Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 10, 2026
2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i, approximately 48,000 miles. CVT transmission failed suddenly with no prior warning signs. Vehicle was exclusively dealer-serviced for its entire life. While driving, the transmission began shuddering, slipping, and making metallic grinding noises. Vehicle could barely climb a small ramp and was locked in limp mode, making it unsafe to operate in traffic. Diagnostic codes P0841, P0700, and C1431 were stored. Authorized Subaru dealer confirmed the failure. Technician stated the valve body likely failed first — a known defect per Subaru TSB 16-107-17R — which then caused the CVT chain to slip. Dealer quoted $11,000 for a remanufactured CVT replacement. Service representative stated she had never seen a transmission need replacement at such low mileage. No warning lamps or symptoms existed prior to sudden onset. CVT fluid was never changed, consistent with the manufacturer's U.S. maintenance schedule. This vehicle falls under Subaru's CVT Warranty Extension covering 2010-2015 Legacy models due to known defects. Vehicle is well under the 100,000-mile limit but approximately 13 months past the 10-year time limit. I opened a case with Subaru of America Customer Advocacy. My dealer informed me that Subaru Corporate contacted them and communicated a decision regarding my case, but Subaru has never communicated any decision to me directly. Multiple emails, a voicemail, and a request for escalation have gone unanswered over several days. This failure poses a safety risk as the transmission can fail suddenly and without warning while in motion, potentially with passengers including children.
- NHTSA ID
- 11723218
- Incident
- Feb 13, 2026
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 23, 2024
The contact owned a 2015 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact opened and closed the trunk, triggering the alarm system. The alarm system failed to deactivate immediately. The vehicle then failed to restart as needed, and the "Shift to Park" message was displayed while the transmission was in park(P). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the brake fuse was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact replaced the brake fuse for a second time, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where an unknown repair was performed. The contact later sold the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11615990
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2024
- Mileage
- 175,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 11, 2023
The CVT failed and the axle 12
- NHTSA ID
- 11531639
- Incident
- Jul 11, 2023
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 6, 2021
battery drainage problem, transmission jerking
- NHTSA ID
- 11442811
- Incident
- Dec 6, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 2, 2021
MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN IDLING ROUGH AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND FEELS AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL. IF I LET OFF THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY THE RPMS GO BACK TO NORMAL TEMPORARILY THEN CONTINUES TO IDLE ROUGHLY
- NHTSA ID
- 11414856
- Incident
- Apr 30, 2021
- Mileage
- 84,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 26, 2021
CAR STALLED ON CITY STREET. TURNED OUT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION.
- NHTSA ID
- 11404967
- Incident
- Mar 26, 2021
- Mileage
- 135,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 31, 2020
THE AT OIL TEMP AND BRAKE LIGHT RANDOMLY START FLASHING AND KICK YOUR CAR OFF CRUISE WITHOUT ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND OIL TEMP ARE NOT HOT BUT CAUSES THE CAR TO LOSE POWER. ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED ON THE FREE WAY DUE TO THIS HAPPENING DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS DUE TO IT NOT ALWAYS HAPPENING AND THE LIGHTS GO OFF AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH NO RESOLUTION. I AM A HUGE SUBARU FAN BUT WILL LOOK ELSE WHERE IF SUBARU DOESN'T START FIXING THEIR MISTAKES,
- NHTSA ID
- 11306247
- Incident
- Jan 25, 2020
- Mileage
- 188,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 3, 2019
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ICON FLASHING. THE CARS RPM'S WERE REPEATEDLY FLUCTUATING WHEN PARKED, IN NEUTRAL, AND IN DRIVE WITH THE BRAKE ON.
- NHTSA ID
- 11252837
- Incident
- Sep 3, 2019
- Mileage
- 80,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 12, 2019
SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2017 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT HAS INTERMITTENTLY JERKED AND SHOOK EXCESSIVELY, BUCKING LIKE A MAD HORSE. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO DEALER WHERE I WAS ASSURED THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING STARTED TO SHUT DOWN AND I NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY SPARK PLUG. CAR WAS THEN RETURNED TO ME. YET AGAIN THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND HAD I TO CRAWL LIKE A TURTLE BACK TO HOME. CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN TO DEALER FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS. NOW THE DEALER BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY CYLINDER (WHATEVER THAT MEANS).I HAVE NO TRUST IN THE RELIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH MY FAMILY. IT BE SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED EXACTLY TO THE INSTRUCTIONS PER THE MILEAGE GUIDANCE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS CONCERN TO SUBARU OF AMERICA CORPORATE OFFICE. CASE # 1-38872409282. THEIR RESPONSE IS UNFAIR. I AM NOW LEFT WITH A CAR THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FINANCIALLY.
- NHTSA ID
- 11166624
- Incident
- Nov 30, 2017
- Mileage
- 90,101 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 7, 2018
WHEN PARKING IN A PARKING SPOT AT A SCHOOL GOING TO WORK, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN AND WENT UP AN EMBANKMENT AND STRUCK A TREE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11149897
- Incident
- Oct 17, 2018
- Mileage
- 131,254 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 2017
RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES. NOW THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES. BOTH SITUATIONS OCCURRED WHEN UNUSUAL NOISES WERE HEARD FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP MAKING THE REPAIRS AND SUBARU OF AMERICA HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR WHY BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11053638
- Incident
- Nov 15, 2017
- Mileage
- 36 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Nov 21, 2017
TRANSMISSION SLIPS, GAS CAP DOES NOT CLOSE/OPEN PROPERLY AND "STICKS." CONSTANT BUZZING SOUND FROM WINDOWS EVEN AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED AND THE MOONROOF WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY WHEN PRESSING THE BUTTON FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE MOONROOF WILL CLOSE AND THEN OPEN AGAIN.
- NHTSA ID
- 11047675
- Incident
- Jan 31, 2015
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 9, 2017
JUST GOT A NOTICE THAT SUBARU IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE CVT FOR THIS CAR AND MY SECOND SUBARU (2014 OUTBACK 4S4BRBLC0E3307363). CALLED THEM TO ASK WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CARS HAVE NEEDED THIS REPAIR SO I CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT KEEP OR DISPOSING OF MY SUBARUS. THEY TOLD ME "WE DO NOT HAVE ANY DATA ON # OF REPAIRS" AND SAID THEY JUST DID IT AS A COURTESY TO CUSTOMERS. SOUNDS LIKE A LOAD OF BUNK TO ME. I THINK THAT I AM ENTITLED TO THIS DATA TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AND ASK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN COMPELLING SUBARU TO BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT WITH OWNERS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU.
- NHTSA ID
- 11014007
- Incident
- Aug 9, 2017
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 8, 2015
MY 2015 SUBARU LEGACY HAS A VERY ABRUPT THROTTLE TIP-IN (THE MANNER IN WHICH POWER IS DELIVERED UPON DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL). PUSH THE THROTTLE A LITTLE AND NOTHING HAPPENS AND THEN A LITTLE MORE AND IT TAKES OFF LIKE A SHOT! NOT SAFE WHEN PULLING INTO TIGHT PARKING SPACES. I CALLED MY SUBARU DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT IS CAUSED BY THE CVT TRANSMISSION DESIGN. SUBARU NEEDS TO REDUCE THE ABRUPTNESS OF THE THROTTLE TIP-IN FOR SAFE OPERATION. THIS IS UNSAFE AND SCARY IN TIGHT PARKING SITUATIONS.
- NHTSA ID
- 10723943
- Incident
- Mar 26, 2015
- Mileage
- 20 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 2, 2015
UPON LOW SPEEDS TRANSMISSION HOWLS, HESITATION FOLLOWED BY FAST ACCELERATION. KEY INSERTION INTO IGNITION IS DIFFICULT AND ROUGH. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10680632
- Incident
- Jan 2, 2015
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.