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!
- NHTSA ID
- 11402839
- Incident
- Sep 4, 2020
- Mileage
- 123,567 mi
Seat belts
Filed Apr 1, 2016
THE RETRACTABLE MECHANIZED SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT WORK.
- NHTSA ID
- 10853006
- Incident
- Aug 22, 2013
- Mileage
- 193,000 mi
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
- NHTSA ID
- 10324972
- Incident
- Jun 19, 2009
- Mileage
- 173,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 16, 2008
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
- NHTSA ID
- 10248928
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2008
- Mileage
- 159,470 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 21, 2008
FUEL PUMP WIRING SHORTED OUT IN THE GAS TANK. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10239118
- Incident
- Aug 18, 2008
- Mileage
- 160,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 17, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES, WHICH CAUSED HER TO HAVE HEADACHES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN DRY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CRASHING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HAVE SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE TO D AUTO 214-629-0941 BUT WISHES TO PURSUE HEALTH DAMAGE IN RESPIRATORY AND MENTAL ANGUISH. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10215206
- Incident
- May 23, 2006
- Mileage
- 142,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 14, 2005
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
- NHTSA ID
- 10136519
- Incident
- Jul 17, 2005
- Mileage
- 17,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 6, 2005
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 10116510
- Incident
- Dec 10, 2004