2012 SUBARU LEGACY Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Subaru Legacy. This model year has 89 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2012 Subaru Legacy Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Engine Problems
Uncategorized Issues
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Subaru Legacy. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 34 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 23 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 11 | 4 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Subaru Legacy. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 89 most recent complaints
Engine failed 3 cyclinders blew, car would not start, was able to drive car into parking lot (Einstein Bagels)before failure, otherwise could have been reared ended, as was in heavy traffic on westbound Dundee Road, in Palatine IL. Parking lot was near Dundee and Rand Road inters…
My 2012 Subaru Legacy experiences involuntary engine stalling when coming to a quick stop, such as in stop-and-go traffic or during sudden braking at intersections. When the engine shuts off without warning, power steering and braking assist are lost, creating a serious risk of c…
Brakes malfunctioned and car spun out and hit deer
Vehicle: 2012 Subaru Legacy VIN: [XXX] Owner Location: Syracuse, NY (salt-belt state) Dealer: Romano Subaru (Syracuse, NY) Dealer Findings / Estimate: “Urgent Work — Subframe with sway links — $3,119.89” (front subframe replacement required), plus alignment and related items; to…
The brake lines of my vehicle were corroded and started leaking brake fluid. The brakes no longer work and started failing when I was driving up a hill. Luckily there was no accident, however, not having functioning breaks is an obvious safety concern. An independent service cen…
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact parked and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was slow to accelerate. After refueling, the fuel dissipated. There were no warning lights illuminated. T…
The front subframe and engine cradle broke while driving (corrosion). Car began swaying and brakes were affected. Car pulled hard to the right when applying minor pressure to brakes on highway immediately after hearing the part break. The car only has 110,000 miles on it and acc…
CVT transmission issues persist beyond the limited warranty extension that has now expired from Subaru. Vehicle RPMs regularly drop from 1000 to 500 when coming to a stop, causing engine to knock as it tries to stall. Vehicle then occasionally hesitates when attempting to move …
Faulty torque converter. The car will unexpectedly turn off when coming to a fast, sudden stop. The 1st time it happened, I was in a left-hand turn lane and didn't realize my car had turned off and I had to quickly restart it to complete the turn. A transmission repair shop confi…
The vehicle will on occasion stall when coming to a complete stop. It is a known issue that has a service bulletin. Has something to do with the internals of the torque converter failing. Depending on where the vehicle stalls this could create a serious safety concern. Happens mo…
Please see ODI#11486236 & request # 562681 “ part 1” I wrote complaining about a 2012 Subaru Legacy Torque Converter issue. It was “ out of warranty 7/31/22 or 100k miles. At the time it started stalling it was at 103k miles in August 2022! I did not feel comfortable driving it…
In August & September 2022 , 4 times I was stopping at stop signs & red lights and my car shuttered & stalled. No warning lights showed on the dashboard. I contacted my mechanic & he said he was aware of this issue on certain Subarus, possibly a Torque Converter defect but though…
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and coming to a stop, the vehicle shuddered and shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. The contact’s husband, an independen…
Car stalls when coming to a stop. This is a known problem with an active tsb but Subaru will not support repairs. This is dangerous when engine quits unexpectedly
A lot of the times when I am driving the car, it starts stallings until it turns off every time I try to stop. Sometimes when I am driving with my family I am afraid someone will hit my car, because it turn off. When im on freeways and alot of traffic jams im afraid because i h…
Contacting Subaru going on 4 years to get airbag recall completed. Subaru has Persistently promised to call back to set appointment BUT NEVER CALLS. Just did 2 chats again today both MYSTERIOUSLY disconnected AS USUAL. Please record for legal purposes my absolute frustration a…
KEEP HAVING TO REPLACE LOW BEAM LIGHT BULB EVERY FEW WEEKS. UNSAFE FOR MY TEENAGE DRIVER TO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT LIGHTING TO SEE THE ROAD.
FIRST TIME CAR STALLED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CAR (SUBARU LEGACY 2012) HAD 140K MILES ON IT. WENT TO A SUBARU DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT THERE FOR THIS MODEL WHICH CAPS THE MILEAGE FOR FREE REPAIR AT 100K MILES. AFTER 30 MILE…
CAR IS SOMETIMES EXPERIENCING SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT SLOW SPEEDS. EVEN WITH DRIVER'S FOOT FIRMLY PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE, CAR WILL NOT STOP UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THERE HAVE BEEN 2 RECENT, SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES: #1: CAR TURNED RIGHT TO A STOP SIGN ON A SEMI…
GOT MY SUBARU AT A CERTIFIED DEALER AND THEY DID ALL THE AIRBAG RECALLS GOOD 😁 AND THANK YOU BUT I BEEN DRIVING IT TO AND FROM WORK NO BIG DEAL 35 MILE ROUND TRIP BUT NOTICED IT WAS HARD STARTING LIKE NO FUEL OR SPARK SO WHEN IT WAS DUE FOR INSPECTION I TOLD THEM TO CHANG…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Subaru Legacy.
Recalls for 2012 Subaru Legacy
16 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Subaru Legacy. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2012 Subaru Legacy — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Subaru Legacy reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2012 Subaru Legacy has 89 NHTSA owner complaints, 7 crash-related, and 16 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (34 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Subaru Legacy?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (34 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (23 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (11 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Subaru Legacy?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2012 Subaru Legacy?▾
The 2012 Subaru Legacy has 7 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 89 total NHTSA complaints. 7 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2012 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?▾
Yes — 16 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Subaru Legacy. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2012 Subaru Legacy?▾
The 2012 Subaru Legacy has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Subaru Legacy reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2012 Subaru Legacy
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.