Problems · NHTSA complaints

2025 Subaru Legacy problems

Owners filed 6 complaints about the 2025 Subaru Legacy with NHTSA between Jul 2025 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is engine (3).

Complaints
6
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine3
  2. Air bags1
  3. Steering1
  4. Vehicle speed control1
  5. Fuel/propulsion system1
  6. Engine and engine cooling1
  7. Service brakes1
  8. Other / unknown1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20254
20262

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

3 reports
“Less than 500 miles cabin fills with engine fumes - smells like exhaust/crank case vapors - especially at idle and with outdoor air damper open on HVAC. If you open hood the engine bay smells like gas fumes. Upon inspection looks like passenger side exhaust manifold is leaking with splatter marks on exhaust manifold - fire and health hazard. Subaru corporate in past has been poor to deal with and makes statements like our dealers are independent and we have no control over our dealers when trying to get them to take action. Now I'll have to battle this out and likely with BBB claim. I have Asthma and cannot drive this vehicle with this smell.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2026EngineODI 11718036

Air bags

1 report
“I purchased my 2025 Legacy from Brunswick Subaru (Brunswick,OH) on 9/22/25. A few days later, while riding in the passenger seat, the airbag light/icon stayed off. I am a petite female, weighing 100 pounds. I immediately called Brunswick Subaru's service department. The service manager drove me around, and he saw that what I was reporting was true. He said he would order sensors to fix the problem. I was told that the airbags should deploy at 35 pounds from my salesperson and 80 pounds from the service director. The sensors arrived in December, and I made an appointment on 12/30/25 to have them installed. I waited two hours only to learn that they could not be installed since this was a safety issue and Subaru is all about safety. I had to leave my car, and I was provided with a loaner, which was also a 2025 Legacy. The passenger seat's airbag light/icon stayed off when I sat in the passenger seat of the loaner too. I reported this to Mark Harris, a Subaru Advocacy Rep. He told me to sit in the back seat from now on. He also said to put my purse on my lap to add weight, which is highly discouraged in the Legacy's manual. As of today, 1/19/25, my Legacy is still…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2026Air bagsODI 11711901

Steering

1 report
“The Legacy (my third one) was about a month old and had about 30 miles on the odometer. I had no warning of any problem with the car. On or about 5:45 PM on Oct 22, 2025 I was driving my Subaru Legacy when the engine stalled. I was in the HOV lane of an interstate highway. Multiple times the starter failed to restart the engine. Traffic was blocked in my lane and diverting around me. It was dusk with a misty rain. My wife and I were felt we were at high risk of being rearended at any moment. After about 5-10 minutes, during which we called 911, the engine restarted. Seeing no help from the police available, I judged it was best. to get off the highspeed road. I was able to get off the highway and make it home, about 5 miles away. I have not tried to drive the car ever since this terrifying episode.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2025Steering, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11706406

Vehicle speed control

1 report
“At the end of a drive of 75 mi, 55-65 MPH on an 8 lane highway the engine stalled. Stopped in HOV lane. Restarting failed several attempts. Called police 911. Dusk, with light rain, slick highway. Poor visibility. Wife and I prayed a lot. Scarier than my year in Vietnam. Restarted after about 10 minutes, and prior to police arriving. Made it home 5 min away. Neither dealer nor Subaru can recreate or define the cause. My family and I fear the thought of driving again in that car. Not knowing the cause means no one can fix it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2025Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11705999

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report

Engine and engine cooling

1 report
“The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a misfire with a rattling sound coming from behind the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The failure persisted, and the vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, and a field tech engineer was sent to inspect the vehicle. The contact was informed that the scavenger pump turbo and catalytic converter were replaced; however, after retrieving the vehicle, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 1,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2025Engine and engine coolingODI 11684680
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

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