KnownCarProblems2015 Subaru Legacy Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Legacy, most often about the visibility and wipers (26% of complaints, typically around 9,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Legacy model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2015 Subaru Legacy problems
Visibility and wipers
41 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 9,500 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, sun/moon roof assembly.
The windshield cracked from the lower passenger side. Three large cracks one of which is now almost all the way over in front of the driver. There was a chip where the crack started. The big problem is that the windshields are on back order with no idea how long it will be to get a replacement. I have had cars with…
While traveling on the open interstate, the windshield started to crack. The crack started in the lower driver side corner, under the wiper blade. In less than 30 min, the crack extended up and over, in-front of the driver's view and extended to the center. From the outside, you can feel the crack. If you push on the…
Electrical
37 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that coolant was leaking from the engine and a burning electrical smell coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that water entered through the wheel wells, onto the fuse box and electrical components, and into the driver side floor board. The…
Electronic parking brakes will not release. Eye sight system error light on -- says to see dealer. Vehicle is in low clearance parking garage - flatbed tow truck cannot enter. Brakes are stuck on. Front of vehicle facing garage wall, which is partially open (looking through to another level). Vehicle is on a slight…
Other or unspecified
28 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 15,500 miles.
Replacing the windshield 3 times already in a 2 year period. No chips are created from small interactions with object like little stones but immediate cracks. The vehicle was in stationary and moving positions on a street and higway. Makes me wonder what is going to happen if there would be more serious collision than…
In february 2017 we experienced unintended acceleration on 6 occasions. We took it to the dealer and they said that there was nothing wrong with the car. They said that we must have done something to cause the acceleration. We know that was not the case, but we continued to drive the car. It happened another time in…
Engine
24 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 21,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
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…
The contact owned a 2015 Subaru Legacy. While driving at an unspecified rate of speed, an animal went across the driver's path. The driver veered to the right and crashed into a tree. The vehicle erupted into flames. Weeks prior to the crash, the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to various warning lights randomly…
Transmission
15 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles.
Since november of 2017 while driving the car it has intermittently jerked and shook excessively, bucking like a mad horse. Car was brought in to dealer for diagnosis. Dealer was not able to identify the cause. After several visits to dealer where I was assured the problem was fixed the same problem continued. It…
My transmission has been idling rough after coming to a stop and feels as if it is going to stall. If I let off the brake slightly the rpms go back to normal temporarily then continues to idle roughly
Fuel system
15 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles.
Fuel door would not open at gas station. Tried many times. Drove home. Put car in garage. Had to hit door with hand and pry open while releasing latch in car.
My 2015 Subaru Legacy has at different times (at idle in gear, coming up to a red light while moving, pulling into a parking lot or driving at 45 miles an hour) accereated on its own and would not slow down untill I put it in nuetral. I have to drive with my hand on the shifter at all times to put into nuetral. I…
Speed control
14 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 32,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Slowly pulling into a parking spot, when the car accelerated (unintended acceleration) into a brick wall. My passenger suffered 3 broken ribs from the seat belt, and I suffered whiplash, bruising from seat belt, and bruised knees. The air bags did not deploy. Subaru corp decided to do nothing, and suggested that I…
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Legacy. The contact made a right turn to turn into a parking lot, the vehicle accelerated and surged out of the parking space. The vehicle went over a concrete parking block, struck a guardrail, then crashed into the building behind it. Then the vehicle bounced back into the parking…
Brakes
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
After turning onto my inclined, somewhat long driveway, and applying a soft braking when entering my garage, the car suddenly sped up to a high speed and crashed into the wall which had two layers of plastic storage boxes in front of it. The boxes pushed the wall into my house which pushed my dining room hutch forward…
My vehicle was involved in an accident yesterday. While pulling in to a parking spot and almost completely stopped with my foot on the brake about to place the car in park, it suddenly accelerated. The result was a front end collision with the side of a restaurant and the air bags did not deploy. I'm grateful that…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Subaru Legacy recalls
Stability control: electronic stability control (esc)
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Transmission: driveshaft
Risk: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Driver assistance: crash imminent braking
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2015 Subaru Legacy
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Legacy?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (41 complaints, typically around 9,500 miles); electrical (37 complaints, typically around 12,000 miles); other or unspecified (28 complaints, typically around 15,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Legacy have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 27, 2016 (stability control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Subaru Legacy?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Legacy model year since 2000, with 160 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.