1995 Subaru Legacy

Routine

Owners filed 182 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal35
22016
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip12
100
Air Bags8
003
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch7
100
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs6
000
Fuel System, Other6
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline6
000
Electrical System › Horn6
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly5
000
Tires4
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs01V216000
Filed Jun 25, 2001180,000 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.

Risk. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Air Bags98V315000
Filed Dec 11, 199895,673 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.

Risk. UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOW HOOKS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension
Filed Dec 27, 2017190,000 milesMT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND GOUGED THE TIRE DOWN PAST THE STEEL BELT. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V216000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Nov 10, 2017218,877 milesWA

10/162017 - I WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET TO MEET MY WIFE FOR DINNER AFTER PARKING MY CAR. AS I WATCHED HER PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF ME IN THE LEGACY I SAW THE WINDSHIELD GET BLOWN OUT BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING DEPLOYED. SHE WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET TO CLEAR TO PULL IN AND WAS NOT MOVING VERY FAST AT ALL, APPROX 5 MPH. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND MY WIFE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM FLYING GLASS. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY OUR MECHANIC SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THE AIRBAG RECALL # 96V315000 PERFORMED ON 12/11/1998 APPARENTLY WAS NOT PERFORMED PROPERLY AND HE SUSPECTED THAT THE POORLY REMOVED TOW-HOOK WAS NOT CUT OFF SHORT ENOUGH (NOT TO THE RECALL SPEC) TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL INFLATION OF THE AIRBAG. I BELIEVE THAT THE REMAINING STUB OF THE TOW-HOOK MAY HAVE IMPACTED THE DRIVEWAY AS SHE PULLED IN DEPLOYING THE AIRBAG, WE CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEY BASICALLY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. SEE ATTACHED PICTURES FROM OUR MECHANIC AND EMAIL CORRESPONDENCES FROM SUBARU.

Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed Nov 14, 2014125,000 milesPA

THE LEFT REAR STRUT TOWER ON THE CAR ROTTED ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF . THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AS THE CAR WAS INSPECTED. OUT THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE REAR CROSSMEMBER WAS ROTTED AWAY ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE AND THE RIGHT REAR SIDE HAS A COUPLE OF ROT HOLES IN IT GETTING READY TO DO THE SAME THING THE LEFT SIDE DID. IF THE LEFT STRUT TOWER HAD COMPLETELY BROKE OFF THE TIRE WOULD HAVE GONE RIGHT INTO THE ROTTED WHEEL WELL PROBABLY CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW BECAUSE I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SLICED OPEN FROM THE JAGGED RUSTED METAL WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE CAR BODY ON THE LEFT SIDE TO DROP AND START TO SCRAP ON THE PAVEMENT. IF YOUR NOT FAMILIAR WITH A SUBARU THE GAS TANK IS LOCATED JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRES AND IT JUST ABOUT POKES INTO THE WHEEL WELL AREA. IN MY CALCULATIONS THE GAS TANK WOULD HAVE BEEN SCRAPPING THE PAVEMENT AND IT WAS FULL BY THE WAY. I HAVE EMAILED SUBARU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID A VIN# CHECK AND TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY STATED PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAR. *TR

Tires
Filed Sep 9, 2013201,000 milesCA

VEE RUBBER VITRON TIRES PURCHASED NEW 12/23/2011. ONE TIRES STEEL BELT SEPARATED, POPPED THROUGH THE TIRE IN TWO PLACES ON 09/07/2013. TIRE HAS LESS THAN 5K MILES ON IT. TWO SERVICE STATIONS (PEP BOYS, AND VINCE'S AUTO IN RESEDA, CA) INSPECTED THE TIRE AND ADVISED IT IS A DEFECTIVE TIRE. NEITHER COULD ADVISE OF ANY SCENARIO TO JUSTIFY WHAT HAPPENED. VINCE'S AUTO IS REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE TIRE FOR "NO CHARGE"; HOWEVER, THERE ARE 3 REMAINING TIRES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE. I'M SURPRISED THERE IS NO MENTION OF VEERUBBER NOR VITRON ON YOUR DROPDOWN LIST FOR RECALL SEARCH. TIRES ARE VEE RUBBER VITRON 195/60 R15 88H DOT 6MSJ 4910. PLEASE HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 29, 2012121,100 milesME

THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUBARU LEGACY MODELS ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT A MAN OF AVERAGE SHOE SIZE, WEARING BOOTS OF ANY KIND, IS LIABLE TO INADVERTENTLY APPLY PRESSURE TO BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THE "FIX" IS SIMPLE: SUBARU OF AMERICA SHOULD HANG THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION BRAKE PEDAL, WITH ITS SMALLER PAD FOOTPRINT, ON ALL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEGACY MODELS. PROBLEM SOLVED. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, AND IF WEARING BOOTS, I MUST MAINTAIN CONSTANT VIGILANCE TO AVOID THE POTENTIALLY LETHAL CONSEQUENCE OF APPLYING PRESSURE TO BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jan 5, 2012166,116 milesCT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V216000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,116. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. THE DEFECT RELATES TO AN EXISTING RECALL CAMPAIGN REGARDING THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. UPDATD 02/13/12

Suspension
Filed Aug 23, 2011209,000 milesNY

THE LEFT REAR STRUT TOWER ON THE CAR ROTTED ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING THE INTERIOR OVER THE STRUT TOWER TO BULGE WAY UP INSIDE THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I REMOVED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND FOUND OUT THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE STRUT TOWER WAS ROTTED AWAY ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE AND THE RIGHT REAR SIDE HAS A COUPLE OF ROT HOLES IN IT GETTING READ TO DO THE SAME THING THE LEFT SIDE DID. IF THE LEFT STRUT TOWER HAD COMPLETELY BROKE OFF THE TIRE WOULD HAVE GONE RIGHT INTO THE ROTTED WHEEL WELL PROBABLY CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW BECAUSE I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SLICED OPEN FROM THE JAGGED RUSTED METAL WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE CAR BODY ON THE LEFT SIDE TO DROP AND START TO SCRAP ON THE PAVEMENT. IF YOUR NOT FAMILIAR WITH A SUBARU THE GAS TANK IS LOCATED JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRES AND IT JUST ABOUT POKES INTO THE WHEEL WELL AREA. IN MY CALCULATIONS THE GAS TANK WOULD HAVE BEEN SCRAPPING THE PAVEMENT AND IT WAS FULL BY THE WAY. I HAVE EMAILED SUBARU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID A VIN# CHECK AND TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY STATED PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAR.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Jul 27, 2011180,000 milesPA

WE HAD A SLOW OIL LEAK AND OUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER STARTED GOING BAD AT THE SAME TIME. THE OIL LEAKED DOWN THE EXHAUST TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS OVER HEATING AND CAUSED A FLASH FIRE BURNING UP MY ENTIRE CAR. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Apr 27, 2011174,278 milesCO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FROZE AND WAS RESISTANT TO ENGAGEMENT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,278.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 15, 2011113,419 milesME

VEHICLE IS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY L WAGON WITH AUTO. TRANS. GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, AND AT THE SAME HEIGHT. ONE'S FOOT CAN INADVERTENTLY APPLY BOTH PEDALS AT ONCE, CAUSING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY. ALSO, CLEARANCE BETWEEN PEDALS AND LOWER DASH PANEL JUST ABOVE, IS MINIMAL. THIS CAN CAUSE FOOT (ESPECIALLY IN A WINTER BOOT) TO JAM IN THE LIMITED SPACE, RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY LIFTING FOOT FROM A PEDAL. IN AN OTHERWISE PRAISEWORTHY CAR, THESE FLAWS ARE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

Fuel System, Other
Filed Nov 19, 2010164,135 milesCT

FUEL TANK FILLER NECK LEAK AND FAILURE. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 24, 2009MD

CAR SHAKES AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. GIVES SENSATION OF INABILITY TO BRAKE. FEELING OF INSECURITY. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN DONE: RESURFACED FRONT AND BACK ROTORS AT 17,002 MILES. REPLACED FRONT AND REAR PADS AND FRONT ROTORS AND RESURFACED REAR ROTORS AT 29,154 REPLACED REAR ROTORS AND RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS AT 42,325. NOW AT ABOUT 53,000, FRONT ROTORS NEED REPLACING AGAIN! A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH FOUND ONE REPORTED FAILURE OF ABS IN 2005 LEGACY THAT POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I AM CONCERNED AND WORRIED THAT THIS CAR COULD PROVE UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY IF OUR BRAKES FAIL. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 3, 2008MD

SEAT BELT WEBBING STARTED DISINTEGRATING IN LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAVE SHORT VIDEO CLIP SHOWING THE DEFECT THAT I CAN FORWARD. *TR

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Oct 29, 2007155,000 milesWA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER LIFELINER TOURING SLE, SIZE 185/70R14 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOBBLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT AS EXTENSIVE WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR GREATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES CAUSED THE FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06T016000 (TIRES: TREAD/BELT) WAS REFERENCED. AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Dec 15, 2006198,000 milesVT

LEAKING FUEL FILLER NECK, LINES AND TANK ON OLDER SUBARU'S. OWNED 2 SUBARUS A 1993 IMPREZA AND A 1995 LEGACY BOTH GAS TANK SEAMS GET RUSTED OUT DUE TO CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND LEAK SAME AS FILLER NECKS AND LINES. CAUSES EMISSION PROBLEMS, TRIGGERS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON OBD2 CARS. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Jan 10, 2006ME

FAX ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER (ME) PERTAINING TO HIS DIFFICULTY IN OBTAIN A PART FOR THE DEFECTIVE GASOLINE TANK FILLER NECK OF HIS 1995 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. *TS THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAK FUEL UNTIL THE PART IS REPLACED. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Nov 16, 2005ME

FAX PERTAINING TO CONSUMER'S DIFFICULTY IN OBTAIN A PART FOR THE DEFECTIVE GASOLINE TANK FILLER NECK OF HIS 1995 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. *TS THE FAULTY FILLER NECK CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. *NM

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filling/Charging
Filed Oct 14, 2005184,000 milesME

DT: THE CONTACT DETECTED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE GENERATOR AND HIS WIFE'S VEHICLE IN WHICH NOTHING WAS FOUND. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED VEHICLE BACK INTO THE GARAGE HE NOTICED A GASOLINE STAIN WHERE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SUBARU DEALER, WHO NOTICED THE LEAK IMMEDIATELY WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE FILLER NECK OF THE GASOLINE STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FROM WHERE GASOLINE GAS PUMP NOZZLE GOES INTO THE GAS TANK ITSELF. THIS WAS CONSIDERED A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS PLASTIC AND BREAKING DOWN. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AT FOUR SEPARATE SUBARU DEALERS, THE FILLER NECK PART NUMBER WAS 42066FA030. OUT OF FEAR OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, SUCH AS AN EXPLOSION AND DEATH THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT ADDED THIS WAS THE SAME PART THAT WAS USED IN THE 1995-1997 SUBARU LEGACY VEHICLES. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Mar 22, 2005NY

APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY HOOD WAS PARTIALLY UNLATCHED (HELD BY SAFETY). I EXITED THE HIGHWAY, CLOSED THE HOOD AND MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. *AK THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE LATCH, BUT RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. ANOTHER SERVICE TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP RELAYED THAT HE ALSO HAD A HOOD LATCH FAILURE ON A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. PLAN TO REPLACE HOOD MECHANISM.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Mar 1, 2005170,000 milesOH

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON I-90 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE HOOD OF MY 1995 LEGACY SUBARU WAGON FLEW UP AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO FLY OFF INTO THE CAR. THE LATCH AND THE SAFETY LATCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED LAST WEEK AND I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR THE CAR. *JB

20 of 182 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
1995 — this page182230Routine
199460041Fatalities reported
199377110Routine
199255200Routine
199178300Routine
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: Jun 25, 2001. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.