This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Subaru Legacy electrical problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 14 electrical complaints filed for the 2006 Subaru Legacy, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for 2026 model year vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20 with gen 4 Telematics.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Subaru service and technical support line newsletter provides information on the next phase of TechShare.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Subaru Legacy shows recurring electrical and sensor failures that create real safety hazards. Most common is throttle position sensor failure (codes P2138, P2318): the accelerator pedal suddenly goes limp during highway driving, leaving owners coasting across multiple lanes with a dead engine and no power steering. One owner lost power at 65 mph during rush-hour traffic; another had the pedal fail at highway speed with the engine revving to 2500 rpm on its own—requiring 5-6 restarts to regain control. Wet weather (rain, snow) seems to trigger these episodes more often. Dealers can't reliably fix it: one technician found the code but saw no connection issues and made no repairs.
Wiring harness failures are documented in the tailgate accordion boot area, killing rear defroster and wiper function. One owner found evidence of prior repairs on the same harness, suggesting chronic weakness. At higher mileage (133K), computer-system wiring reportedly melted, causing sudden power loss and stiff steering while driving.
One owner reported transmission stuck in Park with electrical shutdown and brake/ABS warning lights, recovering only after hours of rest. Two accident reports reference brake system failure (vehicle accelerating instead of slowing when brakes applied) and allege Subaru denied the issue despite brake-line recalls in other states.
Dealers have not issued recalls for these issues despite multiple complaints spanning years and model variants (Legacy and Outback).
Same Subaru Legacy electrical reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Throttle/Accelerator Position Sensor Failure (P2138 / P2318)
Electronic throttle control fails intermittently, causing sudden unresponsiveness of the accelerator pedal. Engine may lose power mid-drive or rev on its own to ~2500 RPM without driver input. Check Engine light illuminates. Occurs across all speeds and weather conditions but correlates with wet conditions (rain, snow) in some reports.
When: Random and sporadic, ranging from 3-4 times per week to 2-month intervals. Reported at various mileages including highway driving and low-speed conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal goes limp or completely unresponsive; Engine loses power without warning during driving; Check Engine light illuminates; Cruise control light blinks or becomes unresponsive; Engine revs to ~2500 RPM on its own in Park; Vehicle idles inappropriately after restart; Occurs in wet weather (rain, snow) in some cases
Codes mentioned: P2138, P2318
Repairs/costs cited: Owner in #8 planned to test throttle position sensor and accelerator pedal sensor seating and clean connectors. Dealer in #6 found P2138 code on record but no failure or connection issues found; no repairs made. Dealer in #9 suggested replacing gas pedal assembly but was not certain of cause.
Transmission Shift Interlock / Electrical Stall
Vehicle becomes stuck in Park with no electrical response to shift into Drive. Engine shuts down while idling without apparent cause. Brake and ABS warning lights illuminate. Electrical components intermittently stop functioning. Issue appears related to cold weather operation, though one incident occurred at 40 degrees with normal operation otherwise.
When: Winter conditions mentioned; one incident after ~15 minutes of idling while defroster was running
Symptoms owners cite: Stuck in Park, unable to shift to Drive; Brake warning light illuminates; ABS warning light illuminates; Engine shuts down while running/idling; Headlights go out during or after incident; Electrical components stop working; Vehicle recovers after extended rest (few hours)
Repairs/costs cited: Friend tested battery voltage and confirmed battery was not dead despite electrical shutdown.
Wiring Harness Failure—Tailgate / Hatch Area
Wiring harnesses in the accordion rubber boot connecting car body to tailgate/hatch fail and break, disabling rear window defroster and rear wiper systems. Previously owned vehicle in #10 showed evidence of prior wire repair. Multiple owners of 2005–2006 Subaru Legacy and Outback report identical failures.
When: Timing not specified; owner in #10 had 133K miles at time of discovery
Symptoms owners cite: Rear window defroster ceases functioning; Rear wiper not functioning; Reduced visibility in heavy rain due to non-functional rear wiper
Repairs/costs cited: Broken wire found in wiring harness in tailgate accordion boot. Previously owned vehicle had evidence of prior repair.
Melted Wiring Harness / Engine Power Loss
Wiring harness connecting computer systems melts, causing sudden loss of engine power and stiff steering while driving. AT oil temperature indicator illuminates before failure. ER-HC error code displayed. Dealer attributed cause to high mileage (133K miles) rather than defect.
When: At 133K miles
Symptoms owners cite: AT oil temperature indicator lights up; Sudden loss of engine power; Steering becomes stiff; ER-HC error code displayed on dash
Codes mentioned: ER-HC
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer found melted wiring harness connecting computer systems.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed issue to high mileage (133K miles)
Brake System Failure (Alleged)
Brake pedal becomes unresponsive during emergency braking; vehicle accelerates instead of decelerating. Two owners mention this in context of accidents and reference a recall related to brake lines in certain states. One owner suspects failure related to brake line corrosion recall.
When: Incident reports from 2007; no specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes unresponsive; Vehicle accelerates when brakes applied instead of slowing down
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru VP allegedly denied brake system issue and offered $500 credit toward new vehicle purchase instead of recall remedy
Engine Stall / Loss of Power While Driving
Vehicle stalls or loses power while in motion at various low to moderate speeds without warning. Engine continues to run but becomes unresponsive. Separate from throttle sensor failures; one report at 136K miles with no recall found.
When: At ~136K miles; random occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls at slow speeds without warning; Loss of power while driving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer confirmed no recall under VIN
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I continuously receive error p2138 on my 2006 Subaru legacy. This error is associated with throttle/pedal position sensor/switch. This appears to be a common error related to the sensor on the gas pedal or the throttle body for this make and model and other Subaru models around the same time frame. This issue causes the vehicle to loose power/ability of the gas pedal of the vehicle at unknown…
My 2006 Subaru outback ll bean has been cutting out on me while driving. One incident was on the highway at high speed. The gas pedal went limp and I had to navigate over 2 lanes of traffic to get to the shoulder. Gas pedal was completely unresponsive. Check engine light came on and the cruise control light began flashing. Every time this has happened it was either raining or snowing outside.…
Had electrical trouble with your 2006 Subaru Legacy?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2006 Subaru Legacy?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 82,000 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 116,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 82,000; a quarter make it past 140,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Subaru/Legacy.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.