The 2022 Legacy is still very new with limited failure history, but early patterns show transmission concerns and the 2.4T carries inherent CVT stress issues. Most units under 60k miles are still under powertrain warranty, making real-world cost data sparse.
CVT Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission overheating warning light, CVT fluid contamination with coolant (milky appearance), Harsh shifting or slipping under load, Loss of forward gears after severe overheat
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler and flush both CVT fluid and coolant. If contamination is caught late, CVT rebuild or replacement required. 3-5 hours labor for cooler only, 12-16 hours if CVT needs replacement.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 cooler only; $5,500-8,000 with CVT replacement
Transmission Mount Premature Wear (2.4T Turbo)
Common · low severityTypical onset: 30,000-50,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking on hard acceleration or deceleration, Excessive drivetrain movement felt through shifter area, Vibration at idle in Drive, More pronounced with aggressive driving or towing
Fix: Replace rear transmission mount, occasionally front as well. The 2.4T's torque output fatigues factory mounts faster than 2.5L models. 1.5-2 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $350-550
2.4T Engine Piston Ring / Short Block Issues
Rare · high severityTypical onset: 20,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000-2,000 miles), Blue smoke on cold start or under load, Low compression on one or more cylinders, Check engine light with misfire codes, Metallic knocking noise if bearing damage has occurred
Fix: Subaru has issued TSBs for early 2.4T piston ring failures. Most cases under warranty get short block replacement (factory reman). Out of warranty: 18-24 hours labor for short block swap including fluids, timing components, and gaskets.
Estimated cost: $6,500-9,500 out-of-warranty
Fuel Filter Clogging (Contaminated Fuel)
Rare · medium severitySymptoms: Rough idle and hesitation under acceleration, Hard starting or extended cranking, Loss of power on highway, Check engine light with fuel trim or pressure codes
Fix: In-tank fuel pump module replacement required (filter is not serviceable separately on this generation). Usually traced to bad gas from one fill-up. 2-3 hours labor including tank drop.
Estimated cost: $650-950
CVT Judder and Hesitation (Software-Related)
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 10,000-40,000 mi
Symptoms: Hesitation from stop or low-speed acceleration, Shuddering sensation between 20-40 mph, Occasional delayed engagement into Drive or Reverse, More noticeable in cold weather
Fix: Usually resolved with CVT software update at dealer. If persists, CVT fluid drain/refill with updated fluid spec. 0.5 hours for software flash, 1 hour for fluid service.
Estimated cost: $0-200 (often covered under warranty or goodwill)
Too new to call definitively, but early 2.4T piston issues and CVT stress patterns mirror older Subaru problems—buy CPO with extended warranty or budget for transmission and engine risk after 60k.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.