2010 Subaru Legacy Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 22 electrical system complaints for the 2010 Subaru Legacy, 15% of that year's 145 total complaints. Owners mainly report repeated headlight bulb failures and a passenger-seat weight sensor that fails to arm the airbag. Two related recalls (19V297000 and 12V602000) address ignition switch and wiring harness issues.
- Electrical System complaints
- 22
- 15% of 145
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 55,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Low-beam headlight bulbs burn out repeatedly, sometimes replaced four or more times over a few years.
- Headlight beam pattern sits too low or shows a distinct horizontal cutoff, which owners say does not match U.S. headlamp standards.
- The passenger seat weight sensor fails to detect occupant weight, leaving the airbag in the off mode even with a person seated.
- Some owners report the engine or transmission stalling near a stop, with dash warning lights flashing and the vehicle needing to be shifted to park and restarted.
- Replacing headlight bulbs is described as difficult, requiring wheel and wheel-well liner removal.
When 2010 Subaru Legacy electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 20, 2010, latest Dec 8, 2025.
Electrical System recalls for the 2010 Subaru Legacy
- NHTSA 19V297000Apr 11, 2019Electrical System511 vehicles
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. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Risk: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
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. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
- NHTSA 12V602000Dec 26, 2012Electrical System633,842 vehicles
Exterior lighting
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (such as road spray that has road salt in it) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector(s).
Risk: Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system. This may generate heat which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
Electrical System complaints by Legacy model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical problems in the 2010 Subaru Legacy?
- NHTSA has logged 22 electrical system complaints for the 2010 Legacy, making up 15% of the 145 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2010 Subaru Legacy electrical system?
- Yes. Recall 19V297000 covers an ignition switch inspection and replacement, and recall 12V602000 covers installing an additional fused wiring harness on 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles.
- What is the biggest electrical complaint for the 2010 Legacy?
- Owners most often report recurring low-beam headlight bulb failures and a passenger-seat airbag sensor that fails to detect occupant weight.
- At what mileage do these electrical issues typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure across reported electrical system complaints for the 2010 Legacy is 55,000 miles.
- Have the electrical complaints led to crashes or injuries?
- Across all complaint categories for the 2010 Legacy, NHTSA records 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury, though not all are tied specifically to the electrical system complaints.