YearToAvoid

2015 Subaru Legacy Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 37 engine-related complaints for the 2015 Subaru Legacy, 23% of the 159 total complaints filed for the year. Owners most often described sudden unintended acceleration while parking or at low speed. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Engine complaints
37
23% of 159
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
21,250 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle suddenly accelerating on its own while pulling into or out of a parking spot, sometimes striking walls, buildings, or trees.
  • Several drivers describe the car surging forward with no brake response, with air bags failing to deploy despite the impact.
  • Some owners report warning lights flashing on the instrument panel in the weeks before an engine-related incident.
  • One owner reported the engine consuming oil at a rate of about a quart, prompting the dealer to start an oil consumption study.
  • A separate report describes sudden deceleration where the vehicle came to a stop in a travel lane without driver input, leading to a rear-end collision.

When 2015 Subaru Legacy engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 2, 2015, latest Feb 27, 2026.

2015 Subaru Legacy engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2015Aug 2015Feb 2016Nov 2018Dec 2019Jul 2021Mar 2023Jan 2026
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2015 to Feb 2026; peak Feb 2015 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2015 Subaru Legacy

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Legacy model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201039 (27%)
  2. 201133 (20%)
  3. 201225 (28%)
  4. 201323 (35%)
  5. 20147 (13%)
  6. 201537 (23%)
  7. 201617 (12%)
  8. 20176 (5%)
  9. 201813 (11%)
  10. 20199 (7%)
  11. 20208 (7%)
  12. 20214 (13%)
  13. 20222 (6%)
  14. 20230 (0%)
  15. 20241 (6%)
  16. 20254 (67%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2015 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA lists 37 engine-related complaints for the 2015 Legacy, which is 23% of the 159 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Subaru Legacy engine?
No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for this engine complaint area.
What is the most common engine problem reported on the 2015 Legacy?
Owners most frequently describe sudden unintended acceleration, often while parking, resulting in crashes into walls, buildings, or trees.
At what mileage do 2015 Legacy engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2015 Legacy is 21,250 miles.
How does the 2015 Legacy compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2015 Legacy's 37 engine complaints and 23% share are lower than the 2013 model year's 35% share but higher than the 2014 model year's 13% share.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.