2015 Subaru Legacy Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 9%of 160 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,101miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2015 Subaru Legacy, 9% of the 160 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,101 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My transmission has been idling rough after coming to a stop and feels as if it is going to stall. If I let off the brake slightly the rpms go back to normal temporarily then continues to idle roughly”
NHTSA complaint #11414856, filed 2021-05, 84,500 miles“Since november of 2017 while driving the car it has intermittently jerked and shook excessively, bucking like a mad horse. Car was brought in to dealer for diagnosis. Dealer was not able to identify the cause. After several visits to dealer where I was assured the problem was fixed the same problem continued. It should be noted that the car, while driving started to shut down and I needed to be towed to the dealer. Dealer claimed the problem was a faulty spark plug. Car was then returned to me. Yet again the problem persisted and had I to crawl like a turtle back to home. …”
NHTSA complaint #11166624, filed 2019-01, 90,101 miles“Right rear wheel bearing had to be replaced at approximately 36,000 miles. Now the left rear wheel bearing has had to be replaced at approximately 44,000 miles. Both situations occurred when unusual noises were heard from the rear end of the car at highway speeds. The dealership making the repairs and Subaru of america have not provided any reasonable explanation for why both wheel bearings would have problems at relatively low mileage.”
NHTSA complaint #11053638, filed 2017-12, 36 miles“The at oil temp and brake light randomly start flashing and kick your car off cruise without any check engine light the transmission fluid and oil temp are not hot but causes the car to lose power. Almost been rear ended on the free way due to this happening dealership does not know what causes this due to it not always happening and the lights go off after shutting the car off and back on again multiple people have this problem with no resolution. I am a huge Subaru fan but will look else where if Subaru doesn't start fixing their mistakes,”
NHTSA complaint #11306247, filed 2020-01, 188,000 miles“Check engine light came on with the cruise control icon flashing. The cars RPM's were repeatedly fluctuating when parked, in neutral, and in drive with the brake on.”
NHTSA complaint #11252837, filed 2019-09, 80,000 milesRelated recalls
- 15V502000Aug 10, 2015Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2015–2016, Outback 2015–2016
Related service bulletins
- 11036810Aug 20, 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised…
- 11034242Jun 2, 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the…
- 11033063May 13, 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
- 11033056May 4, 2026This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
- 11032040Apr 24, 2026This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
- 11024861Nov 4, 2025This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which enhancement was implemented to prevent abnormal operations. The updated valve body incorporates…
- 11023523Sep 30, 2025This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
- 11022305Aug 11, 2025Subaru Service Technical Support Newsletter special edition.
- 11014872Feb 18, 2025This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly.
- 11005624Jul 24, 2024This annoucement provides parts personnel information about remanufactured transmissions that will no longer be available.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 2 | 6% |
| 2020 | 7 | 6% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 2 | 2% |
| 2017 | 4 | 3% |
| 2016 | 13 | 9% |
| 2015 | 15 | 9% |
| 2014 | 6 | 11% |
| 2013 | 12 | 18% |
| 2012 | 34 | 38% |
| 2011 | 47 | 28% |
| 2010 | 50 | 33% |
| 2009 | 2 | 3% |
| 2008 | 6 | 9% |
| 2007 | 1 | 3% |
| 2006 | 8 | 9% |
| 2005 | 13 | 7% |
| 2004 | 2 | 4% |
| 2003 | 5 | 8% |
| 2002 | 7 | 13% |
| 2001 | 2 | 3% |
| 2000 | 14 | 15% |
| 1999 | 18 | 19% |
| 1998 | 14 | 12% |
| 1997 | 17 | 12% |
| 1996 | 8 | 7% |
| 1995 | 9 | 5% |
| 1994 | 5 | 8% |
| 1993 | 9 | 12% |
| 1992 | 5 | 9% |
| 1991 | 16 | 21% |
| 1990 | 14 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2015 Subaru Legacy
41 complaintsElectrical system
37 complaintsOther or unknown
28 complaintsEngine
23 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsForward collision avoidance
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2015 Subaru Legacy
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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