1991 Subaru Legacy

Routine

Owners filed 78 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the latches/locks/linkages › doors › latch. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts12
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch12
000
Structure › Body › Door6
000
Vehicle Speed Control5
100
Power Train › Automatic Transmission5
100
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing3
000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage3
000
Visibility › Windshield2
000
Structure › Body2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor2
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Manual Transmission94V052000
Filed Mar 23, 199431,295 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

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.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission91V082000
Filed May 30, 199176,000 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

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.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch90V184000
Filed Oct 16, 1990103,744 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body
Filed Oct 11, 201756,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT'S ELBOW WAS CUT SEVERAL TIMES ON THE DOOR JAM WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 16, 2016CO

DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DRIVE CABLE SLIPS OUT OF TRACK MAKING SEAT BELT USELESS AND DANGEROUS.

Power Train
Filed Aug 1, 2012123,259 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND THE GEAR SHIFTER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,259.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 28, 2010193,100 milesID

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH AND FASTER, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BRIEFLY ILLUMINATE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY BE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 193,250.

Seat Belts
Filed May 31, 2007176,000 milesCO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT BELT JAMS IN THE MIDDLE AND RENDERS THE SEAT BELT INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED AND ON AUGUST 10, 2007 IT FAILED AGAIN. THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2007. UPDATED 09/27/07. *JB

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed Mar 18, 2004CA

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING WAS SEPARATING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THAT CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

Exterior LightingCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 16, 2003AZ

THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. DRIVER TRIED TO USE THE TURN SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION DUE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE NOT SEEING THE HEADLIGHTS. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND STERNUM INJURIES. *AK

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash
Filed Aug 19, 2003NM

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE DRIVER PUT SHIFTER IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF, DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HIT A BRICK WALL BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Sep 25, 2002SC

WITHIN ONE WEEK BOTH SEAT BELTS CAME APART. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $975.00 TO REPLACE THEM. DO I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE? THANK YOU.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jan 8, 2002IL

WHEN OPENING THE DOOR USING THE INSIDE HANDLE, UPON RELEASE OF THE DOOR HANDLE THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS TRIGGERED WHICH CAUSES ALL OF THE DOORS TO LOCK AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK IS JAMMED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO LOCK UPON CLOSING WHEN THE OUTER DOOR HANDLE IS ENGAGED *AND* THE DOOR HAS BEEN LOCKED. WHEN THE DOOR LOCK IS JAMMED IT REMAINS LOCKED UPON CLOSING WITHOUT ENGAGING THE OUTER DOOR HANDLE.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 4, 2001IN

LOCK ON VEHICLE DOESN'T WORK. CONSUMER STATED THAT WINDOW WILL BE LEFT DOWN IN ORDER TO GET INSIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT GOES UP AND DOWN. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Oct 1, 2001NJ

VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE FOR SHORT DISTANCES, THEN WILL STOP. CONSUMER FEELS THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Aug 23, 2001WA

FABRIC JOINT ON LAP BELT WAS PRINTED WITH A WARNING THAT THE BELT MUST BE REPLACED IF THE FABRIC IS BROKEN, PRESUMABLY IN A COLLISION. IT HAS WORN OUT THROUGH ABRASION FROM NORMAL USE, NO COLLISION IS INVOLVED. HOWEVER, IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED OTHERWISE A BASIC SAFETY COMPONENT REQUIRED BY LAW IS SIMPLY NOT THERE. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT SUCH A PART SHOULD NOT BE DESIGNED TO FAIL. HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ONE LOCAL DEALER THAT EVEN IF WE WANTED TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED, THAT THE PART FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A REASONABLE SITUATION.*AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed May 2, 2001UT

THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE ARE PERMANENTLY LOCKED.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 27, 2001NJ

A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO BLOOMFIELD GLASS COMPANY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER RETURNED TO SHOP AFTER WINDOW WAS REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK, DEALER STATED LEAK WAS DUE TO TAPE, SO THE TAPE WAS REMOVED, HOWEVER THERE WAS STILL AN AIR LEAK, NEW TAPE WAS PUT ON AND THIS DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM EITHER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS IS HIS PROBLEM. *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jan 26, 2001UT

OIL LEAK. *AK PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE RELEASE FAILED. *YH

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Dec 29, 2000CO

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 7, 2000CT

AIR CONTROL VALVE IS SLOW CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BE HARD TO PRESS. NLM

Equipment › Electrical
Filed Oct 31, 2000MA

THERE IS NO POWER COMING FROM THE LIGHTER SOCKET, DEALER REPLACED SOCKET AND ELEMENT. *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Oct 10, 2000MD

CONSUMER DETECTED THAT EXHAUST FUMES WERE SEEPING INTO THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FELT IT'WAS A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

20 of 78 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20256000Routine
202417010Routine
202310200Routine
202232210Routine
202131300Routine
2020121610Routine
2019123310Routine
2018117310Routine
2017119210Do not drive
2016147300Do not drive
2015159330Routine
2014531020Routine
2013661200Routine
2012901600Routine
20111671620Routine
20101501811Fatalities reported
2009651310Routine
200865910Routine
200733940Routine
200687711Fatalities reported
2005184940Routine
2004491100Routine
2003601500Routine
200254511Fatalities reported
200177820Routine
200094420Routine
199994310Routine
1998114520Routine
1997139620Routine
1996123440Routine
1995182230Routine
199460041Fatalities reported
199377110Routine
199255200Routine
1991 — this page78300Routine
199081420Routine

Compare every Legacy year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 23, 1994. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.