2006 Subaru Legacy Subaru Legacy 2006

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

2006 Subaru Legacy repairs by problem area

Engine (36%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)

Brakes and Traction Control (3%)

Suspension and Steering (29%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (11%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (7%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 211 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2006 Subaru Legacy.

2006 Subaru Legacy engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (1%)

$1000 - $2499 (14%)

$500 - $999 (22%)

$100 - $499 (32%)

< $100 (32%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 73 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2006 Subaru Legacy 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 250hp 2.5L H4 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

125000 mi

US $300
not as smooth at idle, and had developed a harmonic vibration at 1950 - 2000 rpm. had injectors cleaned. all symptoms cured or much improved. 
48980 mi

$600
Radiator leaked water, engine overheated. Car had to be towed to workshop and replaced radiator. 
65100 mi

$500
Engine mountings replaced 
11160 mi Rough idle and check engine light, replaced idle valve. 
28520 mi

C $500
ignition coil replaced 
40300 mi engine check engine on. engine not running smoothly on 4 cylinders. VVT valve that takes care of cylinder 1 and 3 had to be replaced. 
62000 mi

C $350
OCV Oil control valve 
65720 mi

C $450
2 ignition coils needed after check engine light and rough idle. 
66340 mi

C $70
idle switch 
C $900 exhaust midpipe rusted and perforated. 
69440 mi

C $300
ignition coil 
70060 mi

C $915
Tumbling valves 
75640 mi

C $700
Up pipe from exhaust manifold to turbo charger cracked causing exhaust leak 
84320 mi

C $1300
New radiator was required as plastic end tanks cracked upon removal. 
114000 mi

US $312
Replaced #1 oxygen sensor. Had check engine light. Had repair done right away account driving with bad oxygen sensor can cause catalytic converter failure which would cause expensive replacement. First repair to this car since owning new. 
140000 mi

US $530
My mechanic installed a new radiator account old one was leaking. 
54500 mi

US $1400
Car overheated. Towed to shop. Replaced thermostat, leaking hose, water pump, timing belt + tensioners. 
69000 mi

US $661
Check Engine Light - scan and retrieve codes 
69200 mi

US $640
Radiator inlet hose popped off. Radiator inlet flange was damaged. Replaced radiator and inlet (top) hose. 
69000 mi Check engine light came on 3 times in one week. Each time, the car went into 'limp' mode. Would not rev above 1200 rpm. Dealer read code P0638. Dealer was not able to diagnose further and did not attempt to repair. Check engine light came on 3 times in one week. Each time, the car went into 'limp' mode. Would not rev above 1200 rpm. Dealer read code P0638. Dealer was not able to diagnose further and did not attempt to repair. 
70000 mi Got P0638 check engine light. Car went into limp mode. Dealer (Irvine Subaru) replaced ECM. When I went to pick up the car, I got P0638 again. Dealer replaced the throttle body (including sensor and actuator). 
83000 mi

US $641
Engine leaking oil. Replaced valve cover gaskets. Also replaced leaky turbo coolant lines. 
104000 mi

US $1300
Car was overheating, replaced water pump. Did timing belt too. Coolant leak. Replaced radiator hose. 
104000 mi Coolant leak. Replaced radiator hose. 

Return to top

2006 Subaru Legacy 4dr Wagon

175-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

71300 mi

C $275
Oxygen sensor replaced 
125860 mi

C $678
Leaking Valve cover Gasket. Had valves adjusted as well - they had not been adjusted at 160,000 - no adjustment was required. 
143220 mi

C $530
Replaced Head gaskets due to oil leaks from both heads. Exhaust Valves and seats required machining. New valve seals and one cam shaft seal replaced. 
124020 mi

C $67
After starting car thermostat failed to open resulting in a pressure release of some anti-freeze. Thermostat, seal and antifreeze replaced. 
155000 mi

US $2000
replaced head gaskets 

Return to top

2006 Subaru Legacy 4dr Wagon

175-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

62300 mi OBD reset for loose gas cap 
96000 mi

US $1575
Problems with ECU/ECM. Update: Turns out it was NOT a defective ECU/ECM after all BUT a replaced ignition coil that was defective and needed OEM replacement to resolve problems. 
35900 mi Raw fuel smell coming from engine bay on cold startups. Technician was unable to replicate but tightened clamps on fuel rail hoses which did not fix the issue. 
56400 mi

US $320
Both VVT Oil pressure switches leaking oil. Switches replaced. 
62000 mi

US $96
Replaced front Oxygen sensor to fix intermittent P0131 CEL code. 
66000 mi

US $1400
Head gaskets leaking oil. Gaskets and all seals replaced. 

Return to top

2006 Subaru Legacy 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 250hp 2.5L H4 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

85000 mi

US $1800
A stumble at idle processed to a check engine light, codes for failure of #4. A coil pack, an injector or a tight valve. After lengthy diagnosis (for which not charged), found to be a tight valve. All four lifters were replaced. 
119900 mi

US $800
R&R Intake manifold 
129700 mi

US $2200
Replace Radiator 
142900 mi fix oil leak to turbocharger 
6200 mi Vehicle towed due to indication of overheat. No overheating occurred. Due to spurious microwave emissions affecting computer network. 
57300 mi

US $700
Tumble generator valve was bad; intake manifold was replaced. Radiator cap did not hold pressure. Replaced. 
64000 mi Check engine light turned on. When dealer checked it (flutter valve sensor fault), there was no issue. 

Return to top

2006 Subaru Legacy 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 250hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

112800 mi

US $345
Exhaust up pipe cracked causing P0171 engine code, rough idle, and stalling. 
144000 mi

US $200
Turbo inlet hose was torn. Replaced with an aftermarket silicone inlet Plastic end cap on radiator cracked. Replaced with same-as-OEM readiator from Koyo 
144000 mi

US $100
I had a misfire on cyls 2 and 3, which is when I found/replaced the turbo inlet hose in June '14. The cyl 2 misfire persisted. I pulled the coilpack, and it was corroded so I replaced. Car ran smoother, but cyl 2 misfire came back. 
126000 mi

US $598
two emission control items had to be replaced 
19220 mi

C $180
Primary O2 failure. 
140000 mi

US $1500
Turbo broke, had to be sent out to the specialist (balancing equipment cost more than 1M). April: I should receive rebuild turbo next week. 
142200 mi

US $700
turbo 
158000 mi

US $100
Valve gasket leaking oil 
48000 mi Faulty ECU - part ordered Replace ECU 
68000 mi

US $100
brief malfunction causing check engine light to go off, no problem 
114000 mi

US $250
Check engine light, low oil pressure, oil change, brakes resurfaced 
71000 mi

US $465
Replace alternator. 
87000 mi

US $30
Replace PCV valve system  
US $40 Replaced broken drive belts (power steering, AC, alternator) 
122000 mi

US $75
Replaced failed boost control solenoid due to intermittent failure/low boost issues. 
127300 mi

US $150
Radiator was leaking from top outlet, which was cracked. Replaced radiator and refilled coolant. 
131200 mi

US $120
Replaced turbo inlet and intake manifold to TGV gaskets to fix intermittent low boost issues and rough idle in cold weather. 

Return to top

2006 Subaru Legacy 4dr Sedan

175-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

60000 mi

US $140
front o2 sensor failed 
65000 mi

US $120
Replaced the front o2 sensor 
55000 mi Right side head gasket failure 

Return to top

2006 Subaru Legacy 4dr Sedan

175-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

77000 mi

US $2800
Engine gasket failed. Coolant leaking into engine. 
100600 mi

C $2000
Leaking head gaskets. Leak in oil pan gasket. Replaced noisy idle pulley and belt tensioner. 
173000 mi

US $2000
Head gasket leak, both sides, oil pan leak noticed and fixed at same time 
86000 mi

US $300
Failed accelerator sensor caused gas pedal to become unresponsive mid-drive. Replaced pedal assembly. 
90000 mi

US $400
Leakage from both radiator hoses. Radiator hoses and thermostat will require replacement. 
91000 mi Radiator hose leak. Again. 
92300 mi

US $50
leaky oil drain plug gasket 
112700 mi

US $400
replaced accelerator position sensor 

Return to top

See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans and Wagons.
See TrueDelta's information for all Subaru models.

2006 Subaru Legacy Engine Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2006 Subaru Legacy problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.