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2015 Subaru Legacy problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
31%
46 of 147 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2015 Subaru Legacy. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 31% of relevant complaints.

Better than 68% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 29%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2015 Subaru Legacy have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 46 of 147 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Legacy concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). For comparison, the 2014 scores 29% and the 2016 scores 15%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
46
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
159
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
15 crashes · 10 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37 · 23%
VISIBILITY/WIPER36 · 23%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER27 · 17%
ENGINE23 · 14%
POWER TRAIN15 · 9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM14 · 9%

The years either side

2010
65%
73 of 150
2011
54%
68 of 167
2012
66%
50 of 90
2013
64%
32 of 66
2014
29%
10 of 53
2015
31%
46 of 159
2016
15%
21 of 147
2017
10%
11 of 119
2018
13%
15 of 117
2019
9%
11 of 123
2020
9%
11 of 121
2021
21%
5 of 31
2022
3%
1 of 33
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2015 Subaru Legacy

What one owner reported

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION 02/27/2026CRASH3 INJURED
I am reporting a Sudden Unintended Deceleration event in my Subaru. The vehicle grinded to a halt without driver input. The car stopped in the left lane of a major highway. We put on our hazards and called the state police for help. They were unable to get to us in time. We were hit from the rear. The car's failu…

One of 46 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Subaru Legacy?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2015 Subaru Legacy involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: driveline: driveshaft15V502000 · Aug 2015

Subaru 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 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.

Risk: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
electronic stability control (esc)16V251000 · Apr 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture…
forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking15V366000 · Jun 2015
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16,…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2015 Subaru Legacy? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2015 Subaru Legacy

Does the 2015 Subaru Legacy have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 46 of 147 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Legacy concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Subaru Legacy?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2015 Subaru Legacy involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 15V502000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Subaru Legacy years are better?

Among the Subaru Legacy years we track, the 2022 (3%), the 2019 (9%) and the 2020 (9%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2015 (31%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2015 Subaru Legacy?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2015 Subaru Legacy shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.