NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Subaru Legacy. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT WHEN A 150 POUND 5 FOOT 1 ADULT IS SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AIRBAG LIGHT SAYS OFF. MOVING AROUND IN THE SEAT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WHEN IT ACCELERATED IN REVERSE THROUGH A YARD CRASHING INTO A RETAINING WALL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE AFTER IT CRASHED INTO THE RETAINING WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150.
RADIO CONTROLS ON LEFT SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL STOP FUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY. HAS HAPPENED ON 2 OCCASIONS IN THE 2 1/2 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTED WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL ROLL CONNECTION RECALL (SUBARU RECALL WVR-28), HOWEVER, THAT RECALL WAS FOR 2010 MY VEHICLES AND I HAVE A 2011 MY VEHICLE. *TT
DASH TROUBLE LIGHTS FLASHING CONSTANTLY ON AND OFF CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE FAILURE, ALL WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, TEMPERATURE LIGHT, OIL WARNING LIGHT, ENGINE NOT ENGAGING WHEN GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED. CAR WOBBLES SIDE TO SIDE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH, STEERING WHEEL EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. CURRENTLY IN REPAIR FOR OVER ONE WEEK. APPEARS DEALERSHIP CAN NOT CORRECT. WHEN ORIGINALLY REPORTED TO SERVICE ADVISOR HE STATED TO BRING IN THE CAR IN ONE WEEK. TOOK CAR IN IMMEDIATELY PER OWNERS MANUAL AND HE THEN STATED HE COULD NOT RELEASE CAR BACK TO ME BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH 1500 MILES. *KB
JERKY CVT OPERATION SINCE DAY 1. IN SLOW SPEED TRAFFIC (~20MPH) THE CAR HAD A BUCKING FEELING WHEN GENTLY APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP. JUST BEFORE THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY JERK BETWEEN 20-30MPH AND RPMS WOULD DROP BY 1,500 UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION AS IF AN IMPROPER UP-SHIFT HAD OCCURRED (THOUGH I DID NOT CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN, AND THE CVT HAS NO "GEARS"). THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON ANY STREET, ANY TIME OF DAY, ANY GRADE OF INCLINE/DECLINE, TURNING OR STRAIGHT. GILLMAN SUBARU NORTH'S SHOP FOREMAN HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO SAY AFTER EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM FIRSTHAND ON A TEST DRIVE. I WORKED AT THE DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, AND WAS CONSTANTLY DISMISSED BY BOTH THE DEALER, GILLMAN SUBARU NORTH, AND BY SUBARU OF AMERICA, BEING TOLD IT WAS JUST A QUIRK AND TO ENJOY MY NEW CAR. NOW, AFTER A TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE THAT WAS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED BY GILLMAN SUBARU NORTH, THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY HAS FAILED AND THE DEALER WANTS $1772 TO REPAIR. SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS INFORMED OF EVERYTHING, AND REFUSED TO CONSIDER ANY OTHER CUSTOMERS' EXPERIENCES, AS THEY EVALUATE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS ONLY. THEY REFUSED TO GOODWILL ANYTHING WHATSOEVER.
2011 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5I CVT PREMIUM MODEL : AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60+ MPH, THE VEHICLE FEELS "WOBBLY". THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GETTING SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, EVEN ON GOOD ROAD IN GOOD CONDITIONS. I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH THE AWD SYSTEM. I SLOW DOWN AT TIMES WHEN I SENSE THIS AS IT MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE. IT CAUSES A FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS DURING NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS (NO EXCESSIVE WINDS OR CROSS WIND LOADING). THIS IS NOTICEABLE TO THE PASSENGERS AS WELL. THE SWAYING OR PITCHING HAPPENS IN RIGHT AS WELL AS LEFT DIRECTIONS. NO AMOUNT OF STEERING WHEEL CONTROL SEEMS TO COUNTER THIS. TIRE PRESSURES ARE ACCURATE TO SPECIFICATIONS AND THE CAR IS BRAND NEW TO ME FEB 5, 2011 AND HAS ABOUT 700 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY WINDS OR WHEN A HEAVY VEHICLE WOULD PASS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR FOUND TO BE SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR PARTIALLY CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT ALL OF THE 2011 SUBARU LEGACY VEHICLES RODE THE SAME IN HEAVY WINDS DUE TO THE VEHICLE DESIGN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED ONE INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SOFTWARE IN THE PCM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BUT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
ENGINE SPEED SURGES OCCASIONALLY ( 4 EPISODES IN 6 MONTHS) WHEN MOVING VERY SLOWLY (PARKING) AND WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. HARD BRAKING STOPS CAR AND ENGINE SPEED RETURNS TO NORMAL. *LN
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60+ MPH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A SEVERE "SWAY" OR PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE SEVERITY OF THE SWAYING INCREASES WITH SPEED, THE DRIVER HAS TO "FIGHT" THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTERED IN ITS LANE. THE SWAY/PULL HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE FIRST HIGHWAY TRIP AT ABOUT 1000 MILES, AND IS STILL PRESENT AFTER DEALER CHECKS AND REALIGNMENTS. THE SWAYING CAN BE SO SEVERE AS TO MAKE THE DRIVER FEEL THE CAR IS UNCONTROLLABLE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SWAYING CAN BE SO SEVERE AS TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DEPART FROM ITS LANE. THE SWAYING/PULLING OCCURS IN ALL ROAD CONDITIONS. PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE HAVE COMMENTED ON THE SWAYING, STATING THEY FELT "UNSAFE". TIRE PRESSURES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ADJUSTED TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS BEFORE EACH HIGHWAY TRIP. WHEN TESTED WITH A CHASE VEHICLE THE 2ND VEHICLE DID NOT EXHIBIT THESE SYMPTOMS RULING OUT ROAD/WIND CONDITIONS. *TR
AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60-75MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION/SHAKE THAT IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES THIS VIBRATION CAUSES DISCOMFORT TO HANDS/ARMS. DECREASED TIRE PRESSURE, ROAD FORCE BALANCE, AND STEERING WHEEL REPLACEMENT (SOA TSB) DID NOT FIX. NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE TIRES. THESE ARE "BANDAIDS" TO THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FORCE A REAL SOLUTION.
DRUMMING NOISE THAT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR-END OF THE VEHICLE, CAN BE HEARD AND VIBRATIONS FELT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON AND THE VEHICLE IS AT REST OR MOVING. SUBARU OF AMERICA FACTORY AND DEALERSHIP SERVICE TECHNICIANS ARE NOT CERTAIN THAT THE ISSUE IS THE FUEL PUMP, BUT SOA FACTORY HAS INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE IT. *TR
DRIVING THROUGH THE SALTY STATE OF UT. MY REAR WINDOWS ON MY SUBARU LEGACY HAVE SALT BUILDING UP ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR. GOING TO THE CAR WASH DOESN'T HELP, IT JUST GROWS RIGHT BACK. I'M WORRIED THAT THE SALT COULD BE CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE TO DOOR, WHICH COULD LEAD TO FAILURE. *TR
I STARTED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AS USUAL. PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, SLOWLY LETTING FOOT OFF BRAKE, ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL. BRAKED AND PUT IN PARK TO LET ENGINE WARM FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE WITHOUT INCIDENT.
SEVERE STEERING WHEEL/FRONT END SHIMMY ABOUT 60+ MPH WITH NORMAL DRIVING. PRETTY MUCH A CONSTANT OSCILLATION AT ROAD SPEED. ROAD FORCE BALANCING OF NO HELP, NOR DO NEW TIRES HAVE ANY EFFECT. FOR GOODNESS SAKE, NHTSA, PLEASE START A FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THIS SIGNIFICANT AND PREVALENT PROBLEM...PLEASE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, SHE NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE BATTERY, THE STARTER, THE CABLE AND THE ECM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2011 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5I CVT PREMIUM MODEL : AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60+ MPH, THE VEHICLE FEELS "WOBBLY". THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GETTING SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, EVEN IN GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS FEELING IS VERY UNSAFE. IT CAUSES A FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL (NO EXCESSIVE WINDS OR CROSS WINDS). THIS SEEMS NOTICEABLE TO THE PASSENGERS AS WELL. THE SWAYING HAPPENS IN RIGHT AS WELL AS LEFT DIRECTIONS. NO AMOUNT OF STEERING WHEEL CONTROL SEEMS TO COUNTER THIS. TIRE PRESSURES ARE ACCURATE TO SPECIFICATIONS AND THE CAR IS BRAND NEW. *TR