1994 Subaru Legacy Owner Complaints

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

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

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 PUMP WIRING SHORTED OUT IN THE GAS TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239118

Incident

Aug 18, 2008

Mileage

160,000 mi

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

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

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

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

NHTSA ID

10075232

Incident

Feb 11, 1999

MOTORIZED SEATBELT IS STUCK IN ONE POSITION. MOTOR STILL RUNS UPON OPENING/CLOSING OF CAR DOOR, BUT BELT DOES NOT MOVE IN TRACK. TWO FEET OF TRACK CABLE HAS FALLEN OUT OF ITS HOUSING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058143

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

Mileage

125,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10030255

Incident

Mar 2, 2002

Mileage

120,000 mi

VEHICLE CONSUMED BY FIRE. FIRE INSPECTOR'S REPORT ATTRIBUTES CAUSE TO POWER STEERING HOSE SEPARATION AT PUMP.

NHTSA ID

10007972

Incident

Jan 22, 2003

Mileage

74,500 mi

SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYING 1994 SUBARU AND DAMAGING ANOTHER CAR AND ADJACENT HOME. FIRE INSPECTOR ASSESSED CAUSE AS RUPTURED POWER STEERING HOSE.

NHTSA ID

10003403

Incident

Jan 22, 2003

Mileage

74,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

764283

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

762675

Incident

May 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A BANG THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THEN, COULD HEAR A CLOCKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND OUT THAT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN JUST LIKE MENTIONED IN RECALL 01 V 216 000. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003507

Incident

Jan 8, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

755679

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

NHTSA ID

785837

Incident

Oct 10, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

898639

Incident

Oct 11, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

893498

Incident

Dec 10, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

893496

Incident

Mar 3, 2001

DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILED IN TRACK WILL NOT MOVE IN EITHER DIRECTION, TRACK CABLE PROTRUDES FROM TRACK. *AK

NHTSA ID

739236

Incident

Mar 17, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

877134

Incident

Dec 19, 2000

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 )

NHTSA ID

738295

Incident

Sep 4, 1998

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

NHTSA ID

874503

Incident

Sep 4, 2000