Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 29% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2022 | 3 | 9% | 8,000 miles |
| 2021 | 5 | 16% | 60,000 miles |
| 2020 | 15 | 12% | 15,000 miles |
| 2019 | 35 | 28% | 1,000 miles |
| 2018 | 40 | 34% | 18,000 miles |
| 2017 | 30 | 25% | 54,000 miles |
| 2016 | 51 | 35% | 52,000 miles |
| 2015 | 37 | 23% | 12,000 miles |
| 2014 | 11 | 21% | 87,000 miles |
| 2013 | 6 | 9% | 98,000 miles |
| 2012 | 4 | 4% | 106,000 miles |
| 2011 | 19 | 11% | 60,000 miles |
| 2010 | 12 | 8% | 80,000 miles |
| 2009 | 4 | 6% | 120,000 miles |
| 2008 | 9 | 14% | 98,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 15% | 76,000 miles |
| 2006 | 17 | 20% | 100,000 miles |
| 2005 | 25 | 14% | 93,000 miles |
| 2004 | 1 | 2% | 149,000 miles |
| 2003 | 2 | 3% | 200,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 4% | 400,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2000 | 6 | 6% | 154,000 miles |
| 1999 | 2 | 2% | 109,000 miles |
| 1998 | 9 | 8% | 78,000 miles |
| 1997 | 17 | 12% | 97,000 miles |
| 1996 | 21 | 17% | 75,000 miles |
| 1995 | 20 | 11% | 22,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Infotainment system of car mutes iPhone telephone to person on other end of phone causing driver to need to pick up phone or interact with screen taking eyes off road. I reported to Subaru of America and was told this is happening in almost every 2024 Subaru. They paid for and provided headphones which causes me to need to use telephone navigation instead of built in to car CarPlay navigation. Subaru of America and Liberty Auto City Subaru of Libertyville IL refuse to service vehicle or fix car. Subaru of America Britt Senior Customer Advocate Specialist | [phone] | Dial Option 1 | Direct Ext 119143 Subaru of America, Inc. | One Subaru Drive | Camden, NJ 08103 tells me they will have a software fix in Fall of 2024. This is totally unacceptable and very dangerous safety issue.
Warning light on infotainment screen for Eyesight and Transmission Oil issues. Warning from MySubaru System via website. Warning on Infotainment screen while using CarPlay "There was a problem loading this content." Contacted Subaru of America Britt Senior Customer Service Advocate telling them dealer is not making appointment to fix car and no response. Car is clearly having electrical issues. On previous trip to dealerships service was told some cars seem to have issue near train lines and have sporadic electronic issues. Car has had hazard lights flash upon start up on several times. Subaru of America is not taking this seriously. In my honest opinion someone is going to be seriously hurt or killed because of SOA refusal to fix this issue with 2024 Legacy.
The contact leased a 2022 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that condensation was leaking onto her foot. While driving, water entered the vehicle and caused the rugs, radio, and amplifier to become wet. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that water had entered the vehicle, and the radio rugs and amplifier were replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.
The DCM/Telematics unit has now failed twice in this vehicle, despite already being completely replaced a first time. All remote app controls fail. Starlink call connection buttons are unresponsive despite the car being in a clear, unobstructed coverage area. The only indications of failure are attempts to send remote commands via the app and the lack of a green LED next to the Starlink buttons. This presents a safety issue because the system is not presenting an obvious sign of failure and critical items like "Automatic Collision Notification" and remote immobilization will fail by assumption due to the connection/electrical problems.
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds during colder weather, the heater failed to operate as intended. Additionally, the Eyesight system was inoperable. The check engine and other unknown warning lights were displayed. In addition, the contact stated that the engine failed to warm up as intended after being started, and the engine temperature was 107 F, which was below the normal engine temperature of 200 F. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the Thermal Control Valve needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 09-119-24; however, the vehicle was not repaired because the vehicle had a Salvaged Title. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Battery died completely, left me stranded at a gas station. I had to call and get a jump. I've had the car 9 weeks, it only has 690 miles on it. No warning lights prior, did notice a slightly longer crank a couple days prior. I was told by the dealer that I don't drive enough, and I should keep my key at least 30 feet away when the keys are in the house, because that can silently drain the battery. I had not left any lights on or had done anything to drain the battery prior to this occurring. I drove to the gas station with no problem, upon restarting after getting gas, no power, car was dead. I couldn't even move the shifter knob into neutral.
One hour into traveling on the highway smoke began to come from under the hood so we pulled off to the side of the road. Upon opening the hood, after the smoke cleared, a fire was observed. At that point the passengers exited the vehicle and called 911. There was no warning lights or sounds indicating any problems prior to this. The car burned very quickly and the firefighters extinguished the fire but not before the entire car was burned to ashes. The car is wrapped and in the possession of the insurance company pending investigation.
In a class action lawsuit filed against Subaru of America, it is alleged that several models have defective Controller Area Network (CAN) modules that cause premature battery drainage. New Jersey Judge [redacted] arbitrarily dismissed two models, Forester and Legacy, from the lawsuit even though they have the same problem because none of the plaintiffs owned either of those model vehicles. I own a 2020 Legacy that has stranded me and my wife on two separate occasions due to a low battery. Once the car died in the middle of a major intersection when I stopped to allow oncoming traffic to pass and the auto start/stop turned the car off. When I attempted to restart the car the battery was dead. This left me in a very unsafe condition. I had to exit my car, dodge traffic and physically move my car from the middle of the intersection. I have had my car inspected by a Subaru Service Dept. …
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019.
Electrical system › Software
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.
Electrical system
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical system
Odi has received 5,820 complaints concerning a variety of electrical system failures that result in the vehicle stalling.our complaint analysis indicates that the majority of these compaints are caused by alternator failure.in some instances, the vehicle is completely dead and will not restart.based on our investigation and the manufacturer's respomse, odi is closing this investigation because the manufacturer has…
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Legacy years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (51), 2018 (40), 2015 (37), 2019 (35) and 2017 (30) model years. Electrical complaints make up 35% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Subaru Legacy electrical problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 19V-297 (switch, Apr 11, 2019); 18V-773 (software, Nov 1, 2018); 16V-738 (electrical system, Oct 13, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Subaru Legacy electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles; 36% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the alternator/generator/regulator (23 mentions), followed by the ignition (12).
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.