2015 Subaru Legacy Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 16 Legacy years
The 2015 Subaru Legacy ranks worst of 16 model years for owner complaints, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 159 complaints covering visibility/wipers, electrical, and engine issues. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls, including brakes and transmission. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Legacy years.
- Complaints
- 159
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 15 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 10 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 26
- 23 city / 31.5 hwy
Top 2015 Subaru Legacy problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Visibility & Wipers41 (26%)
- Electrical System39 (25%)
- Engine37 (23%)
- Other28 (18%)
- Fuel System15 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain15 (9%)
- Brakes14 (9%)
- Structure & Body13 (8%)
- Airbags10 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking, resulting in front-end collisions into walls, trees, or buildings.
- Some vehicles reportedly caught fire, including one crash where the car erupted into flames after a driving incident and another where smoke and fire appeared while parked.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple crashes, including side impacts and frontal collisions.
- Owners describe coolant leaks and a burning electrical smell coming from the engine compartment, with water reportedly entering the fuse box and cabin through the wheel wells.
- One owner reported the automatic braking system activating unexpectedly at highway speed, causing the brakes to lock and the front end to dive.
2015 Subaru Legacy recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V251000Apr 27, 2016Brakes766 vehicles
Electronic stability control (esc)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTC-64.
- NHTSA 15V502000Aug 10, 2015Transmission & Powertrain2,893 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Risk: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.
- NHTSA 15V366000Jun 12, 2015Collision Avoidance & Cameras71,710 vehicles
Forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Risk: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
2015 Subaru Legacy fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 31.5 MPG
- Combined
- 26 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,525
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2015 compared with other Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 Subaru Legacy reliable?
- Among 16 model years of the Legacy, 2015 has the highest Complaint Index (100) and ranks worst overall, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
- What problems does the 2015 Subaru Legacy have?
- NHTSA lists 159 complaints for the 2015 Legacy, led by Visibility & Wipers (41 complaints, 26%), Electrical System (39 complaints, 25%), and Engine (37 complaints, 23%).
- Does the 2015 Subaru Legacy have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2015 Legacy covering brakes, transmission/powertrain (propeller shaft), and the collision avoidance/camera system, none marked do-not-drive.
- How does the 2015 Legacy compare to other years?
- The 2015 Legacy's Complaint Index of 100 is higher than every other year listed, including 2016 (80) and 2011 (87), making 2015 the worst-ranked year for complaints.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Subaru Legacy?
- The 2015 Legacy is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined (23 city / 31.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,525.