2009 Subaru Legacy Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 6%of 65 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 105,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the electrical system of the 2009 Subaru Legacy, 6% of the 65 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 105,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 . Not sure if the remote starter was the instigator (probably not), but Subaru had said that the issue is a faulty sensor and that I would have to pay to fix it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10705604, filed 2015-04, 90,000 miles“2009 Subaru Legacy 2.5I Parasitic Drain If vehicle is not driven every 2-4 days in winter or every 6-8 days when is warmer it will need a jump start. I looked for a recall but there isn't one for the year of my car or for the Fourth Generation 2005-2009 series. I took it to the dealer 4 times and they said there was nothing wrong the first two times. On the 3rd time they said it was my problem was that the battery was old and to prove them wrong I got one of their Subaru brand/label batteries and the same problem kept happening. I took it to one more mechanic with the same results. …”
NHTSA complaint #11610709, filed 2024-08“I noticed airbag sign comes on even after the recall for airbag was completed on the car within last 10 days. The dealer says it will cost $350 dollars to investigate and repair as an approximate estimate for budgeting over the phone. So I did internet search on similar problems, and found out via youtube videos and car mechanic blogs that it is Subaru's electrical solder problem (electrical connection) that triggers the passenger airbag light on and off intermittently and therefore the airbag warning sign turns red. …”
NHTSA complaint #10898086, filed 2016-08“The contact called on behalf of his daughter who owns a 2009 Subaru Legacy. On two separate occasions, while driving highway speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 19v297000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11208685, filed 2019-05, 120,000 milesRelated recalls
- 19V297000Apr 11, 2019Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2005–2014, Outback 2005–2014, WRX 2008–2014 +3 more
- 16V738000Oct 13, 2016Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2007–2009, Impreza 2008–2014, Forester 2009–2013 +1 more
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Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 29% |
| 2023 | 1 | 10% |
| 2022 | 3 | 9% |
| 2021 | 5 | 16% |
| 2020 | 15 | 12% |
| 2019 | 35 | 28% |
| 2018 | 40 | 34% |
| 2017 | 30 | 25% |
| 2016 | 51 | 35% |
| 2015 | 37 | 23% |
| 2014 | 11 | 21% |
| 2013 | 6 | 9% |
| 2012 | 4 | 4% |
| 2011 | 19 | 11% |
| 2010 | 12 | 8% |
| 2009 | 4 | 6% |
| 2008 | 9 | 14% |
| 2007 | 5 | 15% |
| 2006 | 17 | 20% |
| 2005 | 25 | 14% |
| 2004 | 1 | 2% |
| 2003 | 2 | 3% |
| 2002 | 2 | 4% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
| 2000 | 6 | 6% |
| 1999 | 2 | 2% |
| 1998 | 9 | 8% |
| 1997 | 17 | 12% |
| 1996 | 21 | 17% |
| 1995 | 20 | 11% |
| 1994 | 1 | 2% |
| 1993 | 3 | 4% |
| 1992 | 3 | 5% |
| 1991 | 3 | 4% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2009 Subaru Legacy
31 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsForward collision avoidance
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Subaru Legacy
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology