NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Subaru Legacy. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Hub was replaced in June of 2019. Car was driven about 14,000 miles (estimate) since then. While driving down the road, I hard a noise on the front right tire. When I pulled the hub cap off, two bolts were sheared off, one nut was loose. I checked the torque on the remaining two bolts, and it was about 80 ft-lbs, which is what is specified in the manual. Since I torque all 5 in star order (twice) when I change tires, there is no change they were under or over torqued. Tires were changed twice a year by myself, so nuts went on/off four times since installing the hub. No other failures on any other studs, on two subaru cars that I followed the same practices on. I used a press to press out the studs (as pictured), but due to a defective design, the studs can't be removed without pressing out the bearing and separating the halves. Additionally the replacement studs I bought are a larger diameter, and have a shoulder that would have protected against this failure. As such this looks like a defective design. It's not an OEM replacement, it does not last a reasonable time, and presents a real risk of losing a tire at speed on a car. Manufacturer phone number as listed on Amazon is disconnected. Their web site is broken, and does not allow "chat" to work. Their listed phone number refused to allow a connection unless the dialer states their age, which makes it sound like a scam number. They claim a 10 year warranty, but want me to call them to process. Apparently I cannot do so, as they have made it impossible.
While driving down the highway I had to slam on my brakes to avoid colliding with someone and at that time the brake pedal went soft. Upon further inspection 2 different brake hard lines running to the rear of the vehicle have corroded and failed. This issue was supposed to be remedied under 14V311000 and the vehicle was originally taken in for that recall. Subaru of America was contacted and said because the recall work had already been completed they would not address the issue.
OUR CAR WAS RECALLED DUE TO A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN 2016, SO SEVERE THAT THE LETTER STATED THAT DEATH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. AFTER AN INITIAL APPOINTMENT, WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A MONTH FOR THE REPLACEMENT TO BE DELIVERED. DURING THIS TIME, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. WE HAD TO ARRANGE FOR OTHER TRANSPORTATION ON THE DAY THAT OUR CAR WAS REPAIRED AS WELL AS WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY INSPECTED FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE, WE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK A THIRD TIME BECAUSE IN THE COURSE OF FIXING THE AIRBAG, THE DEALERSHIP DAMAGED OUR KEYLESS REMOTE (WHICH THEY FIXED). WE LOST VALUABLE TIME FROM WORK. NOW, LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER, THE SAME CAR IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE: THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG POSSES A SAFETY HAZARD, THIS TIME DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAG. WE ARE TAKING IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, BUT AGAIN, THE SOONEST THEY CAN GET IT INTO THE SHOP IS MARCH 11. AGAIN, WE ARE LEFT WITH A CAR THAT CANNOT TRANSPORT A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER FOR OVER A MONTH. THIS TIME, THE DEALERSHIP IS OFFERING A FREE LOANER CAR ON THE DAY THAT OUR CAR WILL BE IN THE SHOP, BUT WE ARE STILL LOSING VALUABLE TIME DUE TO THIS. THIS IS THE THIRD RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE WE OWNED IT. THE FIRST WAS A BRAKE LINE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED NOR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CAR LOSS POWER AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH A SOLID CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BLINKING CRUISE ON THE DASH. THE RPM JUMPED HIGH WITH OUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING PUSHED DOWN. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING AT 25 MPH BEFORE THE AFOREMENTIONED HAPPENED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SLOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE JOHNSON SUBARU OF CARY (919-238-6864, LOCATED AT 5010 OLD RALEIGH RD, CARY, NC 27511, WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL UNDER THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY. 136,000.
THIS ONLY AFFECT 05-06 LEGACY GT OWNERS. THE UP-PIPE FOR THE SUBARU LEGACY GT IN THESE GIVEN YEARS HAVE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THERE AND AFTER A CERTAIN MILEAGE, THE DEBRIS OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BREAKING DOWN WOULD SHOOT BACK INTO THE TURBOCHARGER. THAT WOULD CAUSE THE TURBO FAILURE AND STALL THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THE UP-PIPE DOES NOT HAVE ANY INDICATION OF % OF WEAR AND MOST NON-CAR ENTHUSIASTS WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY EXCEPT FOR AN EXPENSIVE TURBO REPLACEMENT AND UP-PIPE REPLACEMENTS. MOST OF THE OWNERS OF THESE ISSUES TURN OVER TO CATLESS UP-PIPE BUT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OVERBOOSTING OR THE ENGINE RUN RICH, FURTHER DAMAGING THE ENGINE. THIS CAN BE PRETTY DANGEROUS IF A PERSON IS ON A ROAD TRIP AND HAVING A LONG DRIVE AS IT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. SUBARU HAS RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE AND THEREFORE 07+ TURBO MODELS ALL HAVE A CATLESS UP-PIPE WITH THE ECU TUNED TO THAT SPECIFICATION. I BELIEVE IT IS NOT FAIR FOR 05-06 LEGACY GT OWNERS TO HAVE TO SUFFER FROM SUCH A CRITICAL ISSUE WITHOUT SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION OR RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TPS MALFUNTION. STOPS ACCELERATION AT THE HIGHWAY THAT ALMOST CAUSES AN ACCIDENT.
I HAD RUN INTO A FEW SMALL PROBLEMS THIS WINTER, LIKE MY STEERING WHEEL NOT TURNING WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD, BUT I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, BUT HAD BEEN RUNNING. I WAS GOING THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH, HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK, THEN WHEN I WENT TO SHIFT IT BACK INTO DRIVE, NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. IT WAS STUCK IN PARK. I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM WAS TEMP. RELATED, IT WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE. AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON/OFF FOUR OR FIVE TIMES I WAS ABLE TO GET IT GOING, BUT MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS STRANGE. WHILE DRIVING HOME I NOTICED THAT THE "BRAKE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE NEXT DAY, I STARTED MY CAR BEFORE WORK TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS. THE CAR STARTED JUST FINE (ALL THE ELECTRICS WORKED AND THE ENGINE WAS ON AND RUNNING), AND I WENT INSIDE. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER I CAME BACK TO MY CAR, AND THE ENGINE HAD TURNED OFF. AT FIRST THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WORKED. MY FRIEND CAME AND TESTED THE VOLTAGE ANYWAY, BECAUSE A DEAD BATTERY IS COMMON WHEN IT GETS COLD, AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THE WARNING LIGHTS THAT I NOTICED WERE ON WERE THE "BRAKE" LIGHT, AS WELL AS THE "ABS" LIGHT. AFTER TRYING TO TURN IT ON A COUPLE TIMES, ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. IT WILL START IF I LEAVE IT FOR A FEW HOURS, BUT I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT ANYWHERE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND HAD TO BE TO GRAND SUBARU (125 W GRAND AVE, BENSONVILLE, IL 60106, (888) 840-3934) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THREE OF THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO OF THE BRAKE LINES LEAKED FLUID AND ONE WAS BADLY CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: [XXX] WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *TT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL STOPS WORKING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATES BUT THE PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE THE CAR SLOWS VERY QUICKLY AND COMES CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CHECKED FORUMS ON THE WEB AND FOUND WHERE MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME ISSUES. THE FORUM IS SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG PLEASE CHECK THIS SIGHT THE CODE IS P2138 ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED
THE BRAKE FAILED TO STOP. ON CITY ROAD. I HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE PADDLE ALL THE WAY DOWN ONLY TO GET WEAK BREAKING CAPABILITY. TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT TO GARAGE FOR BREAK REPAIR. THE CAR NEEDED BREAK LINER PARTS. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS $300.. SUBARU ADMITTED THE PROBLEM, GAVE $150 COUPON FOR GOOD FAITH. BRAKE FAILURE. IT COULD KILL ME FOR BRAKE FAILURE..
TAKATA RECALL
CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UPON ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AFTER PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING . I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE AND MISSED BEING HIT FROM BEHIND FROM ON COMING TRAFFIC...I NOTICE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND FLASHING CRUSE CONTROL LIGHT... SECOND TIME SOME WEEKS LATER IT DID THE SAME THING THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN.
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY RESULTING IN THE CAR NOT REALIZING WHEN A PERSON IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS WILL NOT ALLOW THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TO GO OFF WHEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION
EVEN AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE BRAKE LINE RECALL, MONTHS LATER AFTER A SUBARU DEALERSHIP TESTED THEM, MY BREAKS STILL GAVE AWAY. IT WAS SAID THAT IT WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND IT WAS BLOWN. THIS HAPPENS 3-4 MONTHS AFTER I HAD TAKEN IT IN TO GET THE RECALL CHECKED. I ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY HALF THE COST TO FIX IT. I SHOULDN'T HAD TO. THEY SHOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFIED IT BEFORE IT HAD HAPPENED. IT DOES NOT TAKE 3-4 MONTHS TO BE COME SO SEVERELY CORRODED THAT MY BREAKS GAVE AWAY WHILE DRIVING TO WALMART. LUCKILY I WAS RIGHT BY THE DEALERSHIP SO ONCE THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, I QUICKLY DROVE IT OFF THE CITY STREET AND INTO SUBARU DEALERSHIP. AS I WAS PARKING IT, I NO LONGER HAD BREAKS. I HAD IMMEDIATELY PULLED MY E-BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP MY VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPOT.
WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS NO POWER TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED AND THE DRIVER NEEDS TO AVOID POTENTIAL COLLISIONS BY PULLING OVER ON THE ROAD OR FREEWAY.
TRAVEL POSITION SENSOR FAILS WHEN DRIVING CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ACCELERATOR STOPS RESPONDING, THE CAR GOES INTO FAIL SAFE MODE IGNORES ALL INPUTS FROM DRIVER. THE CAR MAY COAST AT ABOUT 15MPH. THIS COULD HAPPEN WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN OR ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS.
HAVE AN ISSUE WITH DRIVING BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, AT TIMES VERY HARD AND WHEN BRAKING, CAR SHAKES A GREAT DEAL. CAN AT TIMES HAPPEN AT LOWER SPEEDS AS WELL. MADE SURE ALL TIRES WERE FILLED TO SPECIFIC PSI LEVELS PROVIDED BY CAR MANUAL AS WELL AS HAVING TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED WITHOUT MUCH HELP. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING JUST OF LATE OVER PAST 2 WEEKS AND IS AN EVERYDAY/TRAVEL OCCURRENCE.
TAKATA RECALL GOT RECALL LETTER, EMAILED (NO RESPONSE) THEN CALLED.... TOLD THEM WE ARE ON AN ISLAND IN SE ALASKA-NO ROAD, ONLY AMHS FERRY. THE NEAREST SUBARU RETAILER IS IN JUNEAU (WE HAD A RETAILER WHICH CLOSED A FEW YEARS AGO), JUNEAU IS ONLY REACHABLE BY PLANE OR FERRY. THE COST FOR US TO TAKE THE CAR THERE IS OVER $1,000.00 JUST TO GET THERE AND RETURN--NO FOOD, NO LODGING IN JUNEAU. THE FERRY DOES NOT RUN EVERY DAY, SO OVERNIGHTING IS MANDATORY. YOU CANNOT PUT YOUR CAR ON THE FERRY WITHOUT A DRIVER. MY HUSBAND IS DISABLED AND I AM NOT ABLE TO WORK DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES, WE AER ON A FIXED INCOME, AND CANNOT AFFORD THE FARE TO GET THE CAR TO THE JUNEAU SUBARU RETAILER. TO TAKE THE CAR SOUTH TO WASHINGTON STATE IS OVER $2,750.00 JUST FOR THE FERRY ROUND TRIP!!! SUBARU DID STATE IF WE SENT THEM THE AMHS INVOICE THEY WOULD REIMBURSE US $500.00! IT IS NOT OUR FAULT THE SUBARU RETAILER ISN'T LOCAL ANYMORE, NOR IS IT OUR FAULT THE AIRBAGS ARE BEING RECALLED, BUT WHY DO WE HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO HAVE IT FIXED. WE HAD A PLACE LOCALLY THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THE REPLACEMENT-IF SUBARU WOULD REIMBURSE THEM THE COST OF THE AIRBAG AND LABOR, BUT SUBARU SAID NO!! SO WE HAVE A CAR WE CAN'T USE FOR WHAT WE BOUGHT IT FOR!! NEITHER OF US CAN RIDE IN THE BACK AND BUCKLE UP DUE TO SPACE AND OUR PHYSICAL ISSUES (WE ARE IN OUR 60'S)... THE RECALL ONLY SEEMS TO BE DONE IF IT IS CONVENIENT FOR SUBARU! THIS WAS MY 2ND SUBARU, IT WILL BE MY LAST! WE ARE AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO NEXT...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A CODE TO IDENTIFY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATOR BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS CRUISE AND SPORT LIGHTS. THERE WAS NO POWER AT THE PEDAL. I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC LANE. ENGINE SURGED UP AND DOWN IN RPM'S. SHUT KEY CAR OFF. AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES, CAR STARTED AND DRIVING WAS RESUMED LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON IN DASH. *TR
IVE HAD A ON GOING ISSUE WITH MY TPS I PRESS THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS I'VE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS FROM IT HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD/INTERSECTION EVEN ALMOST GOT ARRESTED DUE TO IT HAPPENING AT AN AIR PORT
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS, LOSE ACCELERATION AND NEED TO COAST AND PULL OVER. JUST BEFORE SHUTTING OFF ENGINE, RPMS JUMP TO 3-4,000 WHEN IN PARK. NEED TO TURN OFF ENGINE FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS BEFORE BEING ABLE TO TURN CAR BACK ON WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND CRUISE LIGHT FLASHING, BUT HAVE ACCELERATION AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING FOR AROUND 100 MILES, CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE LIGHT TURN OFF, BUT RANDOMLY INCIDENT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN. HAD A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, CONFIRMING THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON.
ONE MORNING AFTER STARTING MY CAR I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. AS I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR DOWN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, I NOTICED THAT I HAD NO ACCELERATION POWER. THE CAR WAS ON, ENGINE WAS RUNNING, BUT WHENEVER I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR WOULD IDLE HIGH AND COAST WHEN PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS I PUSHED THE PEDAL. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COUNTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
TWO OCCURRENCES SO FAR ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 23 AND TUESDAY APRIL 5. VEHICLE SUDDENLY DISPLAYS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES AND VEHICLE DROPS INTO "LIMP MODE." PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY DUE TO WEAR ON THE POTENTIOMETERS IN THE DRIVE-BY-WIRE SYSTEM. THIS WEAR CAUSES DIFFERENT READINGS WHICH MAKES THE MOTOR THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PEDAL AND CUTS THE VEHICLE SPEED TO ROUGHLY 5 MPH. FIRST OCCURRENCE DRIVING ALONG AT POSTED SPEED OF 45 MPH. SECOND INSTANCE TRYING TO LEAVE FROM A STOPLIGHT, GOT INTO THE INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE SPEED DROPPED, WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF INTERSECTION. (CEL CODE P 2138 - THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR)
WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED BEING RESPONSIVE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. WHEN IN PARK THE ENGINE REVVED TO ABOUT 2.5K RPM AND STAYED THERE. I SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT AND IT STAYED AT THAT LEVEL. AFTER SEVERAL MORE TRIES IT EVENTUALLY STARTED UP AND RAN FINE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE IS P2138 FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR.
THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WENT OUT WITH ONLY 67,000 MILEAGE ON THE ENGINE AND I HEAR THIS HAPPENING ON THIS STYLE AND YEAR OF THE CAR. I HAVE HEARD THAT SUBARU IS RECALLING MANY OF THE ENGINES FROM 2012 TO 2013. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND SUBARU SHOULD RECALL THE ENGINES AND FIX THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE.
WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL AROUND 45 MPH, CAME TO A STOP AND CE AND CC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, AND GAS PEDAL WAS DISSABLED, SO A FELLOW MOTORIST HELPED ME PUSH THE CAR AWAY FROM THE INTERSECTION. AFTER TURNING ENGINE ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES THROTTLE CONTROL CAME BACK AND I COULD DRIVE HOME (CE AND CC LIGHTS STILL ON). I REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL AND RESET THE LIGHTS. SIMILAR PROBLEM REOCCURRED ON WAY TO WORK, CE AND CC LIGHTS CAME ON BUT STILL HAD THROTTLE CONTROL AND CC WAS INACTIVE. I SUSPECT A DISCONNECT IN THE DRIVE BY WIRE LOGIC FOR THE GAS PEDAL VERSUS THE CC.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF UPDATED 08/30/16.*JB
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO SCHEDULING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT ORDER THE PARTS UNTIL TWO MONTHS LATER WHEN THEY WERE CONTACTED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
VEHICLE WIRING FOR REAR WIPER IS FAULTY AND DAMAGED. HAVE SEEN THE SAME THING ON OTHER OUTBACKS AND LEGACY WAGONS. DANGEROUS BECAUSE THIS CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE OPTIMAL FOR ALL-WEATHER DRIVING. HARD TO SEE OUT BACK IN HEAVY RAIN.
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE LIGHTS COME ON AND VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. I ALMOST GOT REARENDED BECAUSE OF IT. IT SET A CODE #P2138. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON IT.
THE DASHBOARD SURFACE IS EXTREMELY STICKY,PARTICLES OF ANY TYPE OF RAG OR TOWEL USED TO CLEAN IT ADHERE TO THE SURFACE AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED. IT ALSO CAUSES AN UNSAFE GLARE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I EXPERIENCED TWO ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IN MY 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 35 MPH AND THE RPM'S BEGAN INCREASING RAPIDLY. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND UNABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE SAFELY WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED. I SAT THERE THINKING THAT THE MOTOR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP IF I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND HE THOUGHT THAT IT COULD BE THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, AS HE HAS REPLACED MANY OF THEM ON SUBARUS. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC WHERE HE CLEANED THE SENSOR AND SAID IF I HAVE A PROBLEM AGAIN THEN I SHOULD REPLACE IT. FAST FORWARD 4 MONTHS LATER AND I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON A BUSY STREET WHERE THE CAR LOST POWER AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AFTER RPMS SKYROCKETED AND I WAS LEFT WITH NO CONTROL. UPON START UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, OBVIOUSLY TRIGGERING A CODE THAT SAYS THE CAR IS A DEATH TRAP WITH A REALLY POORLY DESIGNED THROTTLE. I PLAN TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, BUT THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR SOMEONE NOT IN A POSITION TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS IT JUST HAPPENS RANDOMLY WITH NO WARNING SIGNS.
THE ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON & REMAINED. CAR SLOWED TO A CRAWL. WHEN CAR RESTARTED COULD DRIVE AT A NORMAL SPEED, BUT WARNING LIGHTS, LISTED AS ABOVE, REMAINED ON. TOOK IN TO MECHANIC WHO STATED THE THROTTLE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS APPARENTLY THERE IS AN INHERENT DEFECT (HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS). TECHNICALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL, BUT SO FAR IS NOT!
THE ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR IN TRAFFIC. THE RESULTING PROBLEM WAS A FAILED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THIS FAILURE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR WAS WITHOUT POWER TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD SHE BEEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT. MY QUESTION TO SUBARU (GIVEN THEY LIKE TO TOUT THEIR AUTOMOBILES' SAFETY RECORD) IS WHY WOULD ANY ENGINE SENSOR FAILURE LEAVE THE CAR WITHOUT POWER? ISN'T THIS THE SAME AS THE INFAMOUS GM IGNITION SWITCH TRAGEDY? SINCE THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED, MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR UNDERSTANDABLE REASONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY SON (9) DURING THE EVENING OF 12/16/14 ON SIDE ROADS LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. I WAS GOING 15-20 MPH. NIGHT WAS DRY AND CLEAR. SUDDENLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON STEADY, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO ACCELERATION! I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN "PARK". ENGINE REVVED BETWEEN 2000-3000 EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT PRESSING ANYTHING, JUST IDLING IN P. TURNED CAR OFF FOR A MIN, BACK ON, DASH LIGHTS STILL ON - CE & CC. STILL HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE GAS PEDAL BUT WHEN TAKEN OUT OF P, CAR GOT ITSELF UP TO 15 MPH SOMEHOW. WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO HOME SO COASTED HOME AND INTO THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN SHIFTED TO P AT HOME, ENGINE REVVED AGAIN. NEXT MORNING I DROVE IT TO SCHOOL, CE & CC LIGHT STILL ON BUT CAR DROVE OK. WHEN I DROVE IT AGAIN, DASH LIGHTS WERE OFF AND IT DROVE FINE. SAME EXACT ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN ON 12/23/14, AGAIN AT A LOW SPEED ON A SIDE ROAD, THANKFULLY. ERROR CODE ON THE CAR IS P2138 - THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE THIS HAPPENS, CAR IS FINE AND THEN SUDDENLY IT IS NOT. FROM WHAT I SEE ONLINE, THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE LATELY WITH THIS CAR. I AM TERRIFIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS WITH SUBARU, I SEE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE GETTING IT RESOLVED AND I DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON SUBARU DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS SERIOUS ISSUE! *TR
I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE LOST IT'S THROTTLE CAPABILITIES. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS I COULD ONLY CHANGE LANES AT IDLE SPEEDS. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED AND SIDE SWIPED. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL YEARS OF LEGACY/OUTBACK MODELS. *TR
CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UPON HIGHWAY ACCELERATION AT 45 MPH AND GOT WORSE AT 55 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO THE MECHANIC WHO WAS ONLY SEVERAL MILES AWAY. MECHANIC SAID THAT CAR COULD NOT BE PUSHED IN NEUTRAL TO GET IT ON THE LIFT BECAUSE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE SEIZED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT CORRODED BRAKE LINE HAD BURST. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE AND THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO SALT USED TO TREAT ROADS DURING THE WINTERTIME. CALIPERS, ROTORS, PADS, AND BRAKE LINES ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VERY STRANGE BECAUSE I JUST HAD NEW CALIPERS PUT ON THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO. *TR
WHILE CROSSING A FOUR-LANE ROAD, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT LIMP AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND BARELY MADE IT ACROSS THE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE MEDIAN SAFELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WHEN PLACED INTO PARK, THE ENGINE REVVED TO APPROXIMATELY 2500RPM WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON THE PEDAL. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT ONLY TO HAVE IT REV AGAIN ON ITS OWN TO 2500RPM. IT TOOK 5-6 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART IT BEFORE THE ENGINE IDLED APPROPRIATELY AND THE ACCELERATOR BECAME RESPONSIVE AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND OBD CODE P2318 WAS RETURNED WHEN I PLUGGED IN A SCANNER TO THE PORT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS EVENT HAS OCCURRED; IT HAS BEEN RANDOM AND SPORADIC FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW, SOMETIMES OCCURRING AS OFTEN AS 3-4 TIMES PER WEEK TO GOING 2 MONTHS IN BETWEEN EPISODES. SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR, IT'S HAPPENED AT BOTH FREEWAY AND PARKING LOT SPEEDS, IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER AND AT VARIOUS TEMPERATURES, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK (NA). WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN I REALIZED THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE PEDAL/GAS. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASH BOARD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE VEHICLE REVVED HIGH. IT TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR RESTARTED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR.CODE P2138. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AT 65MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY AND AGGRESSIVE. SOMEHOW I MANAGED TO GET ACROSS THE LANES AND OFF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED AT LEAST 5 MINUTES. I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (OVER 20 MINUTES) WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OUT, BUT THERE WAS A RECORD OF P2138 WHICH IS A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR ERROR. THE TECHNICAL COULDN'T FIND ANY FAILURE OR CONNECTION ISSUES. NO REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS WERE MADE. AFTER READING NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM, I BELIEVE MY CAR IS UNSAFE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026