Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Subaru Legacy owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact parked and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was slow to accelerate. After refueling, the fuel dissipated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the throttle body and valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
In August & September 2022 , 4 times I was stopping at stop signs & red lights and my car shuttered & stalled. No warning lights showed on the dashboard. I contacted my mechanic & he said he was aware of this issue on certain Subarus, possibly a Torque Converter defect but thought there was an extended warranty & I should look into it. My car was purchased 7/30/12 & had 103,000 miles on it when this issue started in August. I wrote to Subaru of America explaining the problem. They told me that my car was out of the "warranty" since it expired at 100,000 miles OR on 7/31/22. They said I'd need to take my car to a Dealer & have them diagnose the car, & if it was this issue then it would be reviewed to see if they would offer any "good will assistance". After reading many blogs I'm noticing many Subaru owners complaining of similar dangerous stalls. …
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 comfortable driving it 25 miles to a Subaru dealer to have them check it, diagnose it & repair it. My mechanic replaced the Torque Converter as well as the appropriate fluids. It cost about $1500 for parts & labor. Since this is a FAULTY part installed prior to purchase I feel Subaru needs to recall all these vehicles affected. …
A lot of the times when I am driving the car, it starts stallings until it turns off every time I try to stop. Sometimes when I am driving with my family I am afraid someone will hit my car, because it turn off. When im on freeways and alot of traffic jams im afraid because i have to stop alot and it turns off i have to always check behind so no one hits me. So please help on makeing this a recal, i see alot of people are having the same problems not just me. This can cause a bad accident so please do t wait for this to happen.
Engine failed 3 cyclinders blew, car would not start, was able to drive car into parking lot (Einstein Bagels)before failure, otherwise could have been reared ended, as was in heavy traffic on westbound Dundee Road, in Palatine IL. Parking lot was near Dundee and Rand Road intersection
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 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles with CVT transmissions. Subaru attributes the condition to excessive thrust washer wear inside the torque converter, which prevents proper release of lock-up clutch pressure. Subaru describes the condition as similar to stopping a manual transmission vehicle without depressing the clutch, which inherently results in engine stalling. …
Got my Subaru at a certified dealer and they did all the airbag recalls good 😁 and thank you but I been driving it to and from work no big deal 35 mile round trip but noticed it was hard starting like no fuel or spark so when it was due for inspection I told them to change the plugs at 59K miles they did and drove it for a month or two and notice a winding noise and shimmy and when stoped at a red light it almost stalled out light when very dim and came back on and I've notice over a week it's been loosing power like the tahoe I had that the torque converter was going so I called the nearest dealer and asked about the transmission and they looked at it and said it passed all of Subaru testing and just drive it and asked what about the shimmy when driving and shifting gears they said engine lope and just drive it till it shows a light or fails it's under warranty till 100K miles …
The torque converter of my car is not shutting off properly, causing the vehicle to stall periodically. The car has stalled while I am in the middle of making a turn, causing the wheel to lock up, and it has stalled while I am on the highway. This car is no longer safe to drive, and the repairs cost $2,200. My car is over 100,000 miles so the warranty will no longer cover these repairs. I have attempted to contact Subaru via their website to address the issue, but have yet to get a response. For now, my car is at the Subaru dealership and I am forced to rely on friends and family for transportation. I know that this is an ongoing issue with the 2012 Subaru Legacy vehicles, and it is absolutely ridiculous that the company is not offering a recall on this part. …
Engine stalls after abrupt stop. For example, I was on post road in westport connecticut and slowed down from 25mph+ very quickly with a hard brake. The engine immediately stalled and all lights on the dashboard were activated. Restarting the car allowed me to proceed. This issue also occurred on a highway (the meritt parkway) several weeks ago. This problem is consistently reproducible and has happened 10+ times. Subaru has acknowledged the issue (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jensen/2017/07/07/facing-complaints-Subaru-offers-extended-warranties-on-1-5-million-vehicles/#6e78473e79dc) and "extended" my warranty up to 100K, but my car currently has 106K miles. I brought the car to hank May's in norwalk, but they were unable to find a cause for the issue. I have reached out to Subaru concurrently with this report. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Subaru Legacy. While driving various speeds, the check engine, cruise control, brake, and traction control warning indicators illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to Subaru of dayton (995 miamisburg centerville rd, washington township, oh 45459) multiple times. The dealer diagnosed that the oil fuel cap was loose and the oxygen and an unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown. VIN is invalid. Manufacturer has been notified and suggested buying a new car. Consumer stated dealership says oxygen sensors are vending correctly following month dealership stated sensors are bad. Dealership does not know what is wrong with the vehicle.
Engine complaints in other Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2012 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2012 Subaru Legacy, 26% of the model year's 90 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Subaru Legacy engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2012 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 2012 Subaru Legacy engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 93,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
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.