2012 SUBARU LEGACY Unknown Or Other Problems

Vehicle: 2012 Subaru Legacy VIN: [XXX] Owner Location: Syracuse, NY (salt-belt state) Dealer: Romano Subaru (Syracuse, NY) Dealer Findings / Estimate: “Urgent Work — Subframe with sway links — $3,119.89” (front subframe replacement required), plus alignment and related items; total estimate $4,394.75. Summary of Safety Defect: The front subframe has corrosion holes near structural/mounting points. This compromises suspension/steering integrity and presents a risk of sudden loss of control while driving. Manufacturer Response (Subaru of America): I opened a case with Subaru Corporate. Subaru denied assistance on the basis of vehicle age (2012) and absence of a front-subframe recall, and instead offered a $500 coupon toward a new vehicle. This response does not address the current safety defect documented by a Subaru dealer. Why NHTSA Action Is Warranted: •Subaru has already recalled the rear subframe on these models in salt-belt states (NHTSA 19V-297) due to corrosion-related failure. •My vehicle exhibits the same corrosion failure on the front subframe, a critical load-bearing structure. •A safety defect should be addressed regardless of vehicle age. The manufacturer’s refusal leaves an unsafe vehicle on the road or forces the owner to pay for a safety-critical repair that appears systemic in salt-belt regions. Requested Action: I request NHTSA investigate front subframe corrosion on 2010–2014 Subaru Legacy/Outback vehicles in salt-belt states and determine whether the rear-subframe recall should be expanded to include front subframes. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Please see ODI#11486236 & request # 562681 “ part 1” I wrote complaining about a 2012 Subaru Legacy Torque Converter issue. It was “ out of warranty 7/31/22 or 100k miles. At the time it started stalling it was at 103k miles in August 2022! I did not feel comfortable driving it. On 10/19/22 My mechanic drove my car & it shuddered & stalled at intersections for him also. I did not feel comfortable driving it 25 miles to a Subaru dealer to have them check it, diagnose it & repair it. My mechanic replaced the Torque Converter as well as the appropriate fluids. It cost about $1500 for parts & labor. Since this is a FAULTY part installed prior to purchase I feel Subaru needs to recall all these vehicles affected. I emailed you MULTIPLE emails online re: multiple complaints about this faulty part which causes a dangerous situation stalling at lights & intersections requiring one to stop & start. I was almost broadsided a few times. Subaru should do the right thing and recall all vehicles involved & your Agency should do the right thing & demand it for the safety of the public.

CAR IS SOMETIMES EXPERIENCING SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT SLOW SPEEDS. EVEN WITH DRIVER'S FOOT FIRMLY PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE, CAR WILL NOT STOP UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THERE HAVE BEEN 2 RECENT, SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES: #1: CAR TURNED RIGHT TO A STOP SIGN ON A SEMI-RURAL ROAD, ENGINE BEGAN TO "REV" AND CAR JERKED FORWARD, BARELY MISSING A CAR AHEAD. ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE AT HIGH SPEED UNTIL THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER TURNING BACK ON, CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. #2: DRIVER TURNED RIGHT FROM A CITY STREET INTO A PARKING LOT AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT SLOW SPEED TO TURN RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPACE. ENGINE BEGAN TO "REV", CAR JERKED FORWARD, DRIVER BRAKED HARD, PUT CAR IN PARK BUT CAR KEPT MOVING. CAR JUMPED ONTO THE PARKING BARRIER AT THE FRONT OF THE SPACE, DRIVER TURNED THE CAR OFF. CAR APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AFTER.

Mileage: 88,000

GOT MY SUBARU AT A CERTIFIED DEALER AND THEY DID ALL THE AIRBAG RECALLS GOOD 😁 AND THANK YOU BUT I BEEN DRIVING IT TO AND FROM WORK NO BIG DEAL 35 MILE ROUND TRIP BUT NOTICED IT WAS HARD STARTING LIKE NO FUEL OR SPARK SO WHEN IT WAS DUE FOR INSPECTION I TOLD THEM TO CHANGE THE PLUGS AT 59K MILES THEY DID AND DROVE IT FOR A MONTH OR TWO AND NOTICE A WINDING NOISE AND SHIMMY AND WHEN STOPED AT A RED LIGHT IT ALMOST STALLED OUT LIGHT WHEN VERY DIM AND CAME BACK ON AND I'VE NOTICE OVER A WEEK IT'S BEEN LOOSING POWER LIKE THE TAHOE I HAD THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS GOING SO I CALLED THE NEAREST DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT PASSED ALL OF SUBARU TESTING AND JUST DRIVE IT AND ASKED WHAT ABOUT THE SHIMMY WHEN DRIVING AND SHIFTING GEARS THEY SAID ENGINE LOPE AND JUST DRIVE IT TILL IT SHOWS A LIGHT OR FAILS IT'S UNDER WARRANTY TILL 100K MILES BUT I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT IF I'M IN TRAFFIC AND IT STALLS AND CAUSE A RECK OR ENGINE BLOWS UP DUE TO ENGINE LOPE AND ASKED ABOUT THE ENGINE LOPE WHAT IS CAUSING IT THEY CAN'T TELL ME IT NOW HAS 61K MILES ON IT AND A YARD ORNAMENT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD

Mileage: 61,000

CPSC: OUR 2012 SUBARU LEGACY WHILE PARKED IN OUR GARAGE WAS FOUND WITH TWO FLAT TIRES AT SAME TIME. ONE TIRE ON PASSENGER FRONT WAS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AS 2 MAJOR HOLES WERE IN SIDEWALL FROM HUGE BLOWOUT AND REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAD BULGE IN SIDEWALL LEAKING AIR. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAND OF TIRES WERE PIRELLI P4 SEASON P215/60R16 95T SL BSW. *JS *TR*JB

Mileage: 14,595

MY 2012 SUBARU LEGACY STALLS OUT WHEN I COME TO A STOP. IT DOES THIS RANDOMLY. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME IN TRAFFIC. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER.

Mileage: 97,000

SUNROOF SHATTERED WITH A VERY LOAD BANG. DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY DURING THE DAY IN GOOD WEATHER AND AT CONSTANT SPEED. NOTHING HIT THE SUNROOF. THERE WERE NO CARS OR TRUCKS IN FRONT OF ME. I DID NOT GO OVER A BRIDGE OR ANY OTHER STRUCTURE. IT "SPONTANEOUSLY" SHATTERED.

Mileage: 40

ON JULY 31 OF 2017 I BROUGHT MY CAR TO 'BIG O TIRES' FOR ROUTINE BRAKE INSPECTION. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNS ON CAR DASHBOARD. AFTER BRAKES INSPECTION MY CAR WAS DECLARED UNSAFE TO LEAVE THE SHOPS WITHOUT REPAIR. THE REPAIR HAD TO BE MADE BECAUSE OF BOTH REAR CALIPERS WHERE FROZEN. I HAD NO CHOICE AND AGREED TO REPAIRS (MY CAR THEN HAD MILEAGE OF 27,500 MILES; THE COPY OF SUBARU EXTENDED WARRANTY POLICY I RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER 2017). REPAIR INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF CALIPERS, ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS (ALL REAR). ALSO, NEW TIRES, AS THEIR EXTENSIVE WEAR WAS CONSISTENT WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. STATEMENT OF REPAIR AND POLICY ARE ATTACHED. [SEVERAL MONTH BEFORE THIS REPAIR I VISITED SUBARU DEALERSHIP WITH CONCERN OF HIGH FUEL CONSUMPTION INCONSISTENT WITH MILEAGE I DROVE. AT THAT TIME NO REPAIR WAS MADE, AND I ONLY GUESS THAT COMPUTER RESET WAS DONE.]

ENGINE TURNS OFF WHEN CAR COMES TO STOP. 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS MY CAR ENGINE HAS DIED. ON ONE OCCASION I MISSED A GREEN LIGHT AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION WAS ALMOST REARENDED AT A STOP SIGN.

Mileage: 47,000

TORQUE CONVERTER - CAR STALLS WHEN BRAKING ABRUPTLY. CAN/WILL CAUSE ACCIDENT SOON...

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ON ONE TIRE FAILED BEFORE 5 TO 7 YEAR EXPECTED LIFE SPAN THUS MAKING THE FAIL-SAFE SYSTEM INOPERABLE

Mileage: 52,500