Subaru's, not just the Legacy.

The contact's son owns a 2013 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The contact's son was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. However, the failure reoccurred on two different occasions. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The contact stated that her son had added 10 quarts of oil in the vehicle within 2 weeks. The contact referenced Subaru Technical Service Bulletin Number: 02-157-14R. The contact also stated that the exhaust pipe was emitting black smoke. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the vehicle needed an engine compression test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000. The consumer stated that they no longer have the vehicle.

I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE COMPANY SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME. HOWEVER, I REMEMBER RECEIVING A RECALL FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG A YEAR OR SO AGO, AND WHEN I CALLED THE COMPANY I PURCHASED IT FROM, THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS NOT MEANT FOR MY LEGACY, SO I THREW AWAY THE LETTER. NOW I AM WONDERING - WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AND CAN I STILL GET IT REPLACE BY THAT COMPANY?

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED ROMANO SUBARU AT 315-475-7933 (LOCATED AT 960 HIAWATHA BLVD W, SYRACUSE, NY 13204) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Faulty transmission, erratic gear shifting and now it seems the transmission is no longer working, mileage on vehicle is not even 130,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the transmission. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician informed the contact that the failure was the transmission. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the CVT transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

CAR HAS EXTENDED CRANKING ISSUE - IT ACTS LIKE THE STARTER IS BAD OR THE BATTERY IS DYING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR HAS A HARD TIME STARTING. IT HAS DIED A COUPLE TIMES SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH AN INTERSTATE BATTERY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BATTERY WAS BAD. I HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED AND IT IS DEFINITELY NOT BAD. ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE STARTER AND THEY SAID IT IS FINE. IT SEEMS THAT THE CAR HAS SOME OTHER ISSUE WITH POWER BEING DRAWN FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

DRIVER FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR GETS REALLY HOT. DOES NOT MOVE THE WINDOW UP OR DOWN. BEFORE THAT I HAD TO KEEP RE-SYNC THE WINDOW TO THE MASTER SWITCH FOR SOME REASON. IT WILL LOSE IT'S MEMORY RANDOMLY.

The passenger side frame rusted through. The bolt holding the frame collapsed through the rusted frame while I was driving on the highway and I lost control of my car as I was entering an exit off the highway. My mechanic said the air conditioning system drips on this area of the frame causing the rust and failure of the frame to hold the bolt. There were no warnings prior to the incident except that I heard a popping sound when I took a right turn out of my driveway before heading onto the highway.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS WET. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE DRIVER FOUND A PUDDLE OF WATER UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF CHERRY HILL (1800 MARLTON PIKE W, CHERRY HILL, NJ 08002, (856) 330-1500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOON-ROOF DRAIN NEEDED TO BE CLEANED OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOON-ROOF DRAIN WAS CLEANED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES OVER THE YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SUBARU DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON OLDER LEGACY'S LIKE 2010-2012 ABOUT THE BRAKE LINES. HE WENT ON TO CHECK MY BRAKE LINES (WITH MY CAR ON A LIFT) AND SAW THEY WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND SWOLLEN. ALSO, FOR SOME REASON WHEN I'M DRIVING, MY CAR PULLS TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, SPECIFICALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. I CANNOT DRIVE STRAIGHT OR LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL OR ELSE IT'LL PULL ME OFF THE ROAD. MY MECHANIC HAS ALREADY LOOKED EVERYTHING OVER AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE PROBLEM IS BUT IT'S WITH THE STEERING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TELESCOPIC STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK INTO POSITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V194000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,669. ...UPDATED 09/19/16 *BF UPDATED 08/10/2017*JS

I BOUGHT THIS 2013 SUBARU LEGACY LIMITED ON JUNE 12,2019 AND A WEEK LATER THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK AND THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE DASHBOARD. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SUBARU DEALER IN WILMINGTON, NC AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED THE CONTROL PANEL FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH EFFECTS THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS A CURRENT RECALL IN SUBARU LEGACY MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AS WELL SINCE MY CAR IS AFFECTED BY THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND JUST OVER 100,000 MILES . THE REPAIR IS OVER $1200 AND IT IS JUST NOT RIGHT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND IT IS NOT A RECALL. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AS THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX] . THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

#1 SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED I HAD TO ADD AT LEAST ONE QUART OF OIL TO THE ENGINE BETWEEN EACH RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE. I INFORMED THE DEALER WHO HAD ME RETURN APPROX 1300 MILES AFTER MY LAST OIL CHANGE, WHICH I DID. THE DEALER INDICATED TO ME THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE. BY 3,700 MILES THE OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO ADD A QUART OF OIL. #2 SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED I HAD TO TURN THE ROTORS OR PURCHASE NEW ROTORS EVERY 6 MONTH. WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS EXTENSIVE SHAKING WHEN BRAKING. IT MAKES THE CAR HARD TO STOP WHEN THE SHAKING OCCURS. WHEN YOU TURN THE ROTORS THE SHAKING GOES AWAY BUT WILL RETURN IN ABOUT 4 TO 6 MONTHS.

ON 01/17/14, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU DEALER. DEALER VERIFIED CONDITION AND PERFORMED RE-CALIBRATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS CLEARED THE AIR BAG. ON 01/21/14, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD 10611 MILES. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND TECH VERIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE RIGHT SEAT FRAME. SEAT FRAME WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED. ISSUES SOLVED FOR A FEW DAYS. ON 01/24/14, THE AIR BAG CAME ON AGAIN AND VEHICLE HAD 10929 MILES. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND TECH VERIFIED AND FOUND THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE DETECTION MODULE AND STATED CAR WAS UNSAFE. DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER WHILE THE CAR WAS IN SHOP WAITING FOR PARTS. ON 02/07/14, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WITH 12,052 MILES. DEALER FOUND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BUCKLE WAS NOT STAYING CORRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE WIRE HARNESS. ON 11/17/14. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THEY WILL CONTACT SUBARU TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. CARS AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. *TR

AIRBAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT TURN ON WITH FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURN ON AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLE WARNING ALSO TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH SEAT BELT ON. TURN OFF THE CAR AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN MULTIPLE TIME DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAY OFF WITH SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ON EVEN WITH OR WITHOUT FRONT PASSENGER. *TR

LUMBAR SUPPORT ON DRIVER'S SEAT POPPED WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. MINOR DISCOMFORT AFTER. *TR

ON 01/17/14, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU DEALER. DEALER VERIFIED CONDITION AND PERFORMED RE-CALIBRATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS CLEARED THE AIR BAG. ON 01/21/14, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD 10611 MILES. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND TECH VERIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE RIGHT SEAT FRAME. SEAT FRAME WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED. ISSUES SOLVED FOR A FEW DAYS. ON 01/24/14, THE AIR BAG CAME ON AGAIN AND VEHICLE HAD 10929 MILES. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND TECH VERIFIED AND FOUND THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE DETECTION MODULE AND STATED CAR WAS UNSAFE. DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER WHILE THE CAR WAS IN SHOP WAITING FOR PARTS. ON 02/07/14, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WITH 12,052 MILES. DEALER FOUND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BUCKLE WAS NOT STAYING CORRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE WIRE HARNESS. ON 11/17/14. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THEY WILL CONTACT SUBARU TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. CARS AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. *TR

I HAVE AN URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS A SAFETY RECALL FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND WINDSHIELD WIPER REPLACEMENTS . THERE ARE NO SUBARU DEALERSHIPS IN MY AREA THAT CAN TEND TO THIS REPAIR IN A TIMELY MANNER. THEY ARE ALL BOOKED OUT UNTIL SEPTEMBER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I AM LOCATED IN SEATTLE WASHINGTON AND DRIVE A SUBARU 2013 LEGACY SEDAN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2013 SUBARU LEGACY PREMIUM RECALL OIL CONSUMPTION LIGHT COMES ON AFTER OIL CHANGES WHEN PARKED AND DRIVING

I am the original owner since purchased new on the dealer lot in 2013. Within the first year, the drivers side headlight prematurely burned out (low beam). I have had to replace four bulbs (so far) since owning vehicle. The first two incidents I payed over $100 to have the bulb changed/replaced by a local mechanic. Since then, I have figured out how to replace the bulbs myself; but unfortunately the remedy is to remove the front driver's tire, remove inner plastic wheel well, and finagle and twist my arm to do this procedure (not easy!). Two main issues: Subaru needs to recall and fix the issue that is prematurely burning out this bulb, and 2; bring back the ability to (engineering design) that allows the owner of the vehicle to replace this bulb from the engine bay - NOT going through a procedure that involves a lengthy and expensive repair.