1990 Subaru Legacy

Defect. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN CONTINUOUSLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES (-22 DEGREES F.) AND HIGH HUMIDITY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION BREATHING (AIR) VENT CAN BE BLOCKED DUE TO MOISTURE FREEZING AT THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE. IF THIS OCCURS, PRESSURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE WILL INCREASE AND PUSH OUT THE REAR OIL SEAL, CAUSING TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKAGE. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN BURN THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP.

Risk. SUDDEN STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN AROUND THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE OIL GAUGE PIPE AND MODIFY THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE (DIPSTICK) OR REPLACE IT, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF DIPSTICK IN THE VEHICLE.

Defect. UNDER CERTAIN LOAD CONDITIONS, THE PARK GEAR MAY NOT DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.

Risk. DELAYED RELEASE OF TRANSMISSION FROM PARK CAUSES DELAYEDAND POSSIBLY ABRUPT VEHICLE MOVEMENT THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE PAWL TO PREVENT DELAYED RELEASE INTO REVERSE GEAR.

Defect. TORQUE OF LATCH SCREWS ON FRONT DOORS MAY LOOSEN OVER TIME DUE TO A GAP BETWEEN THE LATCH BASE PLATE AND INNER DOOR PANEL UNDER THE SCREW HEAD.

Risk. THE AFFECTED DOOR MAY NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE,PREVENTING EXIT FROM THAT DOOR.

Remedy. REPLACE FRONT DOOR LATCH SCREWS WITH "LOCK-TIGHT" SCREWS.

Defect. THE DEFROSTER LEVER PIN OF THE DEFROSTER SHUTTER DOOR MAY BECOME DISLOCATED AND ALLOW THE SHUTTER TO CLOSE, PREVENTING DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING.

Risk. NON-FUNCTIONING DEFROSTER WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DRIVERVISIBILITY.

Remedy. INSTALL A POSITIONING STOPPER DEVICE TO PREVENT DISLOCATION OF DEFROSTER LEVER PIN TO ASSURE DEFROSTER OPERATION.

THE LOCK/LATCH ON MY CAR'S PASSENGER DOOR IS DEFECTIVE AND THE RECALL 90V18400 DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND COULD EASIY FAIL ANY DAY AND TRAP MY PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR. THE MANUFACTUER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. *AK

THE CV BOOTS ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY NEED REPLACING. *AK

THE VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKS EXPERIENCED THE DEFECT STATED IN RECALL 90 V 184 000 BUT IT'S VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DOOR. *NLM

HEADLIGHT DEVICE IS PLASTIC, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE WHEN TURNING HEADLIGHTS ON. DEALERSHIP IS NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE PLASTIC LENS MATERIAL BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY LESS TRANSPARENT WITH TIME, DIMINISHING VISABILITY AT NIGHT. THE ADJACENT TURN SIGNAL LENS HAS NOT AGED. THIS INDICATES TO CONSUMER THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENS IS NOT MADE FROM THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE TURN SIGNAL LENS. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD LOCK ITSELF WHENEVER THE DOOR IS SHUT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM

I HAVE A 1990 SUBARU LEGACY. EACH TIME I TRY TO EXIT THE CAR THE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. IT HAS AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS THAT ARE ACCUATED BY PUSHING THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK. I HAVE HAD THE LOCK APART AND THE PROBLEM WITH ALL 4 OF MY DOOR IS THAT A SINGLE SPRING IN THE LOCK MECHANISM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION AND TO HAVE THE LOCK BUYYON STAY OPEN. THE HANDLE IS ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SPRING AND THAT PART OF THE SPING KEEPS THE DOOR LOCK OPEN. WELL, THE DOOR LOCK PORTION OF THE SPRING IS WORN OUT AND EVERY TIME YOU USE THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE, THE WEAK HALF OF THE LOCK SPRING CLOSES THE LOCK. I AM A BATTALION CHIEF FOR A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF A PROBLEM ONE MIGHT HAVE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THIS CAR IN A HURRY. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU WITH NO RELIEF. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1990 - 1994 MODELS. OUR LOCAL PARTS HOUSES HAVE ALSO SAID THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE OTHER OWNERS THAT SAY THE SAME. IT IS $200.00 A DOOR TO REPAIR. PLEASE CONTACT ME ON THIS. THANKS [XXX][XXX]OR[XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

LOCKS ON DOOR WILL LOCK EVEN WHEN UNLOCKING DOORS. LOCKS WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BACK UP. CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD LOCK U, AND THEN PUSH THE DOOR OPEN TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *YH

I NOTICED ANOTHER INCIDENT ON THE DATABASE REPORTING THIS SAME FAILURE. THE PLASTIC SHIELD TRAPS DEBRIS AGAINST THE FILLER PIPE CAUSING THE PIPE TO RUST THROUGH. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY '90 SUBARU LEGACYS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD, BUT I SUSPECT (GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE RUST), THAT ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE THIS SAME CONDITION. EVEN IF THEY HAVEN'T RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT OF LEAKING, THEY MAY EASILY RUPTURE UPON IMPACT. *AK

BOTH FRONTAL PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELTS FAIL TO OPERATE, WILL NOT GO AROUND THE TRACKS, LEAVING DRIVER AND PASSENGER WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT IF VEHICLE GETS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND WILLING TO GO HALF IN REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE HAS A MASTER DOOR LOCK BUTTON ON DRIVER'S SIDE. 2 REAR DOORS LOCK WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. PASSENGER'S DOOR SHOULD NOT LOCK ONCE IT'S CLOSED. LOCK KNOB HAS TO BE HELD UP TO OPEN ANB CLOSE THE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN LOCKED OUT A FEW TIMES BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

PASSENGER FRONT DOOR-LOCK FAILED INITIALLY REQUIRING PASSENGER TO MANUALLY PUSH LATCH AND PULL DOOR LEVER SIMUTANEOUSLY IN ORDER TO OPEN DOOR. REAR DOOR-LOCKS DO NOT WORK NOW AND REQUIRE SAME EFFORT. ALL DOORS WILL LOCK ON THEIR OWN WHILE GETTING IN AND OUT. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR FIRE, THE OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. ALSO, DRIVER-SIDE VISOR FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING WHICH HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS. CONTACTED SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR BOTH PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP UNWILLING TO FIX WITHOUT CHARGING ME FOR REPLACEMENT AND LABOR OF ALL PARTS. DOOR LOCKS PRICED AT $130 EACH AND VISOR WAS AROUND $80 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS CORRECTED IN THE MID-90'S ON LEGACY MODELS.*AK

FUEL FILLER PIPE LEAKING - FUEL PIPE RUSTED CAUSING FUEL TO DRIP FROM FILLER PIPE NEAR PASSENGER REAR TIRE. RUST CAUSED BY MUD/DIRT AND MOISTURE GETTING STUCK BETWEEN PLASTIC PIPE SHIELD AND FUEL PIPE.*AK

MFG REFUSED TO FIX REAR DOOR LATCHES UNDER NHTSA RECALL 90V18400. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS WITH THE FRONT DOORS. FAILURE OF THE LATCHES WOULD NOT PERMIT EXIT FROM CAR IN A WRECK AND WHO IS LIKELY TO RIDE IN THE REAR..CHILDREN WHO WOULD PANIC. I WAS CHARGED $140 TO CORRECT THESE MANUFACTURE DEFECTS THAT HAD BEEN PART OF, IN MY OPINION, A SAFETY RECALL AS NOTED. WAS IT YOUR INTENT FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT THAT ALL LATCHES WERE TO BE REPAIRED ON THESE CARS OR JUST THE FRONT LATECHES??

I ALSO PURCHASED AN 1992 SUBARU SVX THAT HAS A FAILED TRANSNISSION (SAME STYLE TRANNY) THIS CAR HAS 146000 MILES ON IT, II'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT APPEARS THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE PRONE TO FAILURE, OUR LEGACY'S WENT OUT ON THE INTERSTATE, AND COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN FATAL

THE LAP BELTS IN THIS VEHICLE HAVE COME APART AT THE "FLAP" WHERE THE BELTS SNAP INTO THE RECEPTACLE. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN SEVERAL SHOPS, AND NONE CAN GET REPLACEMENT BELTS. THE LATEST ATTEMPT WAS WITH THE SUBARU DEALER IN NEW ORLEANS, AND THEY HAVE "ORDERED THEM FROM JAPAN". SO FAR, NO BELTS. JUNK YARDS SOMETIMES HAVE THE BELTS, FOR $100, AND THEY ARE FAULTY TOO. WE WERE ADVISED BY THE SUBARU DEALER NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE BELTS ARE REPLACED, YET WHAT CAN WE DO WHEN NONE ARE AVAILABLE. THERE MUST BE MANY MORE 1990 SUBARU OWNERS WITH THIS SAME DILEMMA. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE, AND WOULD BEAR INVESTIGATING. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE WILL BE APPRECIATED. *AK

POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCK BY THEMSELVES. *AK

THE DOOR HANDLE WHEN OPENED CAUSES THE DOOR TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BROKE IN 1993. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR BROKE IN 1998. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR BROKE IN 1999 WHICH IS THE MOST ANNOYING AS IT LOCKS ALL THE DOOR EVERY TIME THE HANDLE IS USED TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. IT COSTS $80 TO REPLACE THE PART.

DESIGN FLAW OF RIGHT FRONT AXLE CAME OFF THE WHEEL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DEPEND ON REAR WHEEL DRIVE ONLY AND ALLOWED THE FRONT RIGHT DRIVE LINE SPIN AIMLESSLY, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS IN TRANSFER CASE. *AK

WHEN DRIVER TOOK OFF FROM A STOP WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES, VEHICLE TOOK OFF. SHIFTING THE VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL AND HEAVY BRAKE APPLICATION STOPPED THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 15 MINTUES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN 90 MPH. YH

POWER STEERING PIPE A AND PIPE B

(1) THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR IS FINE; BUT IT COMES ON ONLY OCCASIONALLY; MECHANICS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. (2) DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING CAUSES GREAT INCONVENIENCE; (3) SUN VISOR FALLING DOWN IMPAIRS VISION; VELCRO AND EVEN DUCT TAPE WON'T KEEP IT UP. *AK

DOOR LOCKS FAILED ON ALL DOORS. MJS

LEFT FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE AFTER UNLOCKING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTER OR EXIT VEHICLE. YH

I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO SUBARU(EVEN THE CEO).SUBARU CASE # 203430.SUBARU WAS NOT INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THE PART FOR EVALUATION AND DETERMING THE ROOT CAUSE OF FAILURE.(I STILL HAVE THE ABS UNIT ) THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE ABS HOUSING FELL APART. THREE BOLTS CAME OUT AND ONE WAS BROKEN OFF WITHIN THE HOUSING. ONCE THE HOUSING CAME OFF THE PISTON AND PARTS CAME ALONG.(THIS WAS ALL ON THE UNDERSIDE SO IT WAS NOT VISABLE UNTILL THE UNIT WAS REMOVED) I WAS TOLD BY SUBARU THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THE PART BECAUSE " THE CAR IS OLD AND HAS A LOT OF MILEAGE , WHICH IS TRUE " ,IT STILL SHOULDN'T COME APART. THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER ABS THAT LOOKS EXACTLY THE SAME , SO IT IS IN PRESENT PRODUCTION. ALL I WANTED FROM SUBARU WAS FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE INTEREST IN THIS FAILURE. THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN EVALUATE THIS FAILURE IS TO SEE WHAT WENT WRONG. YOU DO NOT DUMP ALL YOUR BRAKE FLUID BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM LITERALLY COMES APART. *AK

DOOR LOCKS FAIL IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND WILL NOT STAY OPEN WITHOUT MANUALLY HOLDING THE LOCK OPEN. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED UNLESS YOU USE ONE HAND TO HOLD THE LOCK OPEN AND THE OTHER TO PULL THE HANDLE. IF YOU CANNOT REACH THE DOOR LOCK WITH 2 HANDS YOU ARE A VIRTUAL CAPTIVE UNLESS SOMEONE HELPS FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.

WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH OR ABOVE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS. VEHICLE DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DOOR HANDLES CONTINUALLY CRACKING.

DOOR LOCKS ON ITS OWN PUSHING ON LOCK INSIDE. PULLING LEVER OUTSIDE DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES WORKS. WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY DUE TO PROBLEM WITH LOCKS.*AK *ML

DOORS WOULD LOCK BY THEMSELVES. WHEN PUSHED OR PULLED FROM EITHER OUTSIDE OR INSIDE, DOORS WILL NOT OPEN PROPERLY. *AK

PASSENGER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO OPEN AND UNLOCK WITHOUT MANEUVERING DOOR HANDLE AND LOCK. *AK

RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THIS WAS DUE TO A BROKEN INTERNAL LATCH ASSEMBLY OF THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR. *SLC

THE PASSENGER'S DOOR LOCKS THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR.IF DOOR IS IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION, IT MOVES ON ITS OWN TO THE LOCKED POSITION WHEN A PASSENGER ATTEMPTS TO OPEN DOOR.DEALER IS WAITING FOR PARTS. *AK

DOOR LOCK FAILED.

LOCK HAS BEEN DISENGAGED, THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *JB

ALL DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK AS DESIGNED. IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER MUST USE TWO HANDS; ONE TO HOLD DOWN THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON, AND WITH THE OTER HAND SIMULTANEOUSLY PULL THE HANDLE.

EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON AND VEHICLE WENT DOWN A HILL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE ON 7/17. HUSBAND SUSPECTS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORBELT STICKS.

TRANSAXLE FAILED.

AFTER DOOR LOCK IS PULLED, LOCK WOULD REENGAGE BY ITSELF. CAN PRESS DOWN/UP ON DOOR LEVER & IT LOCKS. WOULD NEED TO HOLD LATCH UP & PRESS DOWN/UP ON LEVER TO OPEN DOOR. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & HAVE LATCH/LOCK REPAIRED. *AK

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS.

CONSTANT ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK FAILURE.

SEAT BELTS FAILED.

SEAT BELT FAILED

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. WHEN PULLING OVER THERE WAS A FIRE, WHICH LOOKED TO HAVE STARTED BETWEEN THE REAR WHEELS. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY OWNER. NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED FIRE. *AK

FRONT AND REAR STRUTS FAILED.

VEHICLE'S REAR PASSAGER SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LOCK INTO THE ANCHORAGE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

CV JOINT FAILURE.

PULLING INSIDE LEVER TO UNLOCK DOOR, PUTS THE DOOR IN THE LOCKED POSITION.

DOOR LOCK SPRINGS BREAK, PREVENTING DOORS FROM BEING UNLOCKED ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY.