2015 Subaru LEGACY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
159 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
16,070 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 104 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 159 complaints (23.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 17.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 14.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.3% |
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 | 37 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 36 |
| Unknown Or Other | 27 |
| Engine | 23 |
| Power Train | 15 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
Electrical System: 37; Visibility/Wiper: 36; Unknown Or Other: 27; Engine: 23; Power Train: 15; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 13; Service Brakes: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 62 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 62; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (62). 55 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 46 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2014: 2; 2015: 46; 2016: 18; 2017: 11; 2018: 13; 2019: 11; 2020: 10; 2021: 19; 2022: 12; 2023: 7; 2024: 7; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10649746 · 2014-10-24 (October 24, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VISIBILITY WAS OBSTRUCTED WHEN THE SUN REFLECTED OFF THE FACTORY INSTALLED NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10649746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10667636 · 2014-12-22 (December 22, 2014)
DRIVING ON FREEWAY WITH CRUISE SET AT 72MPH, REACHED DOWN TO THE CENTER COUNCIL TO GRAB AN ITEM, AND PULLED UP ON THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE BUTTON. THE BUTTON IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO REACHABLE PLACES. THE CAR CAME TO A SCRATCHING HALT, LUCKY THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME WERE ABLE TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY IN TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679653 · 2015-01-29 (January 29, 2015)
I HAVE A 2015 SUBARU LEGACY AND THE SRVD (BLIND SPOT & REAR BACKUP DETECTION) SYSTEM KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING. HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND DOES NOT GO AWAY WHEN DRIVING. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS IS A DESIGNED SAFETY SYSTEM AND NOT WORKING IT BECOMES AS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,201 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680632 · 2015-02-02 (February 2, 2015)
UPON LOW SPEEDS TRANSMISSION HOWLS, HESITATION FOLLOWED BY FAST ACCELERATION. KEY INSERTION INTO IGNITION IS DIFFICULT AND ROUGH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10680632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680643 · 2015-02-02 (February 2, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS TWO LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10681898 · 2015-02-07 (February 7, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE ENGINE LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL IMMEDIATELY AND IT APPEARED TO BE DOWN ABOUT A QUART. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY. THEY CONFIRMED THE OIL WAS DOWN ABOUT A QUART AND STARTED AN ENGINE OIL STUDY. I AM TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 1200 TO HAVE THE OIL LEVEL CHECKED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2011 AND ABOVE SUBARUS. THIS ALL HAPPENED A MONTH OR SO AFTER I HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING A BURNT OIL SMELL FROM OUTSID…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10681898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692096 · 2015-03-04 (March 4, 2015)
2015 LEGACY 3.6R PURCHASED 12/18/14 TWO MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES: 1) SNOW / WATER ENTERING ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING A BURNING SMELL INSIDE CABIN AND EXTERIOR. 2) WATER LEAK INSIDE CABIN AT DRIVER FOOT WELL AREA. ENGINE BURNING SMELL: 1/7 NOTIFIED DEALER OF BURNING SMELL WHICH APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM ENGINE/UNDER CAR AND INSIDE CABIN WHILE CAR WAS IDLING. DEALER REVIEWED AND WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE. 2/23/15 RETURNED TO DEALER AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN UNABLE TO REPLICATE 2/28/15 3255 MILES - BROUGHT TO ANOTHER SUBARU DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10693000 · 2015-03-09 (March 9, 2015)
ALMOST EVERY TIME I FILL UP WITH GAS, WHEN THE GAS PUMP SHUTS OFF THERE IS A BACK SPLASH OF GAS OUT OF THE TANK. I WOULD SAY ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 3 OUNCES OF GAS SPLASHES OUT. DEPENDS ON THE PRESSURE IT'S BEING FILLED AT. I TALKED TO MY DEALER ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT IS COMMON FOR SUBARU LEGACY'S. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693000 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V366000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2015-06-12 (June 12, 2015)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Consequence: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V502000 · Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2015-08-10 (August 10, 2015)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Consequence: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V251000 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
Reported: 2016-04-27 (April 27, 2016)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTC-64.
NHTSA campaign record ↗