1990-2024 Subaru Legacy Problems: 15 Known Issues

The 2.5L EJ25 engine in 2000-2009 Legacys suffers from the same head gasket failure that plagues all EJ25-equipped Subarus. The composite gaskets degrade, causing external oil and coolant leaks at the head-to-block mating surfaces. The Legacy's higher-mileage highway use means many owners encounter this between 80,000-150,000 miles. All naturally aspirated 2000-2009 Legacy 2.5L engines (EJ251/EJ253) are single overhead cam; the DOHC EJ25D known for internal gasket failures was used in 1996-1999.

The 2013-2016 Legacy 2.5i uses the FB25 engine which is affected by the same oil consumption issue as other FB25-equipped Subarus. Defective piston rings allow excessive oil to bypass into the combustion chamber. The Legacy's higher average speeds mean oil consumption can be even more noticeable during highway driving. Subaru's oil consumption warranty extension and the Oakes v. Subaru settlement cover the 2013 Legacy 2.5i.

The DOHC EJ25 and the 1997-and-later SOHC EJ boxers are interference designs - if the rubber timing belt breaks or jumps teeth, the pistons strike open valves and bend them, often ruining the heads. (The pre-1997 SOHC EJ22 is non-interference; the change to interference on the SOHC came in 1997.) Because these are now 25+ year-old cars, an original or overdue belt is a real risk. Subaru's interval is 105,000 miles / 105 months on the 2.5L but 60,000 miles on the 2.2L Legacy through 1998, and age alone degrades the belt, tensioner and idlers.

The 2010+ Legacy uses the Lineartronic CVT (TR690 behind the 2010-2012 EJ253 2.5L, TR580 behind the 2013+ FB25 2.5L) which has widespread reports of premature failure, typically between 80,000-140,000 miles. Failures include chain stretch, torque converter shudder, valve body malfunction, and complete transmission failure. The 2010-2014 models are most affected. Subaru extended CVT warranty coverage to 10 years/100,000 miles on 2010-2015 Legacys. Symptoms often start with subtle judder during light acceleration and progress to complete loss of drive.

2021-2023 Legacy sedans are among the vehicles Subaru recalled under campaign WRQ-23. The defect is a weld on the park/neutral start interlock switch — the inhibitor switch — that was not made adequately, allowing water to enter the switch body and cause the switch to fail. A Legacy with a failed inhibitor switch may not light its reverse lamps and may not bring up the rearview camera image, both of which matter most when backing out of a parking space or driveway. NHTSA rates the consequence as an increased crash risk. Note that the 95,830-unit figure attached to this recall is the total for the entire campaign across every model included, not a count of Legacys.

Subaru recalled 2010-2014 Legacy sedans built between November 26, 2008 and June 7, 2013 because of a defect inside the windshield wiper motor. Contamination inside the wiper motor's bottom cover can let components within the cover interfere with each other. If something blocks the wiper arms from returning to the parked position - a buildup of snow or ice on the windshield is the example NHTSA gives - the motor can keep straining, overheat, and melt the bottom cover. Two consequences follow: the wipers can fail outright, which takes away the driver's visibility in exactly the weather where the wipers matter most, and the melting cover creates a fire risk. Legacy owners in snow-belt states should treat this as the scenario to watch for, since the failure mode is triggered by wipers being obstructed rather than by mileage or age. Importantly, this campaign supersedes the earlier recall 11V-469: a Legacy that already had the earlier repair performed is still affected and needs the bottom cover replaced again. The campaign covers 592,647 vehicles in total across all models included in it.

Early Legacys used federally mandated motorized passive shoulder belts that ride a track along the door frame, driven by a small motor and triggered by door-jamb switches. With age these jam mid-travel, slip off the track, or stop moving entirely as the drive cable frays, the track binds, or a jamb switch fails. It is one of the most frequently reported complaints across the first-generation cars in NHTSA data.

If you drive a 2023 Subaru Legacy, this is one to check your VIN against. Subaru of America reported to NHTSA that the bolts securing the driveshaft's center support can loosen in service. The failure mode is not a slow wear-out — once those bolts lose their clamp load, the front end of the driveshaft can disconnect. NHTSA's stated consequence is blunt: separation of the front of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash. NHTSA assigned the campaign number 23V647000; Subaru calls it WRN-23. The 4,311 units listed is the size of the entire campaign across every model it includes, not a Legacy-specific number.

Automatic-transmission Legacys use an electronically controlled transfer clutch (governed by the Duty C solenoid) to send torque to the rear wheels. When the clutch pack sticks engaged or the Duty C solenoid gets dirty/sticky, the AWD stays locked on dry pavement and cannot relieve driveline wind-up, producing 'torque bind' - juddering and hopping during slow, tight turns. Mismatched tire diameters accelerate the wear.

Multiple owners of 7th-generation Legacy models have reported failure of the electronically controlled thermo control valve used in the FB25 cooling system. When the valve sticks or its internal position sensor fails, the car may illuminate the check engine light, lose cabin heat, run the radiator fans excessively, and in some cases overheat or enter a reduced-power mode. Subaru traced the failures to coolant vapor getting into the valve's sensor, released a redesigned valve (TSB 09-80-21R), and extended the valve's warranty on 2020-2022 Legacys to 15 years/150,000 miles (TSB 09-119-24); the problem is widely documented across Subaru owner communities and complaint databases for this platform.

The Legacy's front hubs use tapered roller bearings that require correct axle-nut preload. On these cars they are a common wear item: an improperly torqued axle nut, high mileage, or water intrusion leads to a growing hum/roar that rises with road speed and changes when loading the bearing in a turn. Left unaddressed the bearing can develop play and damage the hub.

2010-2019 Legacys develop annoying clunking or rattling from the front suspension, particularly over small bumps, rough roads, and during low-speed turns. The primary causes are worn front stabilizer bar end links and deteriorated strut top mounts. The stabilizer end link ball joints dry out and develop play, while the strut mount bearings wear causing a popping sound during turning. Cold weather exacerbates both issues. This is one of the most common complaints on Legacy forums.

The large center touchscreen used in the current Legacy has generated many owner complaints for lagging, freezing, random reboots, black screens, and unstable Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connections. In some cases climate and vehicle settings become difficult to access because many functions are integrated into the display. Subaru has released software updates and service information addressing infotainment bugs on this platform.

A well-documented issue on late-model Subaru vehicles including the Legacy involves parasitic battery drain tied to the Data Communication Module (DCM), telematics hardware, or related control modules not going to sleep properly. Owners report dead batteries after the vehicle sits overnight or for a few days, repeated jump-starts, and battery replacements that do not permanently solve the problem. This issue is reflected in Subaru service communications, owner forum threads, and NHTSA complaints.

Owners of 2020-2024 Legacy models frequently report windshields that crack from small stone impacts or develop long cracks quickly, often near the camera area. Because the windshield is integrated with the EyeSight driver-assistance system, replacement is more expensive than conventional glass and may require camera aiming/calibration. The issue is widely discussed in owner communities and appears in numerous NHTSA complaints for this generation.