1991 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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

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

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

PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT TWO HANDS, ONE TO HOLD THE LOCKING MECHANISM , AND THE OTHER TO PULL THE LATCH. ALSO, DOOR CANNOT BE ENTERD FROM THE OUTSIDE IF IT'S LOCKED OR UNLOCKED WITHOUT THE KEY. THERE IS A RECALL 90V184 FOR THIS PROBLEM THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THAT RECALL. THIS PROBLEM WOULD PREVENT RAPID EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, FIRE, OR OTHER EMERGENCY. *AK *ML

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WOULD DROP DOWN LOWER THAT THE OTHER 3 WHEELS. DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDED AIR COMPRESSOR AND EVAPORATER. THAT DIDNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOOK CAR BACK TO MECHANIC, AND HE INDICATED ALL 4 AIRBAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT HAS FAILED - COST TO REPAIR: $500-700, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN MOST SUBARUS. IS THERE SOMETHING BEING DONE? I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU ARE DOING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THANKS.

LOCKSMITH SAYS HE REPLACES AT LEAST 10 OF THESE LOCKS PER YEAR IN OUR SMALL TOWN.

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGERS' REAR DOOR HANDLES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING DOORS TO LOCK WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT LOCK. AS A RESULT, A CHILD COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, PASSENGER'S DOOR IS VERY DIFFCULT TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

PASSENGER DOOR SWUNG LOOSE AND OPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT 60MPH. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE AS SINCE BEEN UNDRIVABLE DUE TO REASONS THAT PASSENGER OR OTHER DRIVER SAFETY ISSUES, WHICH LEAVES ME WITHOUT A CAR FOR COMMUTING TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY.

ENGINE IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

RECALL 90V184000. DOOR CLOSES/ LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY. INSIDE REQUIRES TWO HANDS, PUSHING AND PULLING LOCK UP AT SAME TIME. DOOR SHUT, AND OUTSIDE REQUIRES KEY TO UNLOCK FROM FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOORS. REAR DOORS REQUIRE OPENING FRONT DOOR ACCESS TO GET TO REAR. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

AUTOMATIC SEATBELT SYSTEM FAILED. KNOW OF MANY EXACT PROBLEMS WITH SYSTEM IN SUBARU FROM OTHER OWNERS. *AK

NO SUMMARY

DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT SHOULDER PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEAT BELT WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY COME BACK, IS INOPERABLE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER'S COSTS TO REPAIR FRONT SHOULDER BELT WOULD BE $900. *AK

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILED.

WHEEL ATTACHMENT BROKE, LOSS CONTROL, AND HIT A CURB.

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT MOTOR LOCKED UP.

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT: SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT MOVE INTO POSITION WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR. *AK

AUTOMATIC FRONT LEFT SEAT BELT FAILED.

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED.

THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DISENGAGED FROM PARK BY CHILD RESULTING IN A COLLISION DUE TO A DESIGN FEATURE CALLED THE (BYPASS SWITCH).

THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE LOCKS BY HAND AND OPEN DOOR AT SAME TIME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK COULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH A KEY. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER TO NO AVAIL. EMERGENCY EXITING FROM THE VEHICLE WOULD BE PREVENTED BY THE FAILED LOCK/LATCH ASSEMBLY. *AK

UPON PLACING THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND REVERSE BACK TO DRIVE WHEN COMING OUT A SMALL PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER HAVING AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.

AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR MALFUNCTIONED.

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.

DOOR HANDLE LOCK FAILED.

RIGHT SIDE AXLE SHAFT BROKEN. YH

WHEN CLOSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR THE POWER LOCKS WILL LOCK ALL DOORS WITHOUT ENGAGING THE LOCK SWITCH. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

OWNER STATES DOOR HANDLES ON VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED, AND THAT REAR HANDLE ALSO FAILED. DEALER REPLACED ELECTRONIC LOCK LEVER SEVERAL TIMES BUT PROBLEM REMAINS.OWNER VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK