The Lemon Index2011 Subaru Legacy.
The 2011 Subaru Legacy is about average by owner complaints: 44 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 89, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 16 recalls, and it gets 20 to 25 mpg combined. The best Subaru Legacy year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 167 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Subaru Legacy year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 18K to 115K miles on the car (119 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 82K–134K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 65K–147K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 14K–99K miles
Recalls 16
- airbags 2020
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2020
" These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall us.
- airbags 2020
" These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior.
Show all 16 recalls
- electrical 2019
The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch.
- airbags 2019
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipm.
- airbags 2019
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2019
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or rep.
- parking brake 2018
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.
- airbags 2018
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- visibility 2016
Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other.
- airbags 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- electrical 2013
Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs.
- lights 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.
- visibility 2011
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 OUTBACK AND LEGACY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 3, 2010, THROUGH JULY 1, 2011.
- transmission & drivetrain 2010
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 OUTBACK AND LEGACY PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 28 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2010.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Subaru told dealers about
Subaru sent dealers 350 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Steering wheel vibration (shake, shimmy) at highway speeds
- At highway speeds there is a steering wheel shake or vibration
- There is a steering wheel vibration at highway speeds due to an imporper wheel balance
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550–3800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
At highway speeds going around turns steering is very loose, car to wonder and not maintain track causing you to jerk the wheel to currect..
2011 Subaru Legacy owner · NHTSA complaint 10470709
More owner reports
2011 Subaru Legacy. Consumer states vehicle has a flaw of wandering when driven on highways at speeds above 60 mph
NHTSA complaint 10482985
Driving on newly paved highway at 80mph the car starts to shake and vibrate. At lower speeds this is not an issue.
NHTSA complaint 10532001
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Subaru Legacy reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 89; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Subaru Legacy year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2011 Subaru Legacy problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (25%), suspension (23%) and lights (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Subaru Legacy have?
16 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Subaru Legacy get?
20 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2011 Subaru Legacy safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2011 Subaru Legacy problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 18,200 and 115,000 miles. The middle report was at 77,000 miles, from 119 complaints.
Does the 2011 Subaru Legacy have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2011 Subaru Legacy cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $3800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Subaru Legacy have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Subaru Legacy year is better than the 2011?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2014 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works