Problems · by component

2011 Subaru Legacy power train problems

47 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Subaru Legacy cite power train, 28% of all 167 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
47
28% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“An issue has surfaced with my car that it turns off while driving. Obviously this is a serious safety hazard and likely to result in an accident. Now that it has happened, it is continuing and frequently happening. I reached out to Subaru as I saw there was a recall for my car's make and model that is causing the same issue. The issue is listed as NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V297000, described as "The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. " and affecting many Subarus, including the 2011 legacy. I believe my car is impacted given the behavior it is exhibiting. When I reached out to Subaru, they dismissed it saying it did not apply to my car and they were not willing to investigate. I believe this poses a grave risk to many people given that it will cause an accident and the severity of the defect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2025Power train, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11695074
“The week after purchase: The car shuts off when braking and needs to be put into park to be started again. Also the check engine light came on and I wonder if it has electrical issues.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2025Power train, Electrical systemODI 11694423
“Sometimes as I'm coming to a stop, such as at a red light or a stop sign, just before I stop, the car lurches and then stalls. This is an automatic transmission car, but the best way I can think of to describe what is happening is it is acting as if it is a manual transmission, and when you come to a stop and don't press in the clutch. If this happens at an inopportune time, it could cause an accident. Possibly you're slowing down as you turn through an intersection and it lurches and stalls. You would then be stopped in the middle of the intersection. There are no warning lamps or messages before this happens.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2022Power trainODI 11480812
“It's a 6mt. Randomly reverse stopped working. Seems like it wants to go in reverse. But when any bit of gas pedal pressed it grinds and pops out of reverse. I have no reverse. 1st thru 6th gear works shifting wise. Shifter has some play though.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2022Power trainODI 11452944
“FIRST THE VEHICLE STARTED WITH A SCREECHING NOISE AND THE RPM'S WOULD SPIKE. APPARENTLY IF THE CVT TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN VARIATIONS OCCASIONS TO THE DEALER. REACHED OUT SUBARU USA. SENT VIDEO OF THE OCCURRENCE AND THEY INDICATED THEY COULD NOT CLASSIFY THE OCCURRENCE AND FOUND IT INCONCLUSIVE. I NOTICE IT WOULD OCCUR IN TEMPERATURES LOWER THEN 45 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED FLASHING VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS SUCH AS CHECK ENGINE, CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL. TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A OXYGEN SENSOR. BUT WHAT STARTED OCCURRING AFTER THE REPAIR WAS STARTLING AND DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE NOW STARTED STALLING OUT WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO STOP. ON LONG DRIVES THIS WOULD NOT OCCUR. IT OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING LOCALLY AND STOPPING AT INTERSECTIONS. WHAT I LEARNED TO AND IMPLEMENTED WAS AS THE STALLING WAS STARTING TO OCCUR YOU WOULD GET A JITTERING FROM THE VEHICLE I WOULD SHIFT THE CAR TO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STALL. THIS IS NEITHER THE NORM OR SAFE, BUT SAFER THEN STALLING IN AN INTERSECTION WITH VEHICLES COMING AT YOU. THIS ISSUE STILL CONTINUES TO OCCUR. I HAVE NOT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2021Power trainODI 11413744
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO PROPERLY DOWNSHIFT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DURING THE FAILURE, THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALSO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER SUBARU CITY OF MILWAUKEE LOCATED AT 4640 S 27TH ST, MILWAUKEE, WI 53221 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER [XXX] IS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2021Power trainODI 11399884

Showing 6 of 47 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: manual transmission

Free remedy

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 OUTBACK AND LEGACY PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 28 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2010. DUE TO A PROGRAMMING ERROR, A LUBRICATION HOLE WITHIN THE 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS OMITTED.

Power trainReported Jul 20, 2010NHTSA 10V326000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

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

Other 2011 Legacy problem areas