2010 Subaru LEGACY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
150 owner complaints analyzed
18 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 106 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 150 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 46 | 30.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 43 | 28.7% |
| Braking behavior | 42 | 28.0% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 12.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 40 |
| Engine | 31 |
| Air Bags | 21 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Steering | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
Power Train: 40; Engine: 31; Air Bags: 21; Electrical System: 12; Service Brakes: 12; Unknown Or Other: 12; Steering: 11; Exterior Lighting: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 11
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 44 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 | 5 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 5; 2010: 23; 2011: 9; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 7; 2015: 5; 2016: 16; 2017: 21; 2018: 14; 2019: 16; 2020: 3; 2021: 5; 2022: 10; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 46 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 43 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 42 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 10343183 · 2010-07-14 (July 14, 2010)
DRIVING A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY ON A NARROW STREET WITH A 90 DEGREE TURN. ENTERING THE TURN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS PRESSED DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED SLIGHTLY - THE CAR STALLED AS THE ENGINE DIED. SINCE IT WAS A TURN AND THE CAR HAS POWER STEERING THE NOSE WAS IN THE OPPOSITE LANE BEFORE IT STOPPED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343751 · 2010-07-17 (July 17, 2010)
START CAR , ENGINE COLD, OR AT LEAST NOT FULLY WARMED UP. WHILE DRIVING, PUSH CLUTCH IN , TAKE FOOT OFF GAS TO SHIFT. ENGINE REVS DROP TO NEAR ZERO. ENGINE STALLS. ITS INTERMITTENT. BUT SOME ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT HOT WEATHER EXAGGERATES THE ISSUE. SEEMS TO HAPPEN LESS WHEN ENGINE IS FULLY WARMED UP. DEALER HAS RECREATED THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT FIXING IT. THIS CAR HAS DIED IN INTERSECTIONS TWICE AND ALSO ON OPEN ROAD IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324391 · 2010-04-07 (April 7, 2010)
VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING CAR DOES NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT, SHIFTING LEFT TO RIGHT CONTINUOUSLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326273 · 2010-04-19 (April 19, 2010)
THE STEERING SWAY WOBBLE SHIMMY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS STILL PRESENT. WITH VDC OFF IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS SWAY FEELING AND STEERING CORRECTION. IF YOU DRIVE STRAIGHT, YOU WILL HAVE TO CONTINUALLY CORRECT THE STEERING TO OVERCOME TO ABOVE. ABOUT 800 MILES I NOW GET A VIBRATION YOU CAN FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT FEELS UNSAFE. OTHER DANGEROUS CVT OCCURRENCES ARE: - IN 'D' THE CAR SURGES OCCASIONALLY WHEN STOPPED, LIKE AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION SURGE. SCARY, FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO TAKE OFF AND FEELS UNSAFE. - WHILE DRIVING I…
Owner-reported narrative. 825 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285715 · 2009-09-29 (September 29, 2009)
2010 SUBARU LEGACY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MATS KEEPS MOVING AND COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO BRAKE/ACCELERATE. THERE ARE 2 "PEGS" STICKING UP TO HOLD THE FLOOR MAT IN PLACE BUT AS YOU DRIVE, THE FLOOR MAT SHIFTS AND COMES OFF THE RIGHT PEG PUSHING THE MAT UP AND TURNING IT. THIS HAPPENS ROUTINELY EVERY DAY AS THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT STAY SAFELY IN PLACE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP AND AT ALL SPEEDS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326688 · 2010-04-20 (April 20, 2010)
CAR SWAYS RIGHT TO LEFT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 55MPH OR MORE. VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN PRESENT AT ANY SPEED GREATER THAN 45MPH BUT WORSE IN 5TH AND 6TH GEARS OF MT. STEERING FEELS UNRELIABLE. CAR WILL DEVIATE FROM INTENDED PATH. ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED, DEALER HAS ROAD FORCE BALANCED TIRES AND REPLACED A DAMPENING SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN. NO CHANGE IN EITHER SWAY OR VIBRATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380669 · 2011-02-02 (February 2, 2011)
WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW, DECEMBER, 2009. DEALER IS OVER AN HOUR DRIVE FROM HOME IN ANOTHER STATE. CAR IS PAMPERED AND KEPT IN GARAGE WHEN NOT BEING USED. JUST IN A COUPLE MONTHS DEVELOPED A PRONOUNCED THUMP IN THE REAR UNDER THE CAR. INTERMITTENT, AND THERE IS A FEEL OF THE CAR VIBRATING OR SHIMMYING, IF VERY SLIGHTLY AT THE SAME TIME. WE BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO STREET TURNING WHEEL TO LEFT, STRAIGHTEN, DRIVE FORWARD 80 FEET TO THE STOP SIGN. ACCELERATE AND TURN TO THE RIGHT, THERE IS A THUMP FROM UNDER THE REAR OF THE CAR. NEXT STOP TO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10411748 · 2011-07-11 (July 11, 2011)
THE CAR EXPERIENCES A 2-3 SECOND INTERMITTENT HESITATION FOLLOWED BY THE CAR JETTING FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED OCCASIONAL STALLING. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SOME 22 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND UPON RECREATING THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD IT IS A 'FUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION.' THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND HAS NEARLY RESULTED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE RATHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER, THE CAR TENDS TO EXPERIENCE ISSUES GENERALLY BETWEEN 15-20MPH, 30-35MPH, AND 55-60MPH. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10411748 at NHTSA ↗