Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Subaru Legacy
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Subaru Legacy has 16 NHTSA recall campaigns and 90 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V297000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V009000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V008000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V007000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V626000 Electronic Parking Brake may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V012000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V014000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V694000 Windshield Wiper Motor Bottom Cover may Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V078000 Wiper Motor Bottom Cover Melting NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V077000 Moonroof Glass - Separation/Detachment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V061000 Remote Engine Starter Fob Malfunction NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V047000 SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INFLATOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V562000 INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 34 complaints
- Engine 23 complaints
- Unknown or Other 12 complaints
- Air Bags 11 complaints
- Steering 7 complaints
- Service Brakes 6 complaints
Of the 90 complaints on file, 7 report a crash; across all 90 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,500–$8,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Subaru Legacy receives an average rating due to multiple airbag recalls and a concerning number of powertrain and engine complaints. Regular maintenance is crucial to manage potential issues and control ownership costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| powertrain | 70,000-100,000 miles | $600–$1,500 | common |
| engine | 80,000-120,000 miles | $500–$2,500 | occasional |
| ignition switch | 90,000-110,000 miles | $150–$350 | occasional |
| brake master cylinder | 60,000-90,000 miles | $300–$600 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil changes every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid flush every 30,000 miles
- Replace timing belt every 100,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Replace engine coolant every 60,000 miles
- Inspect spark plugs every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual noises from engine
- Delayed transmission response
- Illuminated airbag warning light
- Decreased braking performance
- Frequent ignition issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Subaru Legacy at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.