2009 Subaru Legacy Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about air bag warning lights that come on and go off, and about front brake lines that corrode and burst, causing the brake pedal to sink to the floor. Engine reports cluster around sudden oil loss and internal failure, and several complaints concern Takata passenger-side inflator recalls and delays getting parts.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on or intermittent

   • 21 complaints (32%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,900 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2021

   Owners describe the red air bag light lighting up while driving, sometimes going out after a restart and sometimes staying on for days. Several say it started around 60,000-80,000 miles and appears more often in very cold or very hot weather, and some note the passenger-side indicator on the overhead display does not light at all. Complaints describe dealer diagnostics charged as a separate fee, with repair estimates often quoted near or above $1,000 for a module or a seat-side sensor or connection. Some owners report the light persisting after Takata inflator recall work was completed. Mostly reported between 30,000 and 90,000 miles, with several owners mentioning cold temperatures or extreme heat.

   Recall 16V358000Recall 17V026000Recall 20V001000Recall 20V002000Recall 20V003000Recall 18V012000Recall 18V013000Recall 18V014000Recall 17V014000

   What to check: Turn the key to run and confirm the air bag light comes on and then goes out, and scan for stored air bag codes. Ask whether the passenger-side inflator recall was completed and whether any module or sensor work was already done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I drive a 2009 Subaru Legacy sedan. The air bag light began to turn on since about 52,000 miles. When I shut off the car, the airbag light goes away but then periodically comes on every now and then. Subaru is unable to answer as to why this is happening as a generic code is produced. I searched online forums regarding this issue and believe that there is a trend with the air bag system in the 2005-2009 Subaru Legacy's. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10399418, filed 2011-05, 52,000 miles

   “I had the dealership install a Subaru remote starter for my 2009 Subaru Legacy. About a year later I started having issues with having the air bag light come on when I started the car and stay on (with remote starter, or the normal way). Sometimes it would re-set if I turned the car off and on again. But recently it just stays on and the indicator lights on the over head display (for the passenger air bag) does not light up at all . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10705604, filed 2015-04, 90,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Frront brake lines corroded through

   • 9 complaints (14%)
   • median 131,000 mi at 11.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2024

   Owners describe the brake pedal dropping to the floor during normal braking, with the brake warning light coming on shortly before or at the same time. Inspections at dealers, independent shops and by owners themselves find corroded rear brake lines leaking fluid, typically where the lines pass under the rear seat area above the fuel tank. Several complaints mention the corrosion recall, including cases where the anti-corrosion treatment was applied but the lines later leaked anyway, or where the vehicle had not had the recall performed. Reported from about 56,000 to 174,000 miles, often after years in salt-belt states.

   Recall 14V311000Recall 13V110000

   What to check: Ask whether the brake line recall (13V110000 / 14V311000) was performed and when, then have a shop inspect the rear lines under the car and above the fuel tank for rust and weeping.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the brakelines were affected and brakes weren't working any longer. I see online there is a recall for my specific car. The recall is for corrosion of the brake lines in specific snow states and the use of salt. I live in CT and bought the car from a private owner. I looked to see if the car was ever serviced for the recall and I am finding nothing on it. Thr exact spot indicated in the recall is exactly where the brake lines corroded so much that there is a hole now. Thanks for your time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11426246, filed 2021-07

   “Passenger rear brake line corroded and burst causing loss of brake fluid. Due to the loss of brake fluid, I lost 95% of brake pressure making it very difficult to stop. Only reason I say 95% is because the brake system is designed to still function in limp mode, but still terrifying while driving. The problem was discovered by myself as I was a certified technician for over 10 years for this brand. The vehicle hasn’t been looked at by anyone but myself. The brake lamp indicator did come on shortly before the line burst.”

   NHTSA complaint #11500035, filed 2023-01
3. 3
   Engine

   Sudden oil loss and internal engine failure

   • 11 complaints (17%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2020

   Owners report loud knocking, power loss and a sudden shutdown while driving, sometimes with flames or smoke from under the hood. Several found the engine very low on oil shortly after an oil change or with no prior warning light, and shops diagnosed failed rod bearings, a hole in the block, or a need for a short block or engine replacement. Complaints also include engines consuming a lot of oil between changes. Ranges from about 68,000 to 124,000 miles in the sample, often during highway driving.

   Recall 16V738000

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or gasoline smell in the oil, and ask for maintenance records showing regular oil changes and any prior engine work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Two weeks before this incident, the vehicle's oil was changed. Then, on saturday, july 5, 2014, I was traveling on the I-465n onramp from I-70e in indianapolis and upon accelerating experienced engine power loss and a loud knocking sound when the engine rpms exceed 2,500. The vehicle was taken to dreyer & reinbold in greenwood where I learned the vehicle only had 0.7 quarts of oil in it and now needs the short block, gasket set, and oil pump replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10609131, filed 2014-07, 124,132 miles

   “Car was kept up with timely, oil changes always taken care of. Warranty still on the car but dealership refusing to pay since car wasn't serviced there. At 90,000 miles on the four lane, out of nowhere, rod broke and I had catastrophic engine failure. The car was in motion and shut off, had to pull over on side of four lane going 55 MPH when car shut off, and car refused to start again. At no time was I given any forewarning about the engine having failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10850382, filed 2016-03, 90,000 miles

Buying note. Have a shop look closely at the rear brake lines and verify recall work, then check the air bag light behavior and engine oil consumption. Records showing completed open recalls and regular oil changes are worth more than mileage tags on this model year.

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.