Ever since the fourth generation update last year, the Subaru Legacy has not been having a great time as far as its reliability statuses go. Already seeing dismal interest from the market in the highly popular midsize sedan segment, the 17 recalls on the 2011 Legacy certainly takes away more of its appeal, something which it was never abundant in, to start with. Though 152 user complaints might seem pretty low for this class, issues like imminent manufacturing defects on the transmission with a high possibility of failure are certainly a deal breaker for many, at least for those who are aware of it. So is it sensible to spend $19,995 on the 2011 Subaru Legacy instead of the mainstream and tested Japs like the Honda Accord, the Toyota Camry, and the Nissan Altima? Make sure you go through the article to find out the answer.
2011 Subaru Legacy User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Complaints
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Engine problems- The 2.5L boxer units on the 2011 Subaru Legacy is known for head gasket leaks in the long run. This may come in as visible oil leaks outside the head or could internal oil/coolant burn inside the cylinder resulting in color variation of tailpipe fumes. Engine oil and coolant color or constancy changes are also indications of this issue. Power loss and rising engine temperatures have also been reported in many cases. The average failure mileage is 100,000 miles and the repair cost could range anywhere from $1,800 to $2,500.
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Transmission Problems- The transmission has been a sore thumb on the 2011 Subaru Legacy, both in the CVT and 6-speed manual guise. While the latter was diagnosed with manufacturing issues that prevent proper lubrication which even received a recall (ID-10V326000), the CVT unit is known for premature torque converter failure and control valve issues. Several users have reported requiring CVT replacement in under 100,000 miles. Though the manufacturer was not supportive initially, a few class action lawsuits did force them to extend the warranty policy from 5 years/60,000 miles to 10 years/ 100,000 miles.
Electric System complaints
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Ignition switch issues- A faulty ignition switch can be one other reason for the random engine stall issue that several owners have been reporting on the 2011 Subaru Legacy. A ball spring mechanism inside the ignition switch module tends to brake over repeated cycles of use, causes the key to switch back to the accessory mode due to road vibrations or even the weight of the key ring. This results in the engine stalling, most of the time completely switching off functions like brake and steering assist. The manufacturer is aware of this issue and has rolled out a recall (ID-19V297000) to replace the defective ignition units.
Structural Complaints
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Steering failure- Excessive wandering at highway speeds has been a common problem on the 2011 Subaru Legacy. Though the steering works mostly fine at city speeds, it is said to have a dead spot at freeway speeds which pulls the vehicle to one side. Though the dealer was made aware of this issue, no remedies were provided except wheel alignment and balancing, two aspects that already have no problems in most scenarios.
Safety Complaints
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Airbags Issues- The 2011 Subaru Legacy is common for airbag problems. Though it is not an issue that is specific to this sedan, collecting about 8 recalls for this is enough matter to raise concern. So, if you own one of these, make sure that the defective driver and passenger airbag modules have been replaced under the proposed remedies that come with these recalls.
2011 Subaru Legacy Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
2nd January 2020 |
20V002000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
Airbag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling, increasing the risk of serious injury to occupants. |
The dealers will replace the passenger airbag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2020. |
|
2 |
2nd January 2020 |
20V001000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
Airbag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling, increasing the risk of serious injury to occupants. |
The dealers will replace the passenger airbag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2020. |
|
3 |
2nd January 2020 |
20V003000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
Airbag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling, increasing the risk of serious injury to occupants. |
The dealers will replace the passenger airbag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2020. |
|
4 |
11th April 2019 |
19V297000 |
The ignition switch may turn off |
The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine, increasing the risk of a crash. |
The dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 10, 2019. |
|
5 |
9th January 2019 |
19V008000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
Airbag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling, increasing the risk of serious injury to occupants. |
The dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. |
|
6 |
9th January 2019 |
19V009000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
Airbag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling, increasing the risk of serious injury to occupants. |
The dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. |
|
7 |
9th January 2019 |
19V007000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
Airbag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling, increasing the risk of serious injury to occupants. |
The dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. |
|
8 |
13th September 2018 |
18V626000 |
The electronic parking brake may fail |
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to roll away if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked, increasing the risk of a crash. |
The dealers will replace the EPB actuator assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2019. |
|
9 |
9th January 2018 |
18V012000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
Airbag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling, increasing the risk of serious injury to occupants. |
The dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. |
|
10 |
10th January 2017 |
17V140000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may rupture |
Airbag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling, increasing the risk of serious injury to occupants. |
The dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 6, 2017/ |
|
11 |
27th September 2016 |
16V649000 |
The windshield wiper bottom cover may melt. |
Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other, and prevent the wiper arm from stopping in the parked position causing the motor to heat and increasing the risk of a fire. |
The dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly, free of charge. The recall began in October 2016. |
|
12 |
25th May 2016 |
16V358000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may rupture |
Airbag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling, increasing the risk of serious injury to occupants. |
The dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 26, 2016. |
|
13 |
25th February 2013 |
13V061000 |
Remote engine starter (RES) fob malfunction |
If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button, causing the engine to start and stop unit the fuel or the battery gets completely depleted. |
The dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. |
|
14 |
26th December 2012 |
12V602000 |
Accessory puddle light may short-circuit |
A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector is exposed to an electrolytic moisture source, increasing the risk of a fire. |
The dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2013. |
|
15 |
7th September 2011 |
11V467000 |
Moonroof glass separation/detachment |
The moonroof glass may come loose or detach, possibly becoming a road hazard. |
The dealers will inspect the glass adhesion condition and either apply additional adhesive or replace the moonroof glass, free of charge. The safety recall began in October 2011. |
|
16 |
20th July 2010 |
10V326000 |
Transmission |
Due to a programming error, a lubrication hole within the 6-speed manual transmission was omitted, which can lead to excessive noise and eventual failure of the unit, increasing the risk of a crash. |
The dealers will repair the vehicles by drilling an oil lubrication hole and, if necessary, replace the internal parts with new ones free of charge. The safety recall began on July 28, 2010. |
Should you buy a used 2011 Subaru Legacy?
Being the only midsize sedan to come with a standard AWD system, the Subaru Legacy certainly has something to stand out from the crowd. However, Subaru choosing to go with a CVT unit for a powertrain that demands heft definitely didn’t do it any good. Though the overall predicted reliability of the rest of the stuff on board (as of now) is on par with the rest of the class, the transmission issues that have been plaguing many Subarus for a while now are quite a turnoff. Although the manufacturer has improved their warranty policies, the overall sketchy implementation is something that is receiving criticism. So, popular options like the Honda Accord or the Toyota Camry should come out as better options both on overall dependability and resale value.
