This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Subaru Legacy powertrain problems
severe 45 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
45
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 45 powertrain complaints filed for the 2010 Subaru Legacy, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Powertrain accounts for 30% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 45 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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 has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the availability of a countermeasure torque converter assembly to address a customer concern of very low engine RPM when coming to a stop.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin provides an updated diagnostic flow along with an IMPORTANT caution to follow for certain CVT solenoid related DTCs as listed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2010 Subaru Legacies describe a dominant transmission issue centered on the CVT torque converter. Most complaints involve stalling or engine shutdown during braking, particularly hard stops—the car shudders, loses power steering and ABS, and cuts off mid-traffic. Owners report having to shift to Neutral to restart and restart again, a workaround many cite as the only way to prevent stalling. The problem manifests inconsistently (sometimes multiple times per stop, sometimes not for weeks) but worsens in cold temperatures and becomes more frequent as mileage climbs past 85,000–105,000 miles.
Several owners also describe hesitation and a 2–3 second delay when accelerating after stops or at low speed, followed by a lurch forward. A few report grinding noises during gear changes or rough downshifting that feels like a manual transmission clutch slip.
One owner reported a catastrophic engine failure with a broken connecting rod and only 1/2 quart of contaminated oil found in the pan, attributed to oil burn-off. Another described intermittent transmission valve body failure requiring multiple dealership visits. One owner's vehicle dropped RPM and stumbled during reverse maneuvers.
Subaru issued TSBs (16-90-13R, 16-103-16R, 16-102-16, 16-104-17) and an extended CVT warranty to 105,000 miles in 2017, but owners report never receiving recall notifications. Dealers have confirmed torque converter replacement as the fix, typically quoted between $1,770 and $7,000. Many owners were refused coverage once outside the extended warranty window, even after Subaru's awareness of the defect became clear.
Same Subaru Legacy powertrain reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Torque converter lockup and stalling at stops
CVT torque converter fails to release smoothly during hard braking, causing engine to stall or shut down. Most commonly occurs when coming to abrupt stops, stop signs, or traffic lights. Vehicle shudders beforehand. Driver loses power steering and ABS. Vehicle must be shifted to Neutral and restarted.
When: 85,000–179,000 miles; worsens in cold temperatures and as vehicle ages
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls or shuts off during hard braking; Vehicle shudders before stalling; Loss of power steering and ABS during stall; No warning lights or diagnostic codes displayed; Intermittent; sometimes every stop, sometimes weeks without occurrence; Stalling happens more frequently in cold weather and with harder stops
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replacement; quoted $1,770 to $7,000 depending on dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued TSB 16-90-13R and extended CVT transmission warranty to 105,000 miles (June 2017). Extended warranty did not cover torque converter separately. Owners report Subaru refused coverage if vehicle exceeded warranty mileage. Some owners received partial assistance ($2,500 of $7,000 repair). Service bulletins were not proactively communicated to owners; dealers did not mention the known issue during routine maintenance visits.
Hesitation and delay during acceleration after stops
Vehicle hesitates or delays 2–3 seconds when accelerating from a stop or at low speed, then lurches forward suddenly. Some owners report this begins around the same time as stalling issues.
When: 88,000–120,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: 2–3 second hesitation or delay upon acceleration after stops; Vehicle jets or lurches forward after delay; Occurs at speeds between 15–35 MPH, particularly at traffic lights turning green; Sometimes accompanied by a screeching noise; Dash lights may illuminate (cruise control, stability control, brake lights) but no stored diagnostic codes
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer claimed this is a 'function of the transmission' and refused repair. One owner visited dealership 22 times for the same issue without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers described as unable to assist or unwilling to repair. One owner reported Subaru tech line was consulted but no solution offered despite the issue being reproducible.
Transmission valve body failure
Transmission valve body malfunctions causing multiple warning lights to illuminate and repeated failures even after repair.
When: Around 115,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Emergency brake warning light, traction control, oil pressure warning, and cruise control warning lights all illuminate simultaneously; Vehicle becomes undrivable; Failure reoccurs within a week of repair; Check engine light illuminates after dealer diagnostics
Repairs/costs cited: Initial repair diagnosed as transmission valve body failure. Failure reoccurred. Second visit diagnosed 'unknown electrical failure.' Third visit dealer advised disconnecting battery for 5 minutes. Independent mechanic replaced gas cap; problem persisted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but did not provide assistance.
Engine oil burn-off and connecting rod failure
Engine loses oil rapidly, contaminating remaining oil with metal debris, leading to broken connecting rod and engine running on fewer than all cylinders.
When: 1,328 miles overdue for scheduled oil change at 115,437 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly shuts down while driving at highway speed (55 MPH); Unable to restart; No oil or only 1/2 quart found on dipstick at dealership; Oil contaminated with metal chunks; Engine only running on 3 of 4 cylinders; Right front headlight assembly with water intrusion
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru service center recommended engine replacement. Owner cited oil seepage and transmission issues in related NHTSA IDs (10133527, 10140479, 10037247, 10140477).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related TSBs issued (16-90-13R, 16-103-16R, 16-102-16, 16-104-17). Owner never received warranty extension notifications and dealer never mentioned known oil leaks or transmission issues during maintenance visits despite regular service history.
Rough downshifting and transmission noise
Transmission produces grinding or screeching noises during downshifts or gear changes. Vehicle may chatter, vibrate, or feel like manual transmission with clutch not depressed.
When: 67,381–89,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rough or hard downshifting as vehicle comes to stop; Vibration or clunking sensation resembling manual transmission clutch slip; Grinding noise when attempting to downshift or upshift; Chatter and vibration more pronounced when turning wheels and depressing brakes; Screeching noise during gear changes; Vehicle stutters frequently
Repairs/costs cited: One owner required new transmission. Another owner had transmission replaced twice and problem recurred both times.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers identified need for transmission replacement but no further assistance described in narratives.
Random engine revving while parked
Engine suddenly revs to red line without operator input while vehicle is in Reverse with clutch fully depressed (manual transmission).
When: After approximately 100 miles of driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly begins to rev without warning; Tachometer goes to red line; Vehicle in Reverse with clutch fully in and no accelerator input; No recurrence after turning off engine
Synthesized from 45 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
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 the car then thrusts itself when the accelerator actually responds. *tr
My car stalls when I come to a stop. It is an automatic CVT car. He happens all the time. Could cause an accident when I stop and then accelerate. *tr
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 vehicle has a hard time reengaging into drive after coming to a complete stop. I assume it is the CVT transmission or the…
While driving the car, it frequently jolts, makes a screeching noise and it is scary because it also feels as though it may simply turn off. I have contacted the dealership from which I purchased the vehicle and I was informed that Subaru is aware of the issue and that they would likely take care of repairing the transmission ($7,000). However, Subaru has contacted me with the offer to pay only…
Issue: when slowing down and then during final braking (such as at a stop sign or traffic light and also when applying the brakes to avoid a dangerous situation at speed on the highway) the car will "shudder" and then the engine will stall and stop running. This is particularly dangerous in traffic if it is necessary to get off the road. The car was brought to brewster, ny Subaru (845 278 8300)…
On night of november 8, 2018 vehicle was on the highway going approximately 55 miles per hour when the vehicle suddenly shut down and was unable to restart. Vehicle towed to Subaru service center who advised "no oil shown on dipstick, drained oil found only about 1/2 quart in engine, oil was contaminated with chunks of metal, added oil and started engine, verified engine had a broken connecting…
Torque Converter failure - car stalls/shuts off when braking hard. This is a huge safety hazard. Car has 114,852 miles on it and was just recently purchased from a private owner. There should have been a recall for these vehicles from Subaru.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2010 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 powertrain problem on the 2010 Subaru Legacy?
It's a meaningful issue. 45 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 36 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 88,000 and 145,000 miles, with the median around 114,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 88,000; a quarter make it past 145,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2010/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.