Wheel & Tire complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2019 | 2 | 2% | 10,000 miles |
| 2018 | 3 | 3% | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 3% | 10,000 miles |
| 2016 | 4 | 3% | 37,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% | 55,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 2% | 49,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% | 18,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% | 28,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 3% | 58,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 6% | 30,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 6% | 61,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 2% | 55,000 miles |
| 2005 | 12 | 7% | 60,000 miles |
| 2004 | 1 | 2% | 81,000 miles |
| 2003 | 5 | 8% | 107,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 9% | 40,000 miles |
| 2001 | 11 | 14% | 100,000 miles |
| 2000 | 18 | 19% | 136,000 miles |
| 1999 | 7 | 7% | 75,000 miles |
| 1998 | 8 | 7% | 150,000 miles |
| 1997 | 4 | 3% | 226,000 miles |
| 1996 | 3 | 2% | — |
| 1995 | 9 | 5% | 201,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
P225 / 50 R 18 On 8/28/2021, I noticed my front drivers tired looked weird. Upon inspection, it looked like dry rot. I do have a picture of the tire. I immediately went to Tire Kingdom and purchased a set of of 4 new tires. Tire Kingdom confirmed that the tire looked defective. Still plenty of tread, but the side was separating causing it to not be safe. There was no warning on the car system as the tire had not yet completely separated.
I front passenger window stop working and does not roll up and down. I had this issue and reported the issue since I bought it brand new from the lot. I main main audio console has been replacement 2 times already from defectives. My tires TMPS is flashing now but my tire pressure are fine. My incline break button comes on by itself from time to time and does not allow for me to move the car.
After purchasing my vehicle in November, my steering felt off in December. A couple weeks later my tire pressure light came on. I took my car in for service and there was a nail in my tire. Subaru repaired the tired. Upon leaving Subaru, steering continued to feel off . Pulling to one side constantly. I took the car in to Subaru again for a wheel alignment on January 23rd. They confirmed it was out of alignment and fixed it. The car drove great for 2 weeks and again it is off. Car is extremely hard to keep in the lane; if it is windy it is even worse. No matter if I am going under 30 or on the highway. The steering wheel does not align with the wheels again. I have driven the same route to work each day m-f for 5 years. There are no pot holes. It is a short commute however I am starting to feel unsafe driving. Do I take in the car again? …
I noticed 1 of the original tires that came on my new Subaru Legacy had a sidewall bulge. When looking at the wheel you could not see any makes to indicate I hit a pot hole or curb. About a month later I noticed another tire had the same issue. The dealership looked at the first tire and offered to replace it for free since it was under warranty when I reported it. Unfortunately when I saw the second tire the warranty had lapsed. While waiting for the tires to come in I did notice one of the bulges had doubled in size. In the time I saw it for the first time and replacing it I put no more than 300 miles on the car.
This concern is not related to the VIN number listed. I Have concerns with Aftermarket wheels in general. as the service manager of a shop I am seeing aftermarket wheels that are cracking under normal use due to poor metal quality and design. I have seen dual bolt pattern wheels that crack at the lug nut mounting hole when torquing to the vehicle manufacture spec. I have seen many aftermarket wheels installed with incorrect lug nuts and incorrect or missing hub centric devices. I Believe that the public does not understand the safety concerns of aftermarket wheels.
Need to replace Goodyear Eagle ls2 225/50r18 tires. 4 of them have dry rot on the inside of the tire closest to the rim. One has a bubble on the inside. Car just turned 37 thousand miles yesterday. This is a potential issue to continue driving on these tires. I am afraid of a blowout
Especially, while driving on the highway, I could hear the unusual spinning of the wheels. It happened about a year ago, and when I brought it to the attention of the front desk clerk at the quality Subaru in wallingford, ct., he informed me that he will let the technician know. He never wrote anything regarding my concerns on the slip with the oil change information. The technician said, that he did not see anything wrong with it, it could be the surface of the highway or my tires. I purchased new tires, install new brakes and the noise was still there. On February 25, 2020, I went through another multipoint inspection, and this time, the technician found both rear wheel bearings noisy and recommended replacing them for $1155.oo plus tax and my car had 69057 miles. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Subaru Legacy equipped with three Goodyear Eagle ls-2 tires, size: 225/50r18. The contact stated that all three tires were dry rotted around the rims on both sides. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic because it rode roughly. The contact was referred to the tire manufacturer to file a complaint. The manufacturer stated that they would prorate the cost of the tires, but did not address what caused the condition. The contact had not yet heard back from the manufacturer because they stated that they were still working on the claim. The vehicle failure mileage was 18,751. The tire failure mileage was unknown.
Related recalls (1)
Wheels
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines, the aluminum wheels May have an off-center diameter.
Remedy: Dealers will replace all 4 aluminum wheels. Owner notification began September 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Legacy years have wheel & tire problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (18), 2005 (12), 2001 (11), 1995 (9) and 1998 (8) model years. Wheel & Tire complaints make up 19% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Subaru Legacy wheel & tire problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 02V-235 (wheels, Sep 5, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Subaru Legacy wheel & tire problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles; 47% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the tread/belt (11 mentions), followed by the sidewall (11).
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.