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ProblemsByVinFile / 2010-SUBARU-LEGACYNHTSA data synced 4 days ago
2010 · Subaru
Subaru Legacy problems
1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 150 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
Reliability score
6.6 / 10
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
1
Critical
2
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2010 Legacy?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Powertrain: 45 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 88,000–145,000 mi
Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average
3 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2010 Legacy· airbags
Passenger air bag light indicating air bag is off when a 5'4'' 112 pound adult female is in the seat. The indication light will sometimes flicker from off to on but mainly remains off for the duration of the drive regardless of the speed as well as when the car is in park. This…
My 2010 Subaru legacy 3.6r has a very noticeable delay when attempting to accelerate the vehicle after a rolling stop. This is very common in everyday traffic, heading towards a red light that turns green, as well as with speed bumps. There is almost a full 2 second delay and…
Vehicle will shudder and stall when coming to a stop most often in the uphill position, it will also stall when coming to a stop after braking hard. This problem is avoided if you place the car in neutral but that is the only way. Engine idle will drop drastically and the…
Had a problem with your 2010 Subaru Legacy?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
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Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-18.
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 outback and legacy passenger vehicles manufactured from february 16, 2009 through april 12, 2010
Possible circuits affected are the driver's frontal airbag, paddle shifter function, cruise control, horn control and radio functions increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will check lot number of the steering roll connector. The roll connector will be replaced with a new one if the lot number showed any affected range of the failure occurrence. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on july 7, 2010. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 outback and legacy passenger vehicles manufactured from july 31 through december 1, 2009
If the fluid is completely leaked during driving, the vehicle will come to a stop, possibly resulting in a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners and dealers will replace any affected cooler hoses free of charge. The safety recall began on june 8, 2010. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-subaru3 (1-800-782-2783).
Common questions
Is the 2010 Subaru Legacy reliable?
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 150 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Subaru Legacy has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2010 Subaru Legacy?
The 2010 Subaru Legacy is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Powertrain: 45 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 88,000–145,000 mi; Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2010 Subaru Legacy?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 45 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 109,497 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 81,333 miles. 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 2010 Subaru Legacy?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 150 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, 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 are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Subaru/Legacy.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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