VehicleVerdict

2010 Subaru Legacy engine problems

The 2010 Subaru Legacy has 35 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 16% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

35

Engine complaints

16%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Legacy engine complaints by model year35 complaints1987: 1 complaints1990: 2 complaints1991: 6 complaints1992: 4 complaints1993: 17 complaints1994: 5 complaints1995: 18 complaints1996: 24 complaints1997: 34 complaints1998: 30 complaints1999: 14 complaints2000: 18 complaints2001: 14 complaints2002: 13 complaints2003: 13 complaints2004: 7 complaints2005: 34 complaints2006: 20 complaints2007: 10 complaints2008: 4 complaints2009: 8 complaints2010: 35 complaints2011: 28 complaints2012: 23 complaints2013: 20 complaints2014: 5 complaints2015: 24 complaints2016: 8 complaints2017: 5 complaints2018: 10 complaints2019: 5 complaints2020: 4 complaints2021: 3 complaints2022: 1 complaints2025: 4 complaints
Legacy engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

10V196000EngineMay 7, 2010 · 29,443 units

Defect

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 OUTBACK AND LEGACY PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 31 THROUGH DECEMBER 1, 2009. A CRACK OR SPLIT CAN OCCUR IN THE CVT COOLER HOSE RESULTING IN A FLUID LEAK.

Consequence

IF THE FLUID IS COMPLETELY LEAKED DURING DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL COME TO A STOP, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy

SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED COOLER HOSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 8, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783).

What owners report

“I HAD ENTERED A PARKING SPACE, AND WAS SLOWING TO COME TO THE END OF SAID PARKING SPACE. THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED, AND I COULD NOT STOP IT WITH THE BRAKE. I HIT THE CONCRETE AT THE END OF THE SPACE AT FULL SPEED, WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. I NOTICED THAT THE IMPACT HAD SLIPPED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 19, 2014 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2010 Subaru Legacy have?

NHTSA has 35 complaints about the 2010 Subaru Legacy engine — 16% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2010 Subaru Legacy engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 10V196000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.