2006 Subaru Legacy Problems

What owners report

Most owner complaints for this model year describe the electronic throttle losing response while driving: the accelerator stops working, the engine settles into a high idle, and the check engine and cruise control lights come on, usually clearing after one or several restarts. Complaints also cover corroded brake lines, airbag warning-light and deployment concerns tied to the passenger-side inflator recalls, and electrical faults in the tailgate and rear wiper wiring.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Throttle pedal stops responding / limp mode (P2138)

   Mentioned in 33 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the accelerator going dead at speed or from a stop, the vehicle coasting or dropping to a crawl, the check engine light staying on and the cruise control light flashing. Several owners say the engine then idles high, around 2,000-3,000 rpm, in park before the car can be restarted normally. Codes for the throttle/pedal position sensor (P2138) are commonly cited; some dealers replaced the throttle body, pedal assembly or engine harness, and a few owners report the symptom returning after those repairs. Reported across a wide mileage range, roughly 35,000 to 170,000 miles, with many cases at highway speeds.

   What to check: On a test drive, ask whether the throttle pedal assembly or throttle body has been replaced and whether any P2138 codes were stored. Have a scan tool read pending codes before buying, and confirm the pedal responds smoothly from a stop and at highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11024196, filed 2017-09, 136,000 miles

   “While driving the check engine light came on and the cruise control started flashing, with no response from the gas pedal, only a high idle. Had the check engine light cleared and everything was fine. Out of town for the second occurrence same thing happened, now Subaru has the car and I was told the engine harness has to be replaced at a cost of $1883.36. It seems to me that this should be covered under my extended warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10485855, filed 2012-11, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Corroded brake lines and loss of brake pressure

   • 8 complaints (9%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 11.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2021

   Complaints describe the brake pedal going soft or to the floor with little braking, sometimes with the brake warning light on, and inspections finding corroded or leaking brake lines. Owners in some cases had several lines replaced; a few mention the work being done under a brake line recall and fluid leaks appearing later. Other complaints in this group describe worn rear pads and rotors and vibration or shaking while braking. Mostly reported between about 79,000 and 140,000 miles, often on older vehicles in cold-weather, road-salt states.

   Recall 14V311000Recall 13V110000

   What to check: Ask whether the brake line recall work was completed and have the lines inspected for corrosion and seepage, especially on cars from salt-belt states. Check pedal feel and look at rear pad and rotor condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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..”

   NHTSA complaint #11041859, filed 2017-10, 130,000 miles

   “I have an 06 Subaru Legacy gt.at my 30,000mile checkup the report states good except the rear brake pads & rotors which is rated; may require follow up attention.the rear rotors were machined. At 37,778 miles the radio was replaced due to it shorting out. At this mileage my coolant cap is no longer holding pressure & has to be replaced. At 44,542miles, the invoice says replace rear brakes as only the brake pads were replaced & the rear rotors were machined 6,000miles ago. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10237821, filed 2008-08, 29,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Stalling from crank or cam sensor failure

   • 12 complaints (14%)
   • median 103,800 mi at 9.2 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2019

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out completely at low speed or at a stop, sometimes with no warning, and requiring a minute or more before it restarts. Owners report diagnosis as a failed crankshaft position sensor, replaced under warranty in one case, and a position sensor in another. Related complaints describe misfire-like hesitation on acceleration present since new. Reported from very low mileage up to about 181,000 miles, including a few cases under 40,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether crank or cam position sensors have been replaced. During a test drive, note any stumble on acceleration or hesitation when pulling away from a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10691055, filed 2015-02, 35,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10668867, filed 2014-12, 181,000 miles

Buying note. These cars are old enough that maintenance history matters more than mileage: confirm the passenger-side airbag inflator and brake line recalls were completed, and have a shop scan for throttle codes and inspect the brake lines and tailgate wiring before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.