2011 Subaru Legacy Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Subaru Legacy.

20102012
Complaints
234
Crashes
11
Fires
4
Injuries
6
Fatalities
Recalls
17

Worst 2011 Subaru Legacy Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#144 complaints

POWER TRAIN

Avg mileage:154,301 mi
#225 complaints

AIR BAGS

Avg mileage:63,580 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:1
#322 complaints

ENGINE

Avg mileage:175,872 mi
Fires:1
Considering a 2011 Subaru Legacy?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Subaru Legacy.

POWER TRAIN
44
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
154,301
AIR BAGS
25
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
63,580
ENGINE
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
175,872
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
64,183
SERVICE BRAKES
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
97,183
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,962
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
199,478
STEERING
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
37,754
SUSPENSION
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
13,550
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
5,275
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
29,500
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
88,750
STRUCTURE:BODY
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
67,983
WHEELS
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,533
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
100,000
SEATS
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,596
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
925
VISIBILITY/WIPER
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
118,288
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,500
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,500
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,500
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
150,000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
23,500
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
100,000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
140,000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
STRUCTURE
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,000
TIRES
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
11,400

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Subaru Legacy. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Subaru Legacy

17 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,163,264 vehicles.

20V001000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~258,813 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

20V003000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~111,562 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

20V002000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~127,547 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

19V297000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
~511 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. 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.

19V007000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~43,394 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

19V009000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~452,630 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

19V008000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~330,120 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

18V626000PARKING BRAKE
~27,175 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.

18V012000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~64,179 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

17V014000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~53,480 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

+ 7 more recalls

Other Subaru Legacy Years

Wider context: See the full Subaru Legacy reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2011 Subaru Legacy

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99