1994 Subaru Legacy

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1997· SEAT BELTS

  THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE SHOULDER BELT WHICH IS LOCKED IN THE TRACK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/28/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FLAME SHOOTING OUT OF FILLER NECK UPON TAKEN OFF GAS CAP. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND, AND DEALER'S TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT STATIC FROM CONSUMER'S HAND MAY HAVE TRIGGERED FLAMES. PLEASE FILL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

• 12/26/2000· TIRESCrash

  MY FIANCEE WAS KILLED WHEN HIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION ON A FIRESTONE TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P185/70R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185/70R14 )

• 12/15/2001· SEAT BELTS

  BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY I HAVE TO CLIMB UNDER THE SHOLDER BELT WHEN GETING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THET THE SAFE OPERATION OF A MAJOR ITEM REQUIRED BY LAW WOULD HAVE TO BE SERVICEABLE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE NOT AS IN THIS CASE THE HALF LIFE. *AK

• 12/07/1994· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN TACHOMETER READS 1600 RPM IN LOWER GEARS OR WHEN ON STEEPER GRADES.

• 11/16/2008· POWER TRAIN

  1994 SUBARU LEGACY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. AFTER CAR WARMS UP, WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE THE TRANSMISSION FAILS ALTOGETHER AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. AFTER A COOLING OFF PERIOD, THE CAR WILL PROCEED FOR A SHORT DURATION. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON ISSUE DUE TO DESIGN DEFICIENCIES CAUSING AN OVER HEATING AND COMPONENT FAILURE. IT IS NOT CORRECTED YET. *TR

• 11/14/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED.

• 11/06/2000· TIRES

  1ST TIME WAS TRAVELING 70MPH & HEARD A THUMPING SOUND. DASHBOARD STARTED TO SHAKE. LOST CONTROL & STARTED GOING BACK AND FORTH. WENT LEFT INTO A BARRIER. AFTER VEHICLE STOPPED, CHECKED TIRES AND NOTICED RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS SHREDDED. 2ND TIME WAS THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM; THUMPING/ DASHBOARD SHAKING/ LOSS OF CONTROL, AND FELT LIKE A FLAT. STOPPED/CHECKED AND NOTICED TREAD WAS PARTIALLY OFF LEFT FRONT TIRE. FIRESTONE, FR440, P185/70414 WITH 60,000 MILES ON RIGHT REAR TIRE, AND 65,000 MILES ON THE LEFT FRONT.*AK

• 11/02/2001· PARKING BRAKE

  CONSUMER STATED THE PARKING BRAKE RELASE BUTTON BROKE, DUE TO BEING MADE OF PLASTIC. *YD

• 11/01/2001· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS A SUDDEN STOP IN FRONT OF THE LANE. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS THIRD IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT. SHE WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, AND AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD . SHE HIT STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. ALSO, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.*AK

• 10/21/1996· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  CONSUMER HAD AUTO ACCIDENT ON 10/18/96 AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD HIM. *AK

• 10/15/1999· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT, AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER. *AK

• 10/03/2000· SEAT BELTS

  MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO WORK. REMAINED IN THE SAME POSITION AT TOP OF DOOR TRACK. HAVE TO UNCLIP SHOULDER BELT TO GET IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE. LAP BELT SEPARATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT BELT DUE TO BEING OVER 100,000 MILES. *AK

• 09/20/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

• 09/14/2005· SEAT BELTS

  DT: 1994 SUBARU LEGACY L ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT BROKE. THE SEAT BELT IS CONNECTED TO THE DOOR, AND WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT WILL NOT RUN THE TRACK TO BE IN THE PROPER POSITION FOR SAFETY. THIS IS ON THE SHOULDER PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE LAP BELT ALONE IS NOT SAFE USE. HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE SEAT BELT, AND THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT WAS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 3 YEARS. THE COST TO REPLACE THE MOTOR OF THE SEAT BELT IS AT LEAST $400. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WITH THIS SEAT BELT MOTOR PROBLEM. BASED ON WHAT THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING TO THE MOTOR GOING OUT, NO NOISES, AND NO INDICATOR LIGHTS, IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. *AK

• 09/07/1998· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY ON-RAMP, THE OVERDRIVE WENT OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR AND GET DISABLED VEHICLE OFF THE FREEWAY.

• 09/03/1997· SEAT BELTS

  WHEN SHUTTING THE DOOR THE SEAT BELT WILL MOVE HALFWAY UP THE DOOR AND THEN QUIT. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. *YD

• 08/29/1997· SEAT BELTS

  THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS STUCK AT THE MID-POINT OF THE SEAT BELT TRACK ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT NOT TO FUNCTION. *AK *SLC

• 08/22/2000· SEAT BELTS

  PASSENGER'S SIDE RESTRAINT ON GUIDERAIL WAS NOT RETRACTING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

• 08/21/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL PUMP WIRING SHORTED OUT IN THE GAS TANK. *TR

• 08/06/2001· SEAT BELTS

  SHOULDER BELT FOR THE DRIVER'S RESTRAINT BELT SYSTEM IS STUCK IN AN UNUSABLE POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE ALONG THE TRACK. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER HOW MUCH REPAIRS WOULD RUN, AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WIRE WHICH PULLS THE MOVABLE PART IS OFF THE TRACK AND HANGING, IT FAILED COMPLETELY SOMETIME IN JUNE OF 2001. *SLC

• 08/06/2001· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING UNDER WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES AND HANDLING IMPROPERLY. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. *AK CONSUMER FEELS THAT DUE TO IMPROPER SPRINGS THE FOLLOWING ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED, SHOCKS, SHAFTS, STABILIZING LINKS, AND BEARINGS. *SLC

• 08/05/1997· SEAT BELTS

  SHOULDER HARNESS ATTACHED TO DOOR IS STUCK & REMAINS OPEN. HAPPENS RATHER WHEN DOOR IS LOCKED/UNLOCKED OR ENGINE IS ON OR OFF. *AK

• 07/28/2003· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT SLIDING RETRACTOR WILL NOT MOVE, MAKING USE OF THIS SEAT BELT INOPERABLE,

• 07/25/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THEY WOULD VIBRATE REALLY HARD AND SOMETIMES THEY GO OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 07/23/1998· SEAT BELTS

  MOTORBELTS FAILED THREE TIMES. (QCAW)

• 07/15/2002· AIR BAGS

  I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS ROLLING BACK, SO I APPLIED MY BRAKE AND THE AIR BAG WENT OFF. THE CAR HAS BEEN TESTED THREE TIMES AT THE REQUEST OF SABARU CORP. TO SEE WHAT WENT WRONG, THEY CAN NOT FIND THE REASON, THERE WAS NO COLLISION, THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS, I WAS TOLD IT SHOULD NOT DO THIS. THEY WANT ME TO PAY $500.00 OF THE $1000 TO REPAIR IT AND I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT.

• 07/15/1997· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT FAILED.

• 07/01/1998· SEAT BELTS

  AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED.

• 06/29/1996· STRUCTURE

  HYDRAULIC SHOCKS MAKE HATCHBACK DIFFICULT TO CLOSE, RESULTING IN INJURY. *DH

• 06/27/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  AFTER ONLY 7K THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED, BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE GRIDING SOUNDS. TT

• 06/18/2000· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  THE TAILATE LATCH HANDLE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT...IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT OPEN, WHEN IT DOES YOU NEED A TOOL TO RELATCH IT DOWN OR ELSE THE DOOR WILL FLY OPEN *AK

• 06/12/2000· STRUCTURE

  THE SUN VISOR SHAFT BROKE OFF CAUSING THE SUN VISOR TO FAIL. YH

• 06/11/2004· SEAT BELTS

  WE HAVE A 1994 SUBARU LEGACY. WHEN THE CAR WAS OUT OR WARRANTY, THE DRIVER SIDE RETRACTABLE SHOULDER HARNESS BROKE. WE COMPLAINED TO SUBARU AND THEY FIXED IT AT NO COST TO US IN 1999. IT WASN'T WORKING AGIAN AND WE PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED IN 2000.ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO IT BROKE AGAIN. THE SHOULDER HARNESS WOULD NOT RETRACT. WE WERE TOLD BY SUBARU THEY WOULD NOT HELP US. NOW WE FIND OUT THAT IT IS A TICKETABLE OFFENSE NOT TO HAVE A SHOULDER HARNESS. THERE IS A LAP BLET AND AN AIR BAG. SO WE CALLED SABARU AND THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD BE REPONSIBLE FOR 50% OF THE BILL. WE WENT TO THE SUBARU DEALER YESTERDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE $1140 TO FIX IT. WE FEEL THAT IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT FOR A SAFETY ITEM. I CALLED THEM BACK AND THEY WILL NOT HELP ME OUT. THIS SAFETY BELT IS POORLY DESIGNED AND THEY HAVE ADMITTED AND REDESIGNED IT IN FUTURE MODELS. OUR BELT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTS WHEN YOU TURN ON THE CAR AND HAS A CABLE AND A MOTOR. THERE IS ALSO A FEDERAL LAW THAT SAFTEY BELTS ARE GUARENTEED FOR LIFE. EVEN THE LAP BELT ON THIS VEHICLE NEEDS REPLACEMENT AS THE STICHING IS COMING OUT. *AK WE WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN MALKING SUBARU RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR SAFETY WHILE WE ARE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. ELLEN GOLDBERG

• 06/05/2002· AIR BAGS

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 06/05/2000· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING. THIS WOULD HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN COLD WHEATHER.*AK

• 06/01/2000· STEERING

  THE CONSUMER WOULD FILL IN THE INFORMATION CONCERNING GEAR STEERING BOX FAILURE. *AK

• 05/29/1997· SEAT BELTS

  SHOULDER BELT: AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT ENGAGE AS IT SHOULD WHEN IN USE. BELT IS LOOSE, THEREFORE, FEELS LIKE IT IS USELESS. *AK

• 05/25/1995· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK SOMETIMES TRYING TO GET INTO THIRD GEAR. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO TO TRY AND CORRECT PROBLEM. TT

• 05/12/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY THROTTLE STUCK TO FLOOR WIDE OPEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. TT

• 05/04/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE IS AKNOCKING NOISE. *AK

• 04/25/1999· SEAT BELTS

  DOES NOT ENGAGE ON START-UP, RANDOM ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING, SAFETY IS THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY! HAD MECHANIC DISENGAGE MOTOR, NOW OPERATES MANUALLY. EST. COST OF REPAIR- $200-$350.

• 04/22/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MOTOR DRIVE BELT FAILED.

• 04/21/1998· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT MOTORBELTS FAILED.

• 04/17/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  VEHICLE PARKED, PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE POSITION, WENT OPEN THROTTLE, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION SPEED UNKNOWN, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY

• 04/14/1999· SEAT BELTS

  THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FAILED. THE CABLE HAS COME OUT OF THE TRACK AND THE ANCHOR (AROUND THE DOOR) NO LONGER MOVES, ALTHOUGH THE BELT MOTOR STILL WORKS, THE BELT CANNOT BE MOVED INTO A FULL BACK POSITION. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT FAIL AND IN MY OPINION SHOULD BE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER. SUBARU HAS NOW, AFTER SOME CALLS, OFFERED PAY FOR THE PARTS IF I PAY THE LABOR FOR INSTALLATION OF A COMPLETE NEW KIT FOR THE TRACK, ETC. IS THIS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT SUBARU SHOULD BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR? I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE SEATBELT SYSTEM SHOULD BE LUBED ONCE A YEAR TO PREVENT THE $450 FAILURE THAT OCURRED IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS. *MJS

• 04/11/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I WILL BE ACCELERATING AT ANY MPH AND THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY TURN ITSELF OFF. THE BATTERY IS STILL POWERING THE CAR (RADIO PLAYING, LIGHTS ON), BUT THE ENGINE WILL BE COMPLETELY STOPPED. STEERING AND BRAKES WILL BOTH LOCK AND REQUIRE MUSCLING IN ORDER TO GET TO THE ROADSIDE AND STOP THE CAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES SINCE THE DATE GIVEN (6/09). THE FIRST TIME WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL. *TR

• 04/06/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAINFire

  WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, DRIVER OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXITED SAFELY, AND OBSERVED FLAMES COMING FROM THE AREA UNDER THE REAR OF THE CAR (STATION WAGON BODY, AWD MODEL) ABOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL AND NEAR THE GAS TANK. RESPONDERS QUENCHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED AND FOUND THAT THE WIRING FOR THE FUEL PUMP HAD THE INSULATION MELTED OFF, THE FUEL PUMP GASKET WAS COMPRIMISED, AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF FLAMES HAVING BEEN IN THE AREA. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCES, THE DIFFERENTIAL BECAME "RED HOT". THE AXLE WAS REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES ON BOTH INTERSTATES AND SECONDARY ROADS, AFTER WHICH THE DIFFERETIAL WAS SEEN SMOKING FROM THE HEAT THAT HAD BUILT UP. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE AXLE A SECOND TIME, WITH THE SAME OVERHEATING OBSERVED. IT IS THE MECHANICS' OPINION THAT THE INITIAL FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE OVERHEATING DIFFERETIAL. FURTHER, HIS RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE OVERHEATING IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY CLUTCH PACK AND SELENOID IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

• 04/01/2016· SEAT BELTS

  THE RETRACTABLE MECHANIZED SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT WORK.

• 03/14/2021· SERVICE BRAKES

  A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY SON WAS DRIVING MY OLDER SUBARU AND SAID THE BRAKES WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN HE APPLIED THEM NOT FAR FROM HOME. HE PUMPED THEM AND SLOW CREPT HOME WITH THE CAR. I FOUND A RUSTED OUT LEAK AT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CONNECTION LOCATION NEAR THE FRAME ON THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK. I JUST SAW THERE WERE A NUMBER OF RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED OR SAW ONE BEFORE. ARE THEY STILL VALATE? WHOM DO I CONTACT FOR SERVICE IF SO? MY SON WAS JUST LUCKY HE WASN'T ON A HIGHWAY!