2018 Subaru Legacy UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I experienced an incident of spontaneous acceleration of my vehicle on November 21, 2025. I was driving slowly with my foot on the brake as I was about to make a turn and the engine suddenly accelerated. I slammed down on the brake and the car stopped, but this was extremely frightening.
The display screen for my radio navigation phone etc seems to have a “ghost”. Buttons will rapidly be selected switching radio stations or calling someone on my connected phone or switching to different options available on the screen. It is very distracting while driving and annoying when trying to use for navigation with phone. It has been doing this for quite some time and occurs randomly. I’ve researched this issue online and this has happened to several owners.
STarrlink Infotainment System (DEFECTIVE) FREEZING MALFUNCTIONING,BACK UP/REVERSE (SCREEN) BLACK OUT 's, CONSTANT BEEPING THOUGH OUT CARS SPEAKERS;While DRIVING...(MAJOR) DISTRACTION & OTHER ISSUES... AFTERMARKET (SWAY BAR LINKS) WERE INSTALLED INSTEAD OF OEM..OFFICIAL SUBARU PARTS ..BY A OFFICIAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP! NAME: COLONIAL VOLKSWAGEN SUBARU... FEASTERVILLE TREVOSE ...ON DATE:1/08/2024 PA...#[XXX]... Finding as NOTED: BY WINNER SUBARU DOVER DELAWARE...ZIP:19901...#302-734-8200... SERVICE ADVISORY/TAG# BROOKE WILLIS/[XXX]... SERVICE DATE: 2/12/2025 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
STARLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM (AUDIO HEADUNIT),(DEFECTIVE)...FREEZING, MALFUNCTION, SCREEN BLACK OUT AT ANY TIME...BLACK OUT WHILE IN MOTION (REVERSE) USING BACK UP CAMERA. INTERMITTING BEEPING SOUND THOUGH CARS SPEAKERS WHILE DRIVING...MAJOR DISTRACTION...UNSAFE!.... FINDING WAS WITHIN A AUGUST.2019 CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR SO (RECALL) : FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (111).I ALSO HAVE (DOCUMENTED) RECENT PROOF FROM WINNER SUBARU OF DOVER DELAWARE.. WHICH CONFIRMED THE (EXACT) SAME FACTS.... CONTACT:REP...NAME:(BROOK).I REACHED OUT TO SUBARU AMERICA ADVOCATE.... CAMDEN NEW JERSEY... CONTACT NAME: (NIKO)...#800-782-2783 EXT#119027....CASE# [XXX]...I WAS OFFERED $750 GOOD WILL PAYMENT...FOR A USED HEADUNIT... THOUGHT WINNER SUBARU OF DOVER DELAWARE...A NEW HEADUNIT REPLACEMENT THEY QUOTED $2,500.00....THEY WANT GIVE ME THE $750 AND MAKE ME PAY $759 FOR LABOR....FOR THE (FACT) THAT THEY HAVE KNOW FOR YEARS THAT THE STARLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS (DEFECT)...AND HAS PAID OUT 6.25 MILLION DOLLARS.. IN REFERENCE TO IT! I ONLY OWN THIS CAR 3 MONTHS 7 DAYS....ALSO... WINNER SUBARU DOVER DELAWARE...INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR HAD AFTERMARKET SWAY BAR LINKS... THOUGH CARFAX...AND RESEARCH I WAS ABLE CALL COLONIAL VOLKSWAGEN SUBARU... FEASTERVILLE TREVOSE PA ON 1/08/2024 ....WAS THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAD PUT THEM ON.IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAD BEEN ORIGINAL SUBARU PART NOT AFTERMARKET...I TOLD BROOK OF WINNER SUBARU ..THAT's WHAT I FOUND OUT DO TO SPEAKING TO A SERVICE... SUPERVISOR...THAT STATED AND CONFIRMED THE WORK WAS DONE THERE.I ALSO REACHED OUT TO SUBARU AMERICA..IN REFERENCE TO THIS...TO NO RESPONSE....THIS BOTH AS A WHOLE IS UNSAFE PRACTICE AND BAD BUSINESS....I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR FEES OF SORT...FOR WHAT KNOW AND HAVE KNOW FOR A FACT FOR YEARS...AND STILL GOING ON TILL TODAY. IM A HARD WORKING AMERICAN CONSUMER...THAT BOTH THIS CAR 13 WEEKS AGO...TO BE DRIVING AROUND WITH (DISTRACTING) SAFETY ISSUE. MY CELL# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My car stereo has gone crazy causing major distractions while driving. Hands free calling doesn’t work, in fact it calls random people on my call list. The screen dances and changes screens all by itself causing major distraction and it has almost caused an accident by the distraction. I’ve read that this issue is a known manufacturing issue and a class action lawsuit was brought against Subaru. I called Subaru and they have refused to give me a warranty radio even thou my dealer confirmed my radio is suffering from the De-lamination issue that’s well known problem with my car.
The display area components(screen)toggles from radio to other components without any input from driver. The radio stars playing by itself.
Driving on the interstate and the a hole exploded in the sunroof. Sounded like a gunshot. Nothing hit it to cause the damage.
Sunroof spontaneously failed. Tempered glass shattered and sprayed into cabin
The infotainment system malfunctions - GPS stops working, screen goes blank, buttons don't work, sound doesn't work, radio stops, etc. This is dangerous if I'm driving on the highway in an unfamiliar place where I'm depending on the GPS and have to pull over and restart the car in order for the GPS to start working again. Unplugging and replugging my phone don't help. I've informed Fitgerald Subaru about this happening since I bought the car in March 2018. They updated the software several times, but nothing has helped. In December 2022 they said they'd replace my infotainment system, but it's still backordered and it's been 4 months. I have video showing it not working. I didn't know about the class action lawsuit.
Both wheel bearings have gone out in the rear since I bought this vehicle at 56,000 miles last year. I have never heard of bearings going out this soon! I have spent 800$ replacing bearings and I am questioning the build on the 2018 legacy now.
WINDSHIELD CHIPPED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HEARD THIS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
PARKED THE CAR WENT TO WORK SEVERAL HOURS LATER RETURNED AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED MIDDLE DRIVER SIDE TO THE TOP .
THE FUEL DOOR STICKS REQUIRING IT TO BE PRIED OPEN IN ORDER TO FUEL THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SPECIAL TOOL TO OPEN THE STUCK FUEL DOOR. I HAD TO FIGHT TO GET THEM TO REPLACE THE FUEL DOOR CABLE. I ENDED UP CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I NOTIFIED THEM WHEN MY VEHICLE HAD 35,000 MILES ON IT BUT THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS IT UNTIL 43,000 MILES.
THE SAFETY RECALL REGARDING FUEL HAS BEEN COMPLETED. I FILLED THE GAS TANK WITH THE GAUGE ON HALF. I PUT 12 GALLONS IN THE 16 GALLON TANK. YESTERDAY I REPEATED THIS BY AGAIN FILLING THE TANK WITH THE GAUGE READING HALF. I PUT 11.4 GALLONS IN THE 16 GALLON TANK. I ALSO NOTED THAT THE MPG CALCULATOR IS NOW ONLY USING THE DATA SINCE THE RECALL. TIRE PRESSURE WOULD NOT REGISTER. I AM NOT SURE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SYSTEMS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. I FEEL THAT THEY VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLE.
I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL ON THE FUEL GAUGE. SUPPOSEDLY THE WORK WAS DONE. THE WEBSITE LISTS IT AS INCOMPLETE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS OR WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT IT. PLEASE ADVISE.
SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT FOR POTENTIAL ROCK DAMAGE.SUNROOF WAS COVERED SO MOST OF THE GLASS WAS CONTAINED ON THE COVER. THE GLASS WAS BOWED OUTWARD AS IF THERE MAY BE TOO MUCH STRESS FORCED UP ON THE GLASS.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2018 Subaru Legacy has 16 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.