FaultScore

Subaru Legacy wheel problems

46 of the 4,165 complaints filed about the Subaru Legacy are about the wheels — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2005.

46

Complaints

1%

Share of all complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

Wheels complaints by model year

1991 Legacy 1 2.2%
1995 Legacy 3 6.5%
1997 Legacy 3 6.5%

Median failure at 225,812 miles

1998 Legacy 2 4.3%

Median failure at 150,000 miles

1999 Legacy 2 4.3%
2000 Legacy 1 2.2%
2001 Legacy 3 6.5%

Median failure at 180,005 miles

2002 Legacy 1 2.2%
2003 Legacy 2 4.3%

Median failure at 107,009 miles

2005 Legacy 7 15.2%

Median failure at 64,127 miles

2006 Legacy 2 4.3%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

2007 Legacy 2 4.3%

Median failure at 38,892 miles

2008 Legacy 3 6.5%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

2010 Legacy 1 2.2%

Median failure at 28,000 miles

2011 Legacy 3 6.5%

Median failure at 18,200 miles

2015 Legacy 1 2.2%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

2016 Legacy 3 6.5%

Median failure at 46,000 miles

2017 Legacy 2 4.3%

Median failure at 5,800 miles

2018 Legacy 1 2.2%
2019 Legacy 1 2.2%

Median failure at 10,308 miles

2024 Legacy 2 4.3%

What owners said

2018 Subaru Legacy Fresno, CA

WHEELS

I front passenger window stop working and does not roll up and down. I had this issue and reported the issue since I bought it brand new from the lot. I main main audio console has been replacement 2 times already from defectives. My tires TMPS is flashing now but my tire pressure are fine. My incline break button comes on by itself from time to time and does not allow for me to move the car.

NHTSA complaint #11682969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2024 Subaru Legacy New York, NY

WHEELS:RIM

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11643933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2024 Subaru Legacy New York, NY

WHEELS

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11643933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Subaru Legacy State College, PA

WHEELS

This concern is not related to the VIN number listed. I Have concerns with Aftermarket wheels in general. as the service manager of a shop I am seeing aftermarket wheels that are cracking under normal use due to poor metal quality and design. I have seen dual bolt pattern wheels that crack at the lug nut mounting hole when torquing to the vehicle manufacture spec. I have seen many aftermarket wheels installed with incorrect lug nuts and incorrect or missing hub centric devices. I Believe that the public does not understand the safety concerns of aftermarket wheels.

NHTSA complaint #11514390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru Legacy Newman Lake, WA

WHEELS:HUB

Hub was replaced in June of 2019. Car was driven about 14,000 miles (estimate) since then. While driving down the road, I hard a noise on the front right tire. When I pulled the hub cap off, two bolts were sheared off, one nut was loose. I checked the torque on the remaining two bolts, and it was about 80 ft-lbs, which is what is specified in the manual. Since I torque all 5 in star order (twice) when I change tires, there is no change they were under or over torqued. Tires were changed twice a year by myself, so nuts went on/off four times since installing the hub. No other failures on any other studs, on two subaru cars that I followed the same practices on. I used a press to press out the studs (as pictured), but due to a defective design, the studs can't be removed without pressing out the bearing and separating the halves. Additionally the replacement studs I bought are a larger diameter, and have a shoulder that would have protected against this failure. As such this looks like a defective design. It's not an OEM replacement, it does not last a reasonable time, and presents a real risk of losing a tire at speed on a car. Manufacturer phone number as listed on Amazon is disconnected. Their web site is broken, and does not allow "chat" to work. Their listed phone number refused to allow a connection unless the dialer states their age, which makes it sound like a scam number. They claim a 10 year warranty, but want me to call them to process. Apparently I cannot do so, as they have made it impossible.

NHTSA complaint #11488056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Subaru Legacy at 55,000 miles Wallingford, CT

WHEELS

ESPECIALLY, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I COULD HEAR THE UNUSUAL SPINNING OF THE WHEELS. IT HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE FRONT DESK CLERK AT THE QUALITY SUBARU IN WALLINGFORD, CT., HE INFORMED ME THAT HE WILL LET THE TECHNICIAN KNOW. HE NEVER WROTE ANYTHING REGARDING MY CONCERNS ON THE SLIP WITH THE OIL CHANGE INFORMATION. THE TECHNICIAN SAID, THAT HE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, IT COULD BE THE SURFACE OF THE HIGHWAY OR MY TIRES. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES, INSTALL NEW BRAKES AND THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. ON FEBRUARY 25, 2020, I WENT THROUGH ANOTHER MULTIPOINT INSPECTION, AND THIS TIME, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NOISY AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THEM FOR $1155.OO PLUS TAX AND MY CAR HAD 69057 MILES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE SAME NOISE WAS THERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN MY CAR WAS 55000 MILES AND I KIND OF USED TO THIS NOISE. PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF IT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #11321574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 Subaru Legacy at 10,308 miles ADA, MI

WHEELS

I HAD 4,000 MILES GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 TIRES WHEN I EXPERIENCED A SIDEWALK BLOWOUT ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN ANOTHER STATE. WE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED WHILE TRAVELING. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS SUSPECT SINCE THERE WASN'T A FOREIGN OBJECT OR PUNCTURE, IT WAS JUST THE SIDEWALL THAT BLEW OUT. THERE WERE NO POTHOLES AROUND. FAST FORWARD 5 MONTHS AND ANOTHER TIRE DEVELOPED A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. I HAPPENED TO NOTICE IT WHEN I WAS AT THE GAS STATION. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T BLOW OUT. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY TIRE EVER BLOWING OUT OR BULGING IN ALL THE MILES I DRIVE. I'M ON THE ROAD ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR MY SALES JOB. TO ME THIS SEEMS LIKE A QUALITY ISSUE. I STILL HAVE THE SECOND TIRE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IT. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER I TOOK IT TO COULDN'T BE BOTHERED WITH A WARRANTY ISSUE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO MY WHEEL AT ALL AND I DIDN'T HIT A POTHOLE OR ROAD DEBRIS.

NHTSA complaint #11281199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Subaru Legacy at 37,000 miles Fairhaven, MA

WHEELS

NEED TO REPLACE GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 225/50R18 TIRES. 4 OF THEM HAVE DRY ROT ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE CLOSEST TO THE RIM. ONE HAS A BUBBLE ON THE INSIDE. CAR JUST TURNED 37 THOUSAND MILES YESTERDAY. THIS IS A POTENTIAL ISSUE TO CONTINUE DRIVING ON THESE TIRES. I AM AFRAID OF A BLOWOUT

NHTSA complaint #11221393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Subaru Legacy at 55,000 miles North Andover, MA

WHEELS

CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON REAR PASSENGER DOOR GOT STUCK UPON ACTIVATION FOR THE FIRST TIME. UNABLE TO UNLOCK IT. THE DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED MANUALLY FROM OUTSIDE. GOODYEAR TIRES EAGLE LS 2 225/50-18 ARE COMPLETELY DRY ROTTEN . THE RIDE IS TERRIBLE AND UNSAFE.

NHTSA complaint #11163946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Subaru Legacy at 9,600 miles Malone, NY

WHEELS

I NOTICED 1 OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME ON MY NEW SUBARU LEGACY HAD A SIDEWALL BULGE. WHEN LOOKING AT THE WHEEL YOU COULD NOT SEE ANY MAKES TO INDICATE I HIT A POT HOLE OR CURB. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I NOTICED ANOTHER TIRE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE FIRST TIRE AND OFFERED TO REPLACE IT FOR FREE SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I REPORTED IT. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I SAW THE SECOND TIRE THE WARRANTY HAD LAPSED. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TIRES TO COME IN I DID NOTICE ONE OF THE BULGES HAD DOUBLED IN SIZE. IN THE TIME I SAW IT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND REPLACING IT I PUT NO MORE THAN 300 MILES ON THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11104048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Subaru Legacy at 225,812 miles Fort Wayne, IN

WHEELS

1997 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. CAME OUT TO MY PARKED VEHICLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FLAT DUE TO PART OF THE SUSPENSION SPRING BEING SNAPPED AND STICKING INTO INSIDE OF THE TIRE. SPRING WAS INTACT WHEN I PARKED IT. FRIGHTENING TO THINK IF THAT HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OF WHICH I WAS THE DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #11013111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Subaru Legacy at 150,000 miles Alvarado, TX

WHEELS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE ORIGIN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE DISCS, BRAKE ROTORS, AND IDLER ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 08/24/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD GIVEN IT'S BRAKE CONDITION. UPDATED 08/25/2017

NHTSA complaint #11004059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Subaru Legacy at 2,000 miles Arnold, MD

WHEELS

AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, MY STEERING FELT OFF IN DECEMBER. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THERE WAS A NAIL IN MY TIRE. SUBARU REPAIRED THE TIRED. UPON LEAVING SUBARU, STEERING CONTINUED TO FEEL OFF . PULLING TO ONE SIDE CONSTANTLY. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO SUBARU AGAIN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT ON JANUARY 23RD. THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND FIXED IT. THE CAR DROVE GREAT FOR 2 WEEKS AND AGAIN IT IS OFF. CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO KEEP IN THE LANE; IF IT IS WINDY IT IS EVEN WORSE. NO MATTER IF I AM GOING UNDER 30 OR ON THE HIGHWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE WHEELS AGAIN. I HAVE DRIVEN THE SAME ROUTE TO WORK EACH DAY M-F FOR 5 YEARS. THERE ARE NO POT HOLES. IT IS A SHORT COMMUTE HOWEVER I AM STARTING TO FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING. DO I TAKE IN THE CAR AGAIN? I LOVE THE CAR BUT EITHER THE TIRE IS BAD OR THE ALIGNMENT/STEERING IS BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10954247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Subaru Legacy at 28,000 miles Millstone Township, NJ

WHEELS

VIBRATIONS OCCUR WHEN EXCEEDING 50 MPH. THESE VIBRATIONS EXTEND TO THE STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS AND INCREASE AS SPEEDS BECOMING ENHANCED IN SPEEDS OVER 70MPH. NO ACCIDENTS AND REGULAR DEALER SERVICE. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE BALANCES, ALIGNMENTS AND 2 NEW SETS OF TIRES TO NO AVAIL. CAR PRESENTLY IN DEALER REPAIR FOR GREATER THAN 8 WEEKS TRYING TO FIX PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10654992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Subaru Legacy CLE Elum, WA

WHEELS

WHEN HAVING NEW TIRES PLACED ON THE CAR THERE WAS SO MUCH CORROSION ON THE WHEELS AND BRAKE HOUSING THE SERVICE PERSON HAD TO BREAK OFF THE CHUNKS OF RUST TO GET THE TIRES OFF. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE TIRES ARE CHANGED. THEY ADVISE EACH TIME THAT THIS NOT KNOWN TO HAPPEN ON A NEWER CAR. AT THE TIME THAT THIS WAS FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CARS IN OTHER STATES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT WHEN I CALLED SUBARU ABOUT THIS I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT EXTEND TO OUR STATE. THE MECHANIC I TAKE MY CAR TO SAID IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF DUE TO FAILURE FROM THE CORROSION.

NHTSA complaint #10651546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Subaru Legacy at 107,009 miles Spokane, WA

WHEELS

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL STUDS BREAK OFF OVER THE YEARS AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE STUDS ON MY 2003 SUBARU LEGACY LAST SUMMER. THE LAST EVENT OCCURRED LAST SUMMER 2013. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT MY 400 MILE DESTINATION, I HAD ONLY ONE STUD HOLDING MY TIRE ON. EITHER THIS IS A HUGE METAL DEFECT WITH THE STUDS OR A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL EVENT AGAINST OUR FAMILY. I HAVE KEPT ALL RECORDS FROM VARIOUS GARAGES WHICH HAVE REPLACED THE STUDS OVER THE YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10609855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru Legacy at 55,000 miles Anacoco, LA

WHEELS

BEFORE THIS - ENGINE REPLACED WITH VERY FEW MILES - SUBARU CLAIMED NO WARRANTY - INSURANCE PAID BASED ON TINY LEAK IN RADIATOR - CAR JUST QUIT. NEVER KNEW OF ANY LEAK - NOT WATER IN GARAGE FLOOR EVER. THEN ON 12/28/10 HAD HEARD LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN FRONT END. SUBARU SENT WRECKER (2 HRS_ 1-WAY) TO PICK UP CAR - REPLACED FRONT END PROBLEMS. CONTINUED/CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE - TRULY A LEMON. I AM 77 - HAVE BEEN STRANDED MORE THAN 2 X'S RECENTLY - CAR JUST LOSES POWER - CK ENGINE & CRUISE LIGHTS - ALSO 10/9/12 DASH LIGHTS ON DROVE 6+ HOURS TO SERVICE IN NEW BRAUNFELS, TX. NEAREST DEALER IS 2.5 HRS AWAY 1-WAY. NEED DEALERS NO ONE ELSE WILL EVEN LOOK AT SUBARU. THIS IS TRULY THE SUBARU FROM HELL!!!!! LIMITED INCOME CANNOT BUY ANOTHER CAR BUT I SHOULD WOULD IF I COULD.

NHTSA complaint #10552036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Subaru Legacy at 60,254 miles University Heights, OH

WHEELS

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING STARTED MAKING NOISE INDICATING IT WAS FAILING. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT ~ 42,000 MILES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SUBARU INDICATED THESE SHOULD LAST 80,000 MILES. YOUR PARTS SELECTION WON'T LET ME ENTER WHEEL BEARING.

NHTSA complaint #10537775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Subaru Legacy at 60,785 miles Washington, DC

WHEELS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A HUMMING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,785 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,800.

NHTSA complaint #10535357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Subaru Legacy at 86,000 miles Naugatuck, CT

WHEELS

DRIVING ON NEWLY PAVED HIGHWAY AT 80MPH THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. AT LOWER SPEEDS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10532001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Subaru Legacy problems