Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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 while driving 35 MPH and coming to a stop, the vehicle shuddered and shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. The contact's husband, an independent mechanic, replaced the spark plugs, ignition coils, and fuel filter; however, the failure reoccurred several times while driving. Upon investigation, the contact became aware of Subaru Technical Service Bulletin Number: 16-90-13R for transmission failure. An unknown dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not eligible for the Technical Service Bulletin repair due to the mileage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
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. …
Faulty torque converter. The car will unexpectedly turn off when coming to a fast, sudden stop. The 1st time it happened, I was in a left-hand turn lane and didn't realize my car had turned off and I had to quickly restart it to complete the turn. A transmission repair shop confirmed that the torque converter and valve body would need to be replaced. No warning lights, messages or other symptoms appeared before the incident. There is a safety bulletin from Subaru on this issue but because my car has a salvage title, it would need to escalate to a recall in order for Subaru to complete the repair free of charge
CVT transmission issues persist beyond the limited warranty extension that has now expired from Subaru. Vehicle RPMs regularly drop from 1000 to 500 when coming to a stop, causing engine to knock as it tries to stall. Vehicle then occasionally hesitates when attempting to move under power. Knocking and near stalling occasionally results in a sensation of vehicle being hit from behind while stopped with vehicle in drive and brakes applied.
The vehicle will on occasion stall when coming to a complete stop. It is a known issue that has a service bulletin. Has something to do with the internals of the torque converter failing. Depending on where the vehicle stalls this could create a serious safety concern. Happens more when the vehicle is cold.
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 …
I bought this care a few years ago and from day one if ever in traffic or on highway and have to stop really quickly, it will cause the car to stall,, I had no idea what was wrong I loved the car and just avoided stoping abruptly , but as I have learned over the years this is impossible, a car must be able to stop, its life or death serious... To many time to count my 2012 Subaru Legacy has stalled,,, come to find out Subaru is fully aware of this issue and has avoided a recall,,, thing is I am a father so for years I have been driving a car that has this dangerous defect,, very alarming,,, so I contacted Subaru directly and because there is not a recall ,, they just gave me the run around,, this problem with the torque converter is widely known,,, this has lead me to filing this report,,, thing is if Subaru doesn't want to do a recall at least fix the ones that are brought to your …
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. …
Transmission complaints in other Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2012 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2012 Subaru Legacy, 38% of the model year's 90 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › torque converter (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Subaru Legacy transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain 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 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 112,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.