2015 Subaru Legacy problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (36) · Electrical System (17) · Vehicle Speed Control (13)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Legacy model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
104 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2016-04-27 · campaign 16V251000 · 766 vehicles
Defect: 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."
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.
Power Train:driveline:driveshaft 2015-08-10 · campaign 15V502000 · 2,893 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking 2015-06-12 · campaign 15V366000 · 71,710 vehicles
Defect: 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,
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.
Service bulletins (527)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Electrical System 2026-09-18 · 18-244-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"this bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following dtcs: dtc c1956: rh actuator circuit dtc c1957: lh actuator circuit"
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Electrical System 2026-09-14 · 15-304-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of infotainment concerns. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 527 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-05 · Unknown Or Other“my 201 5 subaru legacy has approximately 49.000 miles. it suffered a drivetrain failure and was towed to a subaru dealership. the dealership found metal shavings chunks in the cvt/transmission fluid and diagnosed an internal cvt failure requiring replacement. the dealership also diagnosed a front differential failure. i'm reporting this because i'm…”
2026-03-10 · Power Train“2015 subaru legacy 2.5i, approximately 48,000 miles. cvt transmission failed suddenly with no prior warning signs. vehicle was exclusively dealer-serviced for its entire life. while driving, the transmission began shuddering, slipping, and making metallic grinding noises. vehicle could barely climb a small ramp and was locked in limp mode, making i…”
2026-02-27 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 💥 crash“i am reporting a sudden unintended deceleration event in my subaru. the vehicle grinded to a halt without driver input. the car stopped in the left lane of a major highway. we put on our hazards and called the state police for help. they were unable to get to us in time. we were hit from the rear. the car's failure created a stationary hazard…”
2026-01-31 · Unknown Or Other“incident ~ 5:40 pm, geneva ny weather ~ 10 f, not snowing. background. on or shortly after being started, the vehicle had exhibited prior incidents of extremely rapid engine acceleration not initiated by the operator. most recently the day before. the incident: i was in the process of very slowly parking the vehicle in a narrow laneway, and posit…”
2024-11-21 · Air Bags · 135,000 mi“the contact owns a 2015 subaru legacy. the contact stated while reversing into the driveway, the driver's side air bag unintendedly deployed. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. the vehicle was scheduled to be towed to the local dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the contact was …”
2024-09-23 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 175,000 mi“the contact owned a 2015 subaru legacy. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact opened and closed the trunk, triggering the alarm system. the alarm system failed to deactivate immediately. the vehicle then failed to restart as needed, and the "shift to park" message was displayed while the transmission was in park(p). the …”
2024-09-10 · Fuel/Propulsion System“2015 subaru legacy 2.5 engine. fuel gauge is inaccurate. my daughter was on the highway when it ran out of fuel. had car towed to a independent shop. they said that the fuel gauges is a problem for subaru 's and that they had seen it before on other subaru's.…”
2024-06-27 · Visibility · 76,000 mi“the contact owns a 2015 subaru legacy. the contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off on two occasions, the contact observed three cracks in the top-middle of the windshield that led to an 's' shape crack in the middle of the windshield. the vehicle was taken to an auto body and glass shop where it was diagnosed that the lament had pulled…”
2024-05-29 · Vehicle Speed Control · 💥 crash“subaru sudden acceleration – garage accident [xxx] [xxx] – before noon, wet, rainy day: [xxx] returning from grocery shopping - car suddenly accelerated from near stop as she was about to enter garage, the car hit the garage brick wall. when she put her foot on the brake, the car suddenly accelerated. i have security video showing this sudden acc…”
2024-04-15 · Unknown Or Other“took it for inspection was told the part that holds the engine up is rotting away and it will not pass inspection next year this is disappointing i have cars older then this and they are in better condition this vehicle was brought brand new this should not occur i could understand if it was old this car is only 8yrs old i have pics to support …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.