Research · Compact Cars

2006 Subaru LegacyRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 87 owner complaints for the 2006 Subaru Legacy. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (30) and electrical system (17). The EPA rates it 19–23 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
19–23mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
7campaigns
Latest Jan 2020
Owner complaints
87
Top: vehicle speed control
Fuel cost / yr
$2,700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

7 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V003000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V002000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V001000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

87 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2006 – Oct 2022
  1. Vehicle speed control30
  2. Electrical system17
  3. Engine16
  4. Air bags13
  5. Fuel/propulsion system12
  6. Service brakes9
  7. Power train8
  8. Engine and engine cooling4
  9. Suspension4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Legacy model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996129
1997143
1998116
199997
200094
200180
200258
2005184
200687
200733
200865
200965
2010151
2011167
201290
201366
201453
2015160
2016147
2017119
2018118
2019123
2020121
202132
202234
202310
202417
20256
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
6
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Vehicle speed control

30 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED NOR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2020Vehicle speed controlODI 11297749

Electrical system

17 reports2 crashes
“CAR LOSS POWER AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH A SOLID CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BLINKING CRUISE ON THE DASH. THE RPM JUMPED HIGH WITH OUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING PUSHED DOWN. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING AT 25 MPH BEFORE THE AFOREMENTIONED HAPPENED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2019Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11266186

Engine

16 reports
“THIS ONLY AFFECT 05-06 LEGACY GT OWNERS. THE UP-PIPE FOR THE SUBARU LEGACY GT IN THESE GIVEN YEARS HAVE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THERE AND AFTER A CERTAIN MILEAGE, THE DEBRIS OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BREAKING DOWN WOULD SHOOT BACK INTO THE TURBOCHARGER. THAT WOULD CAUSE THE TURBO FAILURE AND STALL THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THE UP-PIPE DOES NOT HAVE ANY INDICATION OF % OF WEAR AND MOST NON-CAR ENTHUSIASTS WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY EXCEPT FOR AN EXPENSIVE TURBO REPLACEMENT AND UP-PIPE REPLACEMENTS. MOST OF THE OWNERS OF THESE ISSUES TURN OVER TO CATLESS UP-PIPE BUT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OVERBOOSTING OR THE ENGINE RUN RICH, FURTHER DAMAGING THE ENGINE. THIS CAN BE PRETTY DANGEROUS IF A PERSON IS ON A ROAD TRIP AND HAVING A LONG DRIVE AS IT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. SUBARU HAS RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE AND THEREFORE 07+ TURBO MODELS ALL HAVE A CATLESS UP-PIPE WITH THE ECU TUNED TO THAT SPECIFICATION. I BELIEVE IT IS NOT FAIR FOR 05-06 LEGACY GT OWNERS TO HAVE TO SUFFER FROM SUCH A CRITICAL ISSUE WITHOUT SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION OR RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2019Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11204499
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (S4) · Manual 5-spd · Automatic (S5)
Drive
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Legacy AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,700386
Legacy Wagon AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,700386
Legacy AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,850404
Legacy Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,850404
Legacy AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172420$3,850444
Legacy Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172420$3,850444
Legacy AWD
Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172319$4,050468
Legacy Wagon AWD
Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172319$4,050468
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,850/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,850/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    17 city · 23 hwy · $4,050/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    17 city · 23 hwy · $4,050/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Subaru Legacy as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 1962
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2006 Legacy questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Subaru Legacy have?

7 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2006 Subaru Legacy problems?

Owners filed 87 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (30), electrical system (17), engine (16). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2006 Subaru Legacy get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Subaru Legacy at 19–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026