2012 Subaru Legacy problems
Owners have filed 119 complaints about the 2012 Subaru Legacy with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 28.6% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of engine at 19.3%.
Complaints119
Crashes9
Fires0
Injuries7
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Power train 28.6% · 34
Engine 19.3% · 23
Unknown or other 10.1% · 12
Air bags 9.2% · 11
Steering 5.9% · 7
Service brakes 5.0% · 6
Vehicle speed control 3.4% · 4
Suspension 3.4% · 4
Severity
Of those complaints, 9 describe a crash and 7 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the Subaru Legacy in this data, 2012 draws comparatively few complaints; 2005 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 10 in the last three years against 18 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 93,000 miles.
In owners' own words
2012 70,000 Miles car began to stall at stops but not all the time. More often at abrupt stops. This happens anywhere at a stop light, stop sign, freeway driving. Extremely dangerous problem. I am being told it is the torque converter air flow (something like that) and can cost $2500 to fix. It appears Subaru has known about this problem since at least 2010 and has not alerted the owners of these vehicles. Power train · reported at 65,000 miles
Car shakes then stalls when coming to a stop. Stalling began at approximately 75,000 miles(november 2018) but happened only twice in 4 months so I didn't think much of it, but today 3/5/19 it happened twice(I now have 79,000 miles). Have an appointment at Subaru to have car serviced on 3/11/19. However, from reading the complaints, I don't think I am going to be happen with the outcome. Power train · reported at 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Legacy. While driving approximately 75 mph, the contact heard a whining sound coming from the engine. The vehicle would also stall when driving at low speeds or idling. The dealer stated that the transmission was faulty. The transmission was replaced and the failures were remedied. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 2,000. Power train · reported at 2,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…