Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Subaru Legacy owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
An issue has surfaced with my car that it turns off while driving. Obviously this is a serious safety hazard and likely to result in an accident. Now that it has happened, it is continuing and frequently happening. I reached out to Subaru as I saw there was a recall for my car's make and model that is causing the same issue. The issue is listed as NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V297000, described as "The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. " and affecting many Subarus, including the 2011 legacy. I believe my car is impacted given the behavior it is exhibiting. When I reached out to Subaru, they dismissed it saying it did not apply to my car and they were not willing to investigate. I believe this poses a grave risk to many people given that it will cause an accident and the severity of the defect.
01/07/2016 shortly after taking the freeway exit wife noticed the battery light turned on and power steering got heavy. All other warning light on the dash started to flicker as the passenger compartment quickly filled with smoke. She then pulled over and had just enough time to get both kids out before the entire car was engulfed in flames. Fire originated from under the hood of her 2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6r limited. The vehicle was a total loss.
For the past 2 months my Subaru Legacy has been stalling and losing power when I roll to a stop and/or when suddenly braking. Almost got rear ended by semi truck on the freeway and multiple times at stop lights in foggy situations. Subaru dealership said if it was an annoyance I should bring it in. Almost dying in a Subaru with my daughters is more than an annoyance. Dealership has known about it but performed a throttle body service, which was futile. Online forums suggest a faulty torque converter and a service#16-90-30. Quotes for replacing it are around $2000. Subaru knows it is due to faulty design of torque converter...this should be recalled. I used to love subarus and this car, I am now forced to take a loss financially and buy a safer car. Completely unsafe.
Car continues to stall when reducing speed. Occurs mostly at traffic lights and stop signs; however, has occurred when slowing for traffic. Car has completed all scheduled maintenance and oil changes as required. Initially told to service air flow sensor and have inspected for vacuum leak. Vehicle service did not resolve stalling. Service bulletin 16-90-13 shows Subaru knows the torque converter to be faulty on these vehicles, causing the vehicle to stall under these exact conditions. This is creating a safety concern on these vehicles for the potential to be rear ended due to stalling when attempting to slow vehicle. Safety recall should be issued and torque converter should be replaced by Subaru due to faulty design.
Tl* the contact called on behalf of her daughter who owns a 2011 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the vehicle sputtered while slowing down to come to a complete stop. The vehicle loss motive power before coming to a stop. The vehicle was restarted. The contact took the vehicle to first team Subaru norfolk (6633 e virginia beach blvd, norfolk, va 23502, [phone]) however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The mechanic suggested that fuel additive should be added to the fuel to provide a temporary fix. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
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 would require a quick stop, the car will stall out as your speed is less than 10-20 MPH and you loose control of the steering, brakes. Ect. This is a huge safety issue and needs to be addressed by Subaru immediately. This can occur on any street, highway and will do this while turning as well. This happens daily in my commute and is a danger to myself and others. It occurs when coming to a stop from a moving position.
When driving at a high speed on the highway and then coming to an abrupt stop the car stalled. The car is an automatic. Apparently Subaru distributed a bulletin noting that this was common in Legacy and outback models made before 2013 (see attached) and is due to a torque converter problem. This seems dangerous as it can happen while driving on the highway with other cars moving at high speeds. Apparently this is over $1500 to fix, but I believe Subaru should cover some if not all of the cost. The car is not under warranty and has 147K miles.
Engine idle RPM is unstable. (+ / - 500 RPM) engine stalled many times (6 or 7) without reason and in dangerous situation as turning in the intersection or crossing rail roads, when stopping or slowing down. I went twice in Subaru service. At first they replaced the "torque converter" and proceeded with some adjustments in the engine. Second time they "re-programmed" the computer. As of today I am getting same issue without help from Subaru service. They advised to file a claim and eventually sue the company.
Whenever the brake is pressed hard to a complete stop, the car stalls and all electrical shut off. It doesnt seem to happen when you brake very slow before coming to a full stop. But if you brake slowly and then pressed the pedal full, the problem will occur. This can cause panic and also delay on cars running behind the car. It appears this is similar problem reported under 10395739. I also found a number of similarly reported problems online with Subaru cars.
The car is just shy of 8 years old. The transmission failed causing the car to suddenly stop, shut off and lose power steering while traveling down the road. Currently the engine is leaking exhaust from the engine compartment that can be smelled in the passenger compartment. It is also leaking hot oil from the cylinder head onto the lower exhaust and leaking hot coolant from the radiator. The exhaust and fluid leaks occur when stationary or in motion.
Engine complaints in other Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2011 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2011 Subaru Legacy, 17% of the model year's 167 complaints. The component named most often is engine (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Subaru Legacy engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2011 Subaru Legacy, though it has 16 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Subaru Legacy engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.