1991 Subaru Legacy Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 Subaru Legacy, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Seat belts1916.1%
- Body & structure1411.9%
- Interior & seats1411.9%
- Brakes119.3%
- Transmission119.3%
- Powertrain (other)86.8%
- Engine75.9%
- Driver assistance65.1%
- Visibility65.1%
- Suspension54.2%
- Electrical43.4%
- Heating & air conditioning32.5%
- Exterior lighting21.7%
- Fuel system21.7%
- Airbags21.7%
- Other / unspecified21.7%
- Tires & wheels10.8%
- Steering10.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE ARE PERMANENTLY LOCKED.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
THERE IS NO POWER COMING FROM THE LIGHTER SOCKET, DEALER REPLACED SOCKET AND ELEMENT. *SLC
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
OIL LEAK. *AK PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE RELEASE FAILED. *YH
THERE IS NO POWER COMING FROM THE LIGHTER SOCKET, DEALER REPLACED SOCKET AND ELEMENT. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
AIR CONTROL VALVE IS SLOW CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BE HARD TO PRESS. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
AIR CONTROL VALVE IS SLOW CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BE HARD TO PRESS. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
RIGHT SIDE AXLE SHAFT BROKEN. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS NO POWER COMING FROM THE LIGHTER SOCKET, DEALER REPLACED SOCKET AND ELEMENT. *SLC
LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THERE IS NO POWER COMING FROM THE LIGHTER SOCKET, DEALER REPLACED SOCKET AND ELEMENT. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THERE IS NO POWER COMING FROM THE LIGHTER SOCKET, DEALER REPLACED SOCKET AND ELEMENT. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS NO POWER COMING FROM THE LIGHTER SOCKET, DEALER REPLACED SOCKET AND ELEMENT. *SLC
LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEEL ATTACHMENT BROKE, LOSS CONTROL, AND HIT A CURB.
LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS NO POWER COMING FROM THE LIGHTER SOCKET, DEALER REPLACED SOCKET AND ELEMENT. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .