Subaru Legacy fire or smoke problems

Filed Sep 15, 2025 · Electrical, Lights · WA · fire

The Driver Side Rear View when I started the Car back in January of 2024 after car had been running for 30 Seconds smoke and Fire flames were seen coming through that rear view mirror immediately contacted Subaru of America and was called back with urgency and they fixed this issue but since then I haves a few other issues I believe relate to the wiring inside the vehicle and due to the wiring, which caused the fire. I have tried to contact Subaru of America and let them know this and have had no luck with any type of help with other repairs.

Filed Sep 3, 2025 · Engine · 1,500 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a misfire with a rattling sound coming from behind the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The failure persisted, and the vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, and a field tech engineer was sent to inspect the vehicle. The contact was informed that the scavenger pump turbo and catalytic converter were replaced; however, after retrieving the vehicle, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 1,500.

Filed Jan 30, 2025 · WV · fire

Last week, my 2024 Subaru Legacy caught on fire and was totaled. By the times the firemen got there, the cause was deemed "UNDETERMINED." The car was taken by State Farm Auto Insurance to an IAA Salvage Yard. This was a brand new car and still under warranty (only 35,000 miles on it). I drove my car to the store 30-45 minutes prior to the fire. I was inside watching TV when my dog started barking. I looked out my door and my car was on fire. I called 911 and they dispatched the fire department. My daughter and I could have been in the car. Luckily no one was hurt. My car has no recalls and no one can tell me what happened.

Filed Feb 6, 2024 · Body, Driver assistance · OH

My car's belt had been screeching for a few weeks. I was planning on taking my car in the next day. When i turned my car off, all the electrical went out and it started smoking on the driver's side. I got my car towed to the nearest auto shop. They replaced the battery and belt and yet the electrical was still out. When they tested the fuse, the driver's mirror caught on fire and was smoking. Thank goodness I was not driving when this occurred as that could have been scary. They replaced the fuse, but now I can't auto up / down my window. When I reached out to Subaru, they wanted $200 just to inspect it and $1,000 for a mirror replacement. I told them the situation and they didn't care. I also emailed them and never received a response. I googled this issue and other Subaru cars have had this issue and noted water coming in the mirror so now I'm frightened to get a car wash. There was no warning light or anything unfamiliar.

Filed Mar 27, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · IN

When running on a highway and you press down on the accelerator hard to merge onto a highway or go around a vehicle to move out of the way of vehicles quickly coming up behind you, the engine takes over and speeds up on its own. It has occurred three times on a newly purchased used car and it will increase speed up to 100mph. You have to press intermittently on the brakes to pull over to the shoulder and turn off the car for five minutes for the car to reset. If you try to just break, you get a burning smell. I see two class action lawsuits on similar acceleration issues for 2015 to 2017 Outback/Legacy series.

Filed Dec 14, 2022 · Transmission · NJ

I had a transmission failure on my 2016 Subaru Legacy and there were no warning signs before this incident occurred. I was on a road trip driving at highway speeds and suddenly without warning I heard a loud bang. Then the "at oil temp" light came on, then the "check engine light", smelled something burning and also felt some slipping in the transmission. I pulled over as soon as I could. I towed it to the nearest dealer and they diagnosed the problem as being a bad valve body based on the code "P0712: Transmission Temperature Sensor Circuit Low" without test driving the vehicle. The valve body was replaced. Since my car's mileage was outside the extended warranty for this issue, Subaru only contributed half the cost of the repair. After the completion of the repair, the dealer told me they heard loud transmission noises and they recommended that my transmission may have to be replaced I test drove the vehicle with the service manager, except for the noise, the car had no warning lights and the car was shifting smoothly and was reassured that the car would not stall. After leaving the dealership, I drove 25 miles before the car started jerking and violently shaking. Then at a stop light on a highway, the car stalled. When I press the accelerator, the engine would rev but the car would not move. The vehicle was towed home, my car still would not move when I pressed the accelerator and the check engine light came on. I towed it to my local dealer, they checked the vehicle and said the transmission had an internal failure and replaced the transmission. The bad transmission was sent back to Subaru per their policy. Subaru did a goodwill warranty repair that covered a significant portion of the cost. This sudden transmission failure was a huge safety risk to myself and others. I could have rear-ended both times my car stalled.

Filed Jul 30, 2021 · Electrical · CT · fire

I do not know what caused the fire, but maybe the battery or something electrical. The car stalled and the. I re-started the car and no warning lights came on the dashboard. I then parked the car. Upon exiting I noticed the front driver’s hood smoking. I went into the bank was parked at and within minutes my car was in flames. The entire engine burned and my car is totaled. A fire marshal was coincidentally on scene and documented the entire event. Currently, this car is under investigation by both my insurance company Liberty Mutual and also Subaru. No warning lights were lit on the car. A fire and police report have been filed, and I have many pictures. If this car had gone on fire in my garage my house would also have burned.

Filed Jun 8, 2021 · Transmission · UT · fire

The CV axle on the passenger side caught on fire. It was the rubber boot on the inner side over the catalytic converter. There were no warnings other than the smell of smoke. Fortunately, I caught it early and put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. I had been driving 25 to 40 MPH on city streets for about 5 miles before the incident.

Filed Aug 25, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 125,000 miles · NY · fire

Vehicle spontaneously caught on fire causing while accelerating at approximately 45 MPH. Fire caused extensive damage to cv shaft boot, wire harness and transmission. Cause of fire is unknown.

Filed May 19, 2020 · Electrical · 99,000 miles · NJ · crash · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2014 subaru legacy. The contact stated that her son was driving and hit a deer that caused extensive front end damage. The vehicle was taken to an auto body repair facility for repairs. However, a week after the repairs were completed her son was driving again when he smelt smoke and looked out the driver side window and saw flames. The driver parked the vehicle and exited the vehicle safely with the front seat passenger. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. Police and fire department reports were filed. The contact stated that the fire marshall stated that with the extent of the damage an electrical failure cause could not be ruled out. There were no injuries and the vehicle was completely totaled. The wreckage was towed to a salvage yard for the insurance company to examine with a third-party examiner to determine the cause of fire. The manufacturer was contacted and requested to examine the vehicle after the insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.