2018 Subaru LEGACY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
117 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
20,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 117 complaints (32.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 12.0% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 6.8% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 38 |
| Unknown Or Other | 29 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 25 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 5 |
| Steering | 4 |
Electrical System: 38; Unknown Or Other: 29; Visibility/Wiper: 25; Engine: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Service Brakes: 5; Visibility:Windshield: 5; Steering: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 63 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2017: 1; 2018: 7; 2019: 19; 2020: 17; 2021: 18; 2022: 7; 2023: 13; 2024: 6; 2025: 22; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 11076906 · 2018-03-08 (March 8, 2018)
PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU LEGACY FEB. 28, 2018. AFTER ONLY 70 MILES THE WARNING LIGHT FOR SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON A STARLINK SYSTEM AND DASH. AFTER IMMEDIATELY TAKING IT IN AT THE LOCAL CAR DEALER, SERVICE AGENTS CLAIMED THAT A "RODENT" HAS CAUSED THE DAMAGE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, WE HAVE DISCOVERED A NATIONAL CIVIL SUIT AGAINST SUBARU. APPARENTLY THEY ARE USING BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS ON THE WIRING OF MANY NEW CARS THAT ATTRACTS SQUIRRELS AND MICE. WE HAVE LIVED AT OUR CURRENT RESIDENCE FOR OVER 35 YEARS WITH NUMEROUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 69 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11172649 · 2019-01-28 (January 28, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V773000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN NOVEMBER OF 2018. PRESTIGE SUBARU (4271 E BLACK HORSE PIKE, TURNERSVILLE, NJ) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 40 MILES LEFT. AFTER THE CONTACT DROVE 10 MPH, IT RAN OUT OF FUEL. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCON…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11172649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221454 · 2019-06-20 (June 20, 2019)
CAR WAS AT A TURNING INTERSECTION. CAR WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED, FOOT WAS APPLIED TO BRAKE WITH NORMAL PRESSURE. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, CAR STARTED TO PROGRESS FORWARD, I LIFTED FOOT OFF BRAKE AND REAPPLIED. THE BRAKE DID NOT SENSE PRESSURE, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THESE ACTIONS DID NOT STOP THE CAR. LAST EFFORT ATTEMPT WAS TO LIFT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED. THIS STOPPED THE CAR. I TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11352017 · 2020-08-29 (August 29, 2020)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAME DAMAGED FROM UNKNOWN REASONS AFTER EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT DIP IN THE ROAD. A CRACK FORMED AND EXPANDED TO OVER 12 INCHES IN LENGTH QUICKLY. ATTACHED PHOTO 20200829_164645 INCLUDED AS EVIDENCE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED FRONT WINDSHIELD DAMAGE. IT WAS REPLACED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO WITH OEM PARTS (CARLEX GLASS) THROUGH MY INSURANCE. ATTACHED PHOTO SCREENSHOT_202... AS EVIDENCE. THAT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND RO…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11352017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11124669 · 2018-09-05 (September 5, 2018)
AT SPEEDS ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING HAS SUDDENLY, ERRATICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING PULLED THE CAR TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS IF HIT BY A LARGE GUST OF WIND (WHEN THERE IS NO WIND OR PASSING TRUCK). IT IS AS IF THE STEERING IS OUT OF CONTROL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE CAR HAS 3,000 MILES AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5-8 TIMES. I NOTICE THERE IS ALSO AN IDENTICAL COMPLAINT FOR 2018 SUBARU OUTBACKS. THIS LAST HAPPENED TODAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11292333 · 2019-12-31 (December 31, 2019)
WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AS SOON AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE AND HEARD A RATTLE AND THEN A LOUD BOOM EXPLOSION SOUND. MY TORQUE CONVERTER, ENGINE, AND FLEXPLATE EXPLODED CAUSING IT IN OPERABLE AND PLACED ME IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION STRANDED ON THE ROADWAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOW HAD THE CAR SINCE THANKSGIVING THIS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM,I STILL DON'T HAVE MY CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,768 miles reported. Look up ODI 11292333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11196915 · 2019-04-17 (April 17, 2019)
THE SAFETY RECALL REGARDING FUEL HAS BEEN COMPLETED. I FILLED THE GAS TANK WITH THE GAUGE ON HALF. I PUT 12 GALLONS IN THE 16 GALLON TANK. YESTERDAY I REPEATED THIS BY AGAIN FILLING THE TANK WITH THE GAUGE READING HALF. I PUT 11.4 GALLONS IN THE 16 GALLON TANK. I ALSO NOTED THAT THE MPG CALCULATOR IS NOW ONLY USING THE DATA SINCE THE RECALL. TIRE PRESSURE WOULD NOT REGISTER. I AM NOT SURE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SYSTEMS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. I FEEL THAT THEY VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,670 miles reported. Look up ODI 11196915 at NHTSA ↗