2010 Subaru Legacy
Common Problems
Ranked from 104 federal NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
13 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
CVT Torque Converter Failure Causing Stalling at Stops
37complaintsSafety riskTransmissionThe CVT transmission's torque converter causes the vehicle to stall when braking or coming to a stop, requiring the driver to restart the engine, which poses a crash risk.
$3,500–$6,500est. cvt replacement · 8–14 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 10V326000
- 2
Passenger Airbag Sensor Malfunction
17complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe occupancy detection sensor intermittently deactivates the passenger airbag even when an adult occupant is present, posing a risk in the event of a crash.
Related recalls: 19V297000, 13V061000
- 3
Front Subframe Corrosion and Rupture
10complaintsSafety riskSuspensionThe front subframe corrodes and rusts through, causing abnormal noises, loss of steering control, and potential wheel detachment.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Throttle Hesitation and Delayed Acceleration
10complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe vehicle experiences a noticeable delay in acceleration after rolling stops or during initial acceleration, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions.
Related recall: 10V326000
- 5
Steering Vibration at Highway Speeds
9complaintsMedium severitySteeringStrong vibrations in the steering wheel and cabin occur at speeds above 50-60 mph, affecting driver control and comfort.
Related recall: 10V283000
- 6
Headlight assembly failure causing bulb misalignment and flickering
5complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe headlight assembly tabs fracture, causing bulbs to become unsecured and misaligned, leading to improper illumination.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 19V297000, 13V061000
- 7
Takata airbag inflator defect
5complaintsSafety riskElectricalDefective Takata airbag inflators pose a risk of rupture or failure to deploy during a crash.
Related recalls: 19V297000, 13V061000
- 8
Unintended Acceleration or Power Loss
5complaintsSafety riskOtherThe vehicle either accelerates uncontrollably upon starting or loses power while driving, causing accidents or near-misses.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Headlight Bulb Premature Failure
4complaintsLow severityElectricalHeadlight bulbs fail frequently, requiring repeated replacements.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 19V297000, 13V061000
- 11
Brake Failure or Ineffectiveness
2complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe brakes fail to engage properly, causing the vehicle to roll or not stop as expected, especially on inclines.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Engine misfire or hesitation during braking
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine hesitates or stalls during braking, especially at low speeds or during hard stops.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 10V196000
- 13
Engine Overheating and Head Gasket Failure
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine overheats due to radiator and head gasket failures, causing the vehicle to stall and risking engine damage.
$1,400–$2,800est. head gasket replacement · 8–15 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 10V196000
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.