Transport CanadaCritical
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, causing the engine to run rough, fail to start, illuminate the check engine light, or lose power suddenly while driving.
What the fix does
This page covers 6 recalls, 112 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Subaru Legacy.
23–29 mpg combined
8.1–10.2 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Electrical and visibility issues dominate what 2018 Legacy owners report. On the electrical side, the most commonly described problem is infotainment touchscreen malfunction, owners report the screen registering phantom inputs without anyone touching it, changing settings on its own, and becoming unresponsive while driving. When this happens, features tied to the screen such as blind spot warning and lane keeping assistance can stop functioning. The visibility and wiper category draws the second-highest complaint volume, with owners reporting wiper performance problems and obstructed or compromised sightlines. A smaller number of owners report unintended acceleration events, typically describing the vehicle surging forward or backward while braking at low speed; these appear across a handful of reports rather than a single isolated case.
112
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Subaru Legacy has 6 recalls, the most serious being a fuel pump that can fail without warning, cutting engine power while the vehicle is moving and raising the risk of a crash.
The fuel pump issue spans multiple filings but describes the same problem: the low-pressure pump inside the fuel tank can quit, causing the engine to run rough, stall, or refuse to start. Drivers may notice a check engine light, but in some cases the loss of power arrives suddenly with little warning. Compounding this, a separate software error means the fuel gauge system itself cannot be fully trusted. The low fuel warning light may not turn on when the tank is running low, and the miles-to-empty display can show a positive number even when the tank is effectively empty, which means a driver following the dashboard readout could run out of fuel unexpectedly and stall in traffic. On the visibility side, a software error can prevent the center display screen from initializing when the vehicle is started, leaving the backup camera blank while reversing. With no rearview image, anything behind the vehicle while backing up goes unseen.
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, causing the engine to run rough, fail to start, illuminate the check engine light, or lose power suddenly while driving.
What the fix does
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Subaru will mail you instructions to visit a dealer, who will replace the fuel pump.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, which could prevent fuel from reaching the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software problem may prevent the center display screen from turning on when you start the vehicle. If this happens, the rearview camera image won't show when you shift into reverse, reducing your ability to see behind the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the head unit software to fix the display and rearview camera function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software issue in the audio display system may prevent it from starting up, leaving the camera display blank. This means the rearview camera image won't show on the screen when you back up.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the audio system display software at no cost to restore the rearview camera display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The low fuel warning light may not activate when fuel runs low, and the driving range display may show remaining distance even when the tank is empty. The vehicle could run out of fuel unexpectedly, causing engine stall and crash risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the gauge cluster software to correct the fuel warning and range display timing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error prevents the low fuel warning light from turning on at the correct fuel level, and the miles-to-empty display may show remaining range even when the tank is empty.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the combination meter software at no charge to fix the warning light and display operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
