2011 Subaru Legacy Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

22Engine complaints

13.2%Of all 167 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN44 · 26.3%

AIR BAGS25 · 15%

ENGINE22 · 13.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18 · 10.8%

Unspecified / other18 · 10.8%

Share of the 167 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Subaru Legacy overview page.

What owners report

“VERY ROUTINELY WHEN COMING TO A STOP FROM THE CAR MOVING WHEN YOU DECREASE YOUR SPEED WHEN STOPPING FOR A LIGHT, TRAFFIC, OR ANYTHING THAT…”NHTSA complaint 11174622 — filed 02/05/2019

“WHEN CAR IS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN IT STALLS AND DIES ON ME AND I HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND START…”NHTSA complaint 11165890 — filed 01/08/2019

“MY CAR HESITATES AND TURNS OFF SOMETIMES WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP OR RED LIGHT, RPMS FLUCTUATE AS I BRAKE OR ACCELERATE, MY BRAKE…”NHTSA complaint 11128791 — filed 09/11/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Subaru Legacy have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Subaru Legacy: 22 of 167 complaints on file (13.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Subaru Legacy have in total?

167 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 7 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 3 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.