A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Subaru Legacy

The 2012 Subaru Legacy has top safety ratings, symmetrical all-wheel drive, and good fuel economy making it an attractive option for a family sedan.

Key Features

The Subaru Legacy comes with a 2.5i six speed manual transmission with 170hp. Power windows and locks along with adjustable driver’s seat, front and side airbags, and keyless entry are other standard features of this vehicle. There is an option for a 3.6R six cylinder automatic version as well. The manual version offers 19 mpg for city driving and 27 mpg on highway driving. The 3.6R automatic version offers 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Changes for 2012

The mid-level Premium has added a six speaker audio system that includes a Bluetooth phone, iPod connection, and wireless audio streaming. The top-tier Limited models have added standard fog lights.

What We Like

The ride quality is among the best, especially combined with the quiet interior. The brakes and steering are responsive giving it a sporty feel, along with stability on the road. For those who want a little more horsepower, the turbocharged Legacy 2.5GT offers 265hp with a manual transmission.

What Concerns Us

The base model of the Subaru Legacy, which has 170hp, is nothing spectacular. It can feel like it is lagging while passing other vehicles or during acceleration.

Available Models

The Subaru Legacy comes in the base model, Premium, and Legacy. The Premium has the option of a 2.5 liter flat four cylinder with a six speed manual transmission, a CVT automatic transmission, or a 3.6 liter flat six cylinder five sped automatic. The Limited version comes with a 2.5 liter flat four cylinder CVT automatic, a 3.6R flat six cylinder five speed automatic, or a 2.5GT flat four cylinder six speed manual transmission.

Major Recalls

In 2013, the Legacy was recalled due to the moonroof glass detaching because the adhesive was inadequately applied. Again in 2013, the vehicle was recalled due to components in the wiper motor bottom overheating. The Legacy was also recalled a third time in 2013 due to the engine starting up and running for 15 minutes. The 2012 recall was due to the side airbags not deploying properly. In 2011, the vehicle was recalled because the brake master cylinder could malfunction causing an increase in the time it takes the vehicle to stop after the brake is applied.

Common Issues

Common consumer complaints include the Bluetooth not working while the vehicle is in motion, bad interior cloth, A/C not cooling properly, and the passenger air bag sensor failing.

Subaru Legacy 2012 Interior


Next Step

Schedule Pre-purchase Car Inspection

The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Pre-purchase Car Inspection. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews... LEARN MORE

SEE PRICING & SCHEDULING

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Recent Pre-purchase Car Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(5,493)

Rating Summary
5,137
193
39
38
86
5,137
193
39
38
86

Jermaine

25 years of experience
382 reviews
Jermaine
25 years of experience
Dodge Durango V6-3.6L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Silver Spring, Maryland
Awesome mechanic! Very reliable !! Awesome personality! Explained everything and now I feel less stressed.
Hyundai Ioniq - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Chevy Chase, Maryland
Jermaine was very friendly, efficient and professional. He kindly explained to me those things that did not score well in the service report, so that it didn't come as a surprise, and I would know what to do about it.

Caz

18 years of experience
146 reviews
Caz
18 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz GLA250 L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Woodstock, Georgia
Caz was extremely knowledgeable, personable and provided excellent service. He was on time for the appointment and answered and explained everything I asked concerning my vehicle. I will definitely use the company again and I would love to have Caz as my mechanic! Excellent!
Mercedes-Benz S550 - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Mableton, Georgia
Caz Arrived on time much earlier than scheduled. He was very professional in inspecting the car and made excellent recommendations.

Brian

19 years of experience
138 reviews
Brian
19 years of experience
Lexus RX350 V6-3.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Brian was very informational and knowledgeable about the Inspection. He throughly inform me what issues on vehicle. Great Mechanic !!!
Ford Transit-350 HD - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Great service. Honest , respectful and truly cares about making sure you get the best options possible at an affordable price. Finding a mechanic you can trust is rare. I highly recommend Brain.

Jay

24 years of experience
262 reviews
Jay
24 years of experience
Honda CR-V L4-2.4L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Glendale Heights, Illinois
Jay did a great job! Excellent at taking time to explain things about your car. And provided sound recommendation on repair. Courteous and responsive. I would definitely recommend Jay!
BMW 535i xDrive - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Des Plaines, Illinois
Excellent ! Jay is very detail oriented and forward thinking. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're On a Budget
If If you’re on a budget and need to purchase a car it can feel as though it’s slim pickings. Thankfully, there are plenty of great options available even to those on a tight budget. Let’s take a look. The...
How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title in New Hampshire
How How many times have you misplaced important items in your house? Well if that important item happens to be your car title have no fear as you aren't alone. The good news is that you can apply for a...
Least Expensive Luxury Cars to Insure
You’ve You’ve done well for yourself and are now in the market for a vehicle upgrade. It’s time to ditch the rattletrap you’ve been driving and snag yourself a car with some premium options. How do you decide which car...

Related questions

How do you add oil to my car?
If you check your oil dipstick and see that the oil level is at or below the minimum line, you can add a quart of oil yourself (make sure that you have your car serviced regularly to check for leaks...
why does my battery keep going dead?
The best way to diagnose the type of issue your Hyundai is having is by beginning with using professional level test equipment to verify that the battery, charging system, and starter are all functioning correctly. These testers are widely used...
I got a diagnosis for a 2012 X6 saying the combustion misfires due to faulty ignition coil and I've gotten a recommendation to rep
Hello, and thank you for writing in. Getting a second opinion is always a good idea. Replacing the spark plugs is a very necessary part of maintenance that is often overlooked. It is never a bad idea to replace your...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com