What is the 2010-2020 Subaru Legacy CVT Transmission Failure?

The 2010+ Legacy uses the Lineartronic CVT (TR690 for 2.5L, TR580 for 2.5i base) 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… Repairs typically run $200-$8,000. Severity: high.

What is the 2010-2016 Subaru Legacy FB25 Engine Oil Consumption?

The 2010-2016 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… Repairs typically run $0-$4,500. Severity: high.

What is the 2023 Subaru Legacy Recall WRN-23: Loose Driveshaft Center Support Bolts on 2023 Legacy?

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… Severity: high.

What is the 1996-1999 Subaru Legacy EJ25 DOHC (Phase I) internal head gasket failure?

The first 2.5L boxer in the Legacy, the EJ25D DOHC (Phase I), used a composite head gasket that fails internally around the 100,000-mile mark. Unlike the later external-leak variant, this failure lets coolant and combustion gases mix, causing loss of compression, coolant in the o… Repairs typically run $1,500-$2,800. Severity: high.

What is the 1996-1999 Subaru Legacy Interference engine: neglected timing belt destroys valves?

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 SO… Repairs typically run $500-$4,000. Severity: high.

What is the 2021-2024 Subaru Legacy Low-Speed Brake Pedal Pulsation or Vibration from Front Brake Rotor Deposits/Warping?

Owners of current-generation Legacy models have reported brake pulsation, steering wheel shake, or vibration during moderate braking, sometimes at relatively low mileage. The condition is commonly attributed to front rotor thickness variation or uneven pad deposits rather than a… Repairs typically run $350-$900. Severity: medium.

What is the 2021-2024 Subaru Legacy Windshield Cracking Easily and Eyesight Camera Recalibration After Glass Replacement?

Owners of 2021-2024 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 conv… Repairs typically run $900-$1,800. Severity: medium.

What is the 2021-2024 Subaru Legacy Battery Drain and No-Start from DCM/Telematics Module Staying Awake?

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 sit… Repairs typically run $250-$1,200. Severity: medium.

What is the 1990-1999 Subaru Legacy 4EAT AWD torque bind (Duty C solenoid / transfer clutch)?

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 relie… Repairs typically run $300-$2,500. Severity: medium.

What is the 2021-2023 Subaru Legacy Transmission Inhibitor Switch Failure From Water Intrusion (NHTSA Recall 23V755000 / WRQ-23)?

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 Leg… Severity: medium.

What is the 2021-2024 Subaru Legacy Infotainment Head Unit Freezing, Black Screen, and CarPlay/Android Auto Connectivity Problems?

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 man… Repairs typically run $0-$1,800. Severity: medium.

What is the 1990-1999 Subaru Legacy Front wheel bearing wear and noise?

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 t… Repairs typically run $250-$550. Severity: medium.

What is the 1999 Subaru Legacy External head gasket coolant leak (SOHC 2.5L / EJ22) - WWP-99 campaign?

Later single-layer graphite-coated head gaskets on the SOHC 2.5L and 2.2L boxers develop small EXTERNAL coolant seeps, typically at the left cylinder head, as the coating chips near 100,000 miles. Owners often smell coolant or top off the reservoir before seeing a puddle. Subaru… Repairs typically run $1,200-$2,200. Severity: medium.

What is the 1990-1994 Subaru Legacy Motorized (passive) automatic seat belt failure?

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 tra… Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: medium.

What is the 2010-2019 Subaru Legacy Front Suspension Clunk - Stabilizer Bar End Link and Strut Mount?

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 jo… Repairs typically run $100-$600. Severity: low.

Subaru · Known Issues

1990-2024 Subaru Legacy Problems: 18 Known Issues

1990-2024 model years · 6,490+ owner reports · Updated August 2026

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According to Au7o's analysis of 6,490+ owner reports, the 1990-2024 Subaru Legacy has 18 documented known issues, with 8 rated critical. The most serious are EJ25 Head Gasket Failure ($1,600-$3,000 repair), CVT Transmission Failure ($200-$8,000 repair), FB25 Engine Oil Consumption ($0-$4,500 repair), Recall 16V694000: Windshield Wiper Motor Can Overheat and Melt Its Bottom Cover (Fire Risk), Recall WRN-23: Loose Driveshaft Center Support Bolts on 2023 Legacy, Thermo Control Valve Failure Causing Check Engine Light, Poor Heater Performance, and Possible Overheating ($1,200-$2,200 repair), EJ25 DOHC (Phase I) internal head gasket failure ($1,500-$2,800 repair) and Interference engine: neglected timing belt destroys valves ($500-$4,000 repair). The most commonly reported issue is EJ25 Head Gasket Failure with 3,800 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $100 to $8,000. at .

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Subaru Legacy problems?

According to Au7o's analysis of 6,490+ owner reports, the 1990-2024 Subaru Legacy has 18 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: EJ25 Head Gasket Failure, CVT Transmission Failure, FB25 Engine Oil Consumption. Of these, 8 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.

Is the Subaru Legacy reliable?

The 1990-2024 Subaru Legacy has 18 known issues documented across 6,490+ owner reports. 8 issues are rated critical: EJ25 Head Gasket Failure and CVT Transmission Failure and FB25 Engine Oil Consumption and Recall 16V694000: Windshield Wiper Motor Can Overheat and Melt Its Bottom Cover (Fire Risk) and Recall WRN-23: Loose Driveshaft Center Support Bolts on 2023 Legacy and Thermo Control Valve Failure Causing Check Engine Light, Poor Heater Performance, and Possible Overheating and EJ25 DOHC (Phase I) internal head gasket failure and Interference engine: neglected timing belt destroys valves. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.

How much does it cost to fix common Subaru Legacy problems?

Repair costs for known Subaru Legacy issues range from $0 to $8,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, EJ25 Head Gasket Failure, typically costs $1,600-$3,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.

What year Subaru Legacy is the most reliable?

Reliability varies across model years of the Subaru Legacy. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 1990-2024 Subaru Legacy with 18 documented issues documented across 6,490+ owner reports.

All 18 Known Issues

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Subaru Legacy problems?

Is the Subaru Legacy reliable?

How much does it cost to fix common Subaru Legacy problems?

What year Subaru Legacy is the most reliable?

What is the 2000-2009 Subaru Legacy EJ25 Head Gasket Failure?

When Issues Typically Appear

EJ25 Head Gasket Failure#

FB25 Engine Oil Consumption#

EJ25 DOHC (Phase I) internal head gasket failure#

Interference engine: neglected timing belt destroys valves#

CVT Transmission Failure#

Transmission Inhibitor Switch Failure From Water Intrusion (NHTSA Recall 23V755000 / WRQ-23)#

Recall 16V694000: Windshield Wiper Motor Can Overheat and Melt Its Bottom Cover (Fire Risk)#

Motorized (passive) automatic seat belt failure#

Recall WRN-23: Loose Driveshaft Center Support Bolts on 2023 Legacy#

4EAT AWD torque bind (Duty C solenoid / transfer clutch)#

Thermo Control Valve Failure Causing Check Engine Light, Poor Heater Performance, and Possible Overheating#

External head gasket coolant leak (SOHC 2.5L / EJ22) - WWP-99 campaign#

Battery Drain and No-Start from DCM/Telematics Module Staying Awake#

Infotainment Head Unit Freezing, Black Screen, and CarPlay/Android Auto Connectivity Problems#

Front wheel bearing wear and noise#

Front Suspension Clunk - Stabilizer Bar End Link and Strut Mount#

Low-Speed Brake Pedal Pulsation or Vibration from Front Brake Rotor Deposits/Warping#

Windshield Cracking Easily and Eyesight Camera Recalibration After Glass Replacement#