2010 Subaru Legacy Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The contact’s wife owns a 2010 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the torque converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the warranty had expired but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.

Torque Converter failure - car stalls/shuts off when braking hard. This is a huge safety hazard. Car has 114,852 miles on it and was just recently purchased from a private owner. There should have been a recall for these vehicles from Subaru.

The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the traction control, transmission overheating, service brakes, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. There was an abnormal bubbling sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, a cause for the failure was not found. The dealer informed her that the vehicle was drivable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,918.

The CVT Transmission has a known problem where the torque converter causes stalling. This issue is well documented on Subaru forums. I took my vehicle to Subaru about the problem and they said the fix for the stalling is to replace the Torque Converter., It is not yet covered for a recall despite being such a large issue with these vehicles.

VEHICLE STUTTERS AND FREQUENTLY STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE MORE AGGRESSIVE THE BRAKING, THE LIKELINESS OF STALLING BECOMES HIGHER. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL TO BE RESTARTED. THIS ALSO OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THE OLDER THE VEHICLE THE MORE OBVIOUS THE ISSUE BECOMES. CURRENTLY 99500 ON A 2010 LEGACY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT SUBARU USA IS UNWILLING TO OFFER SUPPORT DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUTSIDE THE 'EXTENDED WARRANTY'. THE INFORMATION ORIGINALLY DISCLOSED BY SUBARU DID NOT SAY THAT THE VEHICLE MAY STALL. THIS HAS NOW BECOME A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHICH COULD LEAVE INDIVIDUALS SEVERELY INJURED OR DEAD IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR AT AN UNFORTUNATE MOMENT. DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED THE REPAIRS AT ABOUT $3,028 PLUS TAX.

VEHICLE SHAKES AND THEN STALLS WHEN COMING TO A RAPID STOP AND NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PARK TO RESTART. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS ALMOST SMASHED INTO ON A BUSY HIGHWAY . THE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TOO LONG AND . IT COULD LEAD TO AN EVEN WORSE ACCIDENT THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND IM STILL PAYING ON IT. ITS AN AS IS DEALERSHIP SO HE REFUSES TO HELP

AFTER 2 RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CARS TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS STUTTERING AND WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR JAMS. I WORRY ABOUT MY AND MY PASSENGERS SAFETY.

I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 12/21/2010. THE MILEAGE IS 61,259 AND I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 9 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AND 28 DAYS. THE CAR IS NOW STALLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND WHILE IDLING. THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS CAR IN JUNE, 2017 FOR THE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION (CVT). I BELIEVE THIS IS THE ISSUE - AND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. BEFORE I CONTACT SUBARU, I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING ISSUING A RECALL AND NOT JUST A WARRANTY EXTENSION. *TR

2010 SUBARU LEGACY WITH APPROX 105000 MILES CAR STALLS WHEN COMING TO A RAPID STOP AND NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PARK TO RESTART.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF IT STALLS IN AN INTERSECTION. I BELIEVE THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH CVT/TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE BEING DESCRIBED BY MANY OTHERS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL IN MY OPINION.

UPDATE TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 11254310 SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINT: THE SUBARU LEGACY HAS AN ISSUE WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED TOO FIRMLY. SUBARU REFUSES TO FIX THIS ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. UPDATE: THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. MY MOTHER HAS BEEN CONDITIONED TO NOT HIT THE BRAKES TOO HARD FOR FEAR OF STALLING THE VEHICLE. RECENTLY, A VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN FRONT OF HER, AND SHE DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO AVOID A COLLISION. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT MY MOTHER DID SUSTAIN SOME MINOR NECK PAIN THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND KNOWN ISSUE THAT SUBARU REFUSES TO RESOLVE.

WHILE CROSSING A BUSY STREET I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE HARD AND QUICKLY BECAUSE THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED. MY SUBARU'S ENGINE THEN STALLED. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BOTH THE REAR END AND FROM THE SIDE BECAUSE I COULDN'T START MY CAR FAST ENOUGH. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER ON THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2010 LEGACY, BUT THEY WILL NOT AND THE NHTSA WON'T FORCE THEM TO DO A RECALL. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS 16,000 MILES OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY ESTABLISHED WHEN THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THAT I COULD HAVE RESOLVED THIS ISSUE BY JULY 2018 AT NO COST. HOWEVER, SINCE THAT DATE HAS PAST I'M OUT OF LUCK AND MUST PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. ALSO, THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS THEN, SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE DONE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE FOR IT ANYWAY. THEREFORE, I MUST NOW DRIVE AROUND A CAR THAT STALLS WHENEVER I BRAKE. I AM GOING TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT. I JUST HOPE I DON'T DIE.

THE VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE WHERE IT WILL STALL OUT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED MODERATELY TO FIRMLY. THE DRIVER MUST MAKE A VERY SLOW STOP TO AVOID STALLING THE CAR. THIS ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS IF A DRIVER HAS TO PANIC BRAKE, FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN ACCELERATION TO AVOID A REAR-END COLLISION (I'VE PERSONALLY HAD TO DO THIS A FEW TIMES), THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE STALLED AND CAN NO LONGER ACCELERATE. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA, BUT BECAUSE IT IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR 100K MILE "EXTENDED TRANSMISSION WARRANTY" THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING. THEY ISSUED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS EXACT REASON, AND TO AVOID A RECALL. AT THIS POINT, I BELIEVE THE NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL, AS THESE CARS ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE, SHE HAD IT INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURES AT THE TIME; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE KEPT STALLING WHEN DRIVING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND HARDLY HAD ANY FLUIDS. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE A MULTITUDE OF FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE BRAKES, ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED (RAD AUTO SHOP, 101 N MAIN ST, SHARPSBURG, PA 15215, (412) 782-2886). THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO HER STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER BANK WOULD FILE A CLAIM ON HER BEHALF IF THE DEALER DID NOT REFUND HER MONEY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the emergency brake warning light, traction control, oil pressure warning light, and the cruise control warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission valve body had failed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred a week later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an unknown electrical failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred less than a week later. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer who advised the contact to turn off the vehicle, disconnect the battery for 5 minutes, and to then restart the vehicle. The contact followed the instructions however, the failure persisted and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the gas cap was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

WHILE IN MOTION AND COMING TO STOPS THE VEHICLE SHUTTERS AND SHAKES AND DIES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A MONTH. IT COULD LEAD TO A COLLISION FROM THE REAR AS I HAVE TO RESTART IT. PLEASE HELP!

CAR OFTEN SHUDDERS & STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON A CITY STREET ALSO WILL SOMETIME STALL WHEN GOING SLOW TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, IT FREQUENTLY JOLTS, MAKES A SCREECHING NOISE AND IT IS SCARY BECAUSE IT ALSO FEELS AS THOUGH IT MAY SIMPLY TURN OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THAT THEY WOULD LIKELY TAKE CARE OF REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION ($7,000). HOWEVER, SUBARU HAS CONTACTED ME WITH THE OFFER TO PAY ONLY $2,500 OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE REPAIR. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT SUBARU RECALLED THESE (CVT) TRANSMISSIONS, BEGINNING WITH 2012 MODELS; HOWEVER, THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM ALSO EXISTS IN THE 2010 OUTBACK AND LEGACY, BOTH OF WHICH MY HUSBAND AND I OWN AND DRIVE, RESPECTIVELY.

ON NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 8, 2018 VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. VEHICLE TOWED TO SUBARU SERVICE CENTER WHO ADVISED "NO OIL SHOWN ON DIPSTICK, DRAINED OIL FOUND ONLY ABOUT 1/2 QUART IN ENGINE, OIL WAS CONTAMINATED WITH CHUNKS OF METAL, ADDED OIL AND STARTED ENGINE, VERIFIED ENGINE HAD A BROKEN CONNECTING ROD AND ONLY RUNNING ON 3 CYLINDERS. VEHICLE HAS 115,437 MILES ON IT, OIL CHANGE STICK SHOWS DUE AT 114,109, 1,328 OVER DUE FOR OIL CHANGE. RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS WATER INTRUSION. RECOMMEND REPLACE ENGINE". THE LAST TIME THE OIL WAS CHANGED WAS ON AUGUST 22, 2018 AT A SUBARU SERVICE CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE OIL BURNED OFF DUE TO THE SAME ISSUES IN OTHER SUBARU LEGACY VEHICLES THEREFORE CAUSING THE BROKEN CONNECTING ROD. NHTSA ID #10133527 (POWER TRAIN); NHTSA ID# 10140479 (OIL SEEPAGE); NHTSA ID#10037247 (OIL SEEPAGE ON TURBO HOUSE JOINTS); NHTSA ID#10140477 (TORQUE CONVERTER); SUBARU TECHNICAL BULLETINS: TSB 16-90-13R, TSB 16-103-16R, TSB 16 102-16 AND TSB 16-104-17. OWNER NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS OF EXTENSIONS OF WARRANTY ON TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN AND SUBARU SERVICE DEALER NEVER ADVISED OWNER DURING ANY OF THE MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENTS THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH OIL LEAKS AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES. OWNER WAS LEFT IN DANGER ON A DARK HIGHWAY JUST OUTSIDE OF A TUNNEL, WITH NO LIGHTS, NO BATTERY POWER AND STATE TROOPERS HAD TO BE CALLED TO PROTECT THEM UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC EVENT. WILL COMPILE ALL MAINTENANCE DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE UPON REQUEST. THANK YOU.

2010 SUBARU LEGACY ' GRAY CAR HAS ROUGH DOWN SHIFTING AS IT COMES TO A STOP. IT VIBRATES OR CLUNKS LIKE FORGETTING TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH IF THE CAR HAD A STICK SHIFT. CAR STALLS PERIODICALLY. OTHER TIMES THE RPMS DROP AND ENGINE SEEMS TO RECOVER WITHOUT STALLING. WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD OF FORWARD TO REVERSE THE CAR CHATTERS AND VIBRATES. THIS TYPE OF CHATTER HAS OCCURRED IN ALL SITUATIONS, BUT SEEMS TO BE HAPPEN MORE WHEN HE FRONT WHEELS ARE TURNED AND THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, THEN TURNING TO GO. CAR HAS STALLED A NUMBER OF TIMES. HAPPENS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR CHANGING GEAR. FRD TO REV. ALL ARE RANDOM OCCURRENCES. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. THERE ARE MORE STALLS AND GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TOGETHER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AND FOR THIS ISSUE. A REPAIR WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY MAYBE 18 MONTHS AGO. I AM BRINING IT BACK TO SUBARU TODAY. THIS IS THE SAME SYMPTOMS LAST TIME (68K MILES) I WAITED TOO LONG AND CAR BECAME NOT DRIVABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CVT TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR AND MUST BE RECALLED.

TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM: I WENT TO BOB BAKER SUBARU CARLSBAD, CA THIS 12:10PM, 06/04/18. I TOLD THE SERVICES GUY THAT MY ENGINE SHUT OFF AFTER STEP ON BRAKES AT LOW SPEED. I RESEARCHED AND DOWNLOADED THE DESIGN PROBLEM NOTICE FROM SUBARU, AND HE SAID THE NEED TO DO MORE TESTING ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS WAITING UNTIL 5PM AND HE FINALLY TOLD ME THAT WAS IT. I WAS REPRESENTED THE NOTICE THAT CAME FROM SUBARU COMPANY. WHY HE WAS STILL HESITATE NOT TO FIX IMMEDIATELY AFTER I PRESENTED THE NOTICE. I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF CUSTOMERS COMPLAINT BEFORE??