Subaru Legacy problems
0 safety recalls. 87 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
TAPPED BRAKE PEDAL TO DISABLE CRUISE CONTROL. NO THROTTLE CONTROL WHEN RESUMING MANUAL SPEED CONTROL. COASTED TO A STOP THROUGH MULTIPLE LANES OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC. ENGINE KEPT RUNNING POSSIBLY AT RAISE IDLE SPEED WHEN STOPPED. NO LOSS OF POWER STEERING OR BRAKES.TURNED KEY OFF.…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE…
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY SON (9) DURING THE EVENING OF 12/16/14 ON SIDE ROADS LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. I WAS GOING 15-20 MPH. NIGHT WAS DRY AND CLEAR. SUDDENLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON STEADY, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO ACCELERATION! I…
VEHICLE FAILED TO SUSTAIN HIGHWAY SPEED ALTHOUGH PEDAL WAS PRESSED STEADILY AND THEN VARIABLY TO REGAIN THROTTLE CONTROL. VEHICLE STALLED ON FREEWAY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MECHANIC TEST SHOW ERROR CODE P2138. REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR SWITCH ASSEMBLY TO…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2006 Subaru Legacy reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 87 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Subaru Legacy is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
What's the most common problem on the 2006 Subaru Legacy?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is cruise control, with 21 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The cruise control is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Subaru Legacy has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Subaru Legacy?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 87 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $600, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.