MY SUBARU LEGACY HAS BEEN RECENTLY STALLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT SHUDDERS AND IF YOU DO NOT GIVE IT GAS OR PLACE IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE WILL DIE. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS CAUSED FROM A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER THAT SUBARU IS AWARE OF BUT HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL. I'M NOT SURE I WOULD BUY ANOTHER PRODUCT THAT ISN'T FULLY BACKED AND SUPPORTED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
2012 subaru Legacy powertrain problems
moderate 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR SHUDDERS AND MAY STALL. THIS IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC IF I'M TURNING LEFT AND THE CAR STALLS AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON A BUSY CITY STREET IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
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 collision. This is a known issue documented by Subaru of America in Technical Service Bulletin 16-90-13R, applicable to 2…
SQUEEL AND JERKKING. SEE SERVICE BULLETIN AND EXTENDED WARRANTIES. TSB 16-90-13R; CAR IS OUTSIDE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THIS IS A VEHICLE DEFECT THAT SHOULD COVERED AND RECALLED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE …
TAKARA RECALL MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 5TH TO 6TH GEAR I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANUFACTURER ABOUT BUT BECAUSE MY CAR IS PAST THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT DID FOR THE ISSUE AND DID NOT INFORM ME I FOUND OUT AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR IT SUBARU JUST INFORMED ME THAT IF I WANT IT DONE I HAVE TO $5000 DOLLARS TO GET IT REPLACED BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE DEADLINE BEFOREHAND BUT COULD NOT CONFIRM…
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. On 10/19/22 My mechanic drove my car & it shuddered & stalled at intersections for him also. I did not feel comfortabl…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF SMITH-CAIRNS (900 CENTRAL PARK AVE, YONKERS, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTI…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU LEGACY. WHEN APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION. THE CONTACT CA…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 subaru Legacy?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 32 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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