2009 Subaru LEGACY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
13 distinct recall campaigns
72,486 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 44 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 65 complaints (46.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 16.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 30 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Air Bags: 30; Engine: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Electrical System: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2; Power Train: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 6; 2015: 11; 2016: 9; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 7; 2021: 5; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10355719 · 2010-09-15 (September 15, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU LEGACY.WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS, SHE WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP TO THE VEHICLE AND APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10557695 · 2013-12-30 (December 30, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY AT AROUND 55 MPH WHICH IS JUST UNDER THE POSTED 65 MPH LIMIT. SUDDENLY THE HOOD OPENS AND SLAMS INTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME, BUT I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PULL OVER DESPITE THE SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. ONCE SAFELY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE GETTING OUT SINCE I WAS SHAKEN A BIT. I THEN CHECKED ON THE DAMAGE. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES AND THE HOOD SUSTAINED MULTIPLE DENTS. I WAS ABLE TO RE-LATCH THE HOOD A…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,023 miles reported. Look up ODI 10557695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10898086 · 2016-08-23 (August 23, 2016)
I NOTICED AIRBAG SIGN COMES ON EVEN AFTER THE RECALL FOR AIRBAG WAS COMPLETED ON THE CAR WITHIN LAST 10 DAYS. THE DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $350 DOLLARS TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR AS AN APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE FOR BUDGETING OVER THE PHONE. SO I DID INTERNET SEARCH ON SIMILAR PROBLEMS, AND FOUND OUT VIA YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND CAR MECHANIC BLOGS THAT IT IS SUBARU'S ELECTRICAL SOLDER PROBLEM (ELECTRICAL CONNECTION) THAT TRIGGERS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND THEREFORE THE AIRBAG WARNING SIGN TURNS RED. WHAT IS THE POINT OF DOING …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10898086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11208685 · 2019-05-20 (May 20, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS DAUGHTER WHO OWNS A 2009 SUBARU LEGACY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V297000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325292 · 2020-05-20 (May 20, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE LEAKING DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS ALSO RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11439301 · 2021-11-04 (November 4, 2021)
Following traffic and under heavy braking due to lead vehicle braking hard and making turn without turn signal, brake pedal went to floor and vehicle continued traveling forward resulting in rear end collision with vehicle in front. Upon inspection at dealership both rear brake lines found to be corroded badly and sever leakage from both left and right rear brake lines. Corrosion & weeping also noted by dealership body shop on both lines coming out of vehicle from under rear seat above fuel tank. The corrosion and leakage matches with recall ca…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11439301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10787313 · 2015-10-30 (October 30, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE DISPLAY AREA. ODOMETER WAS JUST OVER 83,000 MILES. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISE AS THOUGH ACCELERATING BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN GEAR AND THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING LEADING TO NEAR ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND TRANS CODE P0766 AND REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED WITH NORMAL FINDINGS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH UP AND DOWN SHIFTS AND KICKDOWN ALL NORMAL. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION FLUID AFTER FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10787313 at NHTSA ↗