Safety ratings
1990 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (4)
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONCampaign 91V082000 · 30/05/1991
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.
Fix: INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE PAWL TO PREVENT DELAYED RELEASE INTO REVERSE GEAR.
- POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSIONCampaign 94V052000 · 23/03/1994
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.
Fix: 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.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHCampaign 90V184000 · 16/10/1990
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.
Fix: REPLACE FRONT DOOR LATCH SCREWS WITH "LOCK-TIGHT" SCREWS.
- VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEMCampaign 90V110000 · 04/06/1990
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.
Fix: INSTALL A POSITIONING STOPPER DEVICE TO PREVENT DISLOCATION OF DEFROSTER LEVER PIN TO ASSURE DEFROSTER OPERATION.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- STRUCTURE18
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES18
- SEAT BELTS15
- POWER TRAIN12
- FUEL SYSTEM4
- GASOLINE4
- EQUIPMENT3
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/30/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
- 12/20/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
- 12/18/2001· SEAT BELTS
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
- 12/03/1998· EQUIPMENT
AIR CONDITIONER PRESSURE HOSE FAILED.
- 12/02/1997· SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED.
- 11/30/2001· STRUCTURE
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
- 11/24/1999· POWER TRAIN
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
- 11/22/1996· STRUCTURE
VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM IS ERRATICALLY PERFORMING, WHEN DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPEN ALL OTHER DOORS LOCK; ALSO, THIS IS NOT THE DESIGN. PASSENGER DOOR WILL LOCK WHILE DOOR LATCH IS OPENED OR IT WILL LOCK WHEN EXITING. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE PASSENGER DOOR IS TO DEPRESS UNLOCKED POSITION OF DOOR LOCK WHILE OPENING DOOR, THIS REQUIRES TWO HANDS AND THE ABILITY TO DO SO, MANFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED AS CONSUMER WAS BEYOND 100,00 WARRANTY, AND WAS NOT DEEMED AS A SAFETY HAZARD TO EITHER PARTY.*JB
- 11/16/1995· SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTS TOO TIGHT AROUND DRIVER. TT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE SO TIGHT THAT CONSUMER FEELS CHEST WILL BE CRUSHED, CONSUMER HAS TO OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO RELIEVE PRESSURE, WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED AGAIN IT WORKS FINE. FAILURES ARE EXTEMELY RANDOM.*JB
- 11/12/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
- 10/31/1996· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, THE DOOR LOCKS ITSELF, HAVE TO HOLD THE UNLOCKED BOTTON TO OPEN THE DOOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL. *AK
- 10/30/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire
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
- 10/29/1999· TIRES
TIRES WORN OUT PREMATURELY. (YAMAHA) YH
- 10/28/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOORS WOULD LOCK BY THEMSELVES. WHEN PUSHED OR PULLED FROM EITHER OUTSIDE OR INSIDE, DOORS WILL NOT OPEN PROPERLY. *AK
- 10/28/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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
- 10/24/1996· SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT EITHER WAY. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL. *AK
- 10/23/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL INJECTOR WIRINGS GROUNDED, RAW FUEL TO BE DUMPED INTO THE ENGINE WHILE RUNNING, WITHOUT WARNING 2 QUARTS OF FUEL CAME OF OIL PAN AND ALSO OUT OF EXHUAST
- 10/20/1995· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCKS; LOCKS WILL ENGAGE AUTOMATICALLY DUE POSSIBLE SPRING MECHANISM. HAD SPRINGS REPLACED W/FAILURE REOCCURING SIX MONTHS LATER. MFG WILL NO LONGER ASSIST
- 10/20/1995· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
REAR TRUNK LATCH BROKE. *SD
- 10/16/1997· POWER TRAIN
WHEEL BEARING FAILED.
- 09/29/1998· STRUCTURE
PASSENGER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO OPEN AND UNLOCK WITHOUT MANEUVERING DOOR HANDLE AND LOCK. *AK
- 09/20/2001· STRUCTURE
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
- 09/17/2003· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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
- 09/16/2000· POWER TRAIN
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
- 09/14/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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
- 09/14/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
ACCELERATOR STUCK, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SD
- 09/12/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL CONDITIONS OF STALLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ACCELERATING UPON BRAKING AND DIFFICULT STARTING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
- 09/07/1995· SEAT BELTSCrash
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT DURING VEHICLE IMPACT. TT
- 09/02/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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
- 09/01/2004· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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
- 09/01/1999· STEERING
POWER STEERING PIPE A AND PIPE B
- 09/01/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCK FAILED.
- 08/22/2002· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
- 08/04/1997· SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE'S REAR PASSAGER SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LOCK INTO THE ANCHORAGE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
- 07/31/1997· POWER TRAIN
CV JOINT FAILURE.
- 07/29/1996· STRUCTURE
DOOR LOCK/HANDLE MECHANISM FAILED, NOT ALLOWING PASSENGER TO EXIT VEHICLE. *SD
- 07/21/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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
- 07/17/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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.
- 07/15/1997· STRUCTURE
PULLING INSIDE LEVER TO UNLOCK DOOR, PUTS THE DOOR IN THE LOCKED POSITION.
- 07/14/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
- 07/05/1999· STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT
(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
- 07/03/1995· SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, UNABLE TO LATCH SEAT BELT. *AK
- 07/02/1998· PARKING BRAKE
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
- 06/26/1995· EQUIPMENTCrash
JACK DISLODGED UPON IMPACT AND SMASHED *AK THROUGH THE WINDOW ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF CAR AND LANDED ON THE GROUND.
- 06/19/1997· STRUCTURE
DOOR LOCK SPRINGS BREAK, PREVENTING DOORS FROM BEING UNLOCKED ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY.
- 06/17/1998· SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORBELT STICKS.
- 06/07/1995· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
POOR LATCHES/LOCKS DUE TO DESIGN. DOOR-SWITCH ASSEMBLY PUSHING ON EITHER SIDE LOCKS OR UNLOCKS DOORS. *AK
- 06/05/1996· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCKS/LATCHES FAILED, PREVENTIN GOPENING OF THE DOORS FROM INSIDE/EXTERIOR AS WELL. *AK
- 06/01/1995· STRUCTURE
SUNVISOR CONTINUOUSLY SLIPS DOWN WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT VISOR WHEN GETTING IN VEHICLE/INJURY. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479694) *SKD
- 05/28/1998· POWER TRAIN
TRANSAXLE FAILED.