RoadVitals

1995 Subaru Legacy Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Sep 10, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 181 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 10, 2004

CONSUMER STATED ALTERNATOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, TAIL LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10091814
Incident
Sep 2, 2004
Mileage
22,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 14, 2003

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THAT HOLDS THE HEAD LIGHT INTO SOCKET HAS SHORTED OUT 4 TIMES. THIS ACTUALLY MELTS AND SMELLS LIKE A ELECTRICAL FIRE. WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEAD LIGHT CONNECTOR'S 2 TIMES. THIS IS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY. THE DEALER IN ANGLES CAMP,CA HAS TOLD US HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES FOR THE MODEL AND YEAR OF OUR CAR. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10018686
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Feb 28, 2001

ALTERNATOR FAILED TWICE IN ONE YEAR, THE STARTER ALSO FAILED ONCE. NLM

NHTSA ID
559965
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jan 27, 2000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING FAILURES OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS (STARTER,(2)BATTERY,ALTERNATOR,(2)RADIO,KNOCK SENSOR,CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND FUEL SENDING UNITS ON 2 OCCASIONS). POSSIBLE SHORT WITHIN THE SYSTEM CAUSING CONTINUAL FAILURES. YH

NHTSA ID
550623
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 1, 1999

POOR DESIGN OF HORN BUTTONS ARE DIFFICULT TO LOCATE EVEN WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN NEUTRAL POSITION AND IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCATE WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES WITHOUT TAKING EYES OFF THE ROAD. NLM

NHTSA ID
548802
Incident
Sep 20, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 1999

VOLTAGE REGULATOR IN ALTERNATOR FAILED, ALLOWING HIGH VOLTAGE SURGE THROUGH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. FUSIBLE LINK BURNED OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, WHEN FUSIBLE LINK BURNED, IT PARTIALLY MELTED UNDERSIDE OF PLASTIC FUSE COVER IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SHOULD BE EXPECTED AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE SURGE.

NHTSA ID
712356
Incident
Sep 20, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jul 2, 1999

POOR DESIGN OF HORN IS MAKING IT DIFFCULT TO LOCATE HORN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. HORN HAS 2 THUMB SIZE BUTTONS ON EACH SIDE OF STERRING WHEEL ONLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
841597
Electrical
Filed Jan 6, 1999

THE HORN CONSISTS OF TWO THUMB-SIZED BUTTONS NEAR THE PERIMETER OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AT ABOUT THE 3 AND 9 O'CLOCK POSITIONS. THESE BUTTONS ARE HARD TO FIND, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS, FLAWED DESIGN. THE HORN IS NOT EASY TO LOCATE AUTOMATICALLY, AND YOU DO NOT WANT TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN A SITUATION THAT REQUIRES ITS USE.

NHTSA ID
701940
Electrical
Filed Apr 7, 1998

ALTERNATOR RECALLED AND REPAIRED BUT FAILED AGAIN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER.

NHTSA ID
533695
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Mar 25, 1998

ALTERNATOR RECALLED, HOWEVER NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL WORK.

NHTSA ID
533082
Incident
Feb 13, 1998
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 2, 1997

ENGINE FAILED AT PICKUP DUE TO COMPUTER FAILURE. ALSO REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
518917
Incident
Jun 10, 1997
Electrical
Filed Oct 30, 1996

ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING FUSE ASSEMBLY TO SUBSEQUENTLY MALFUNCTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
804301
Incident
Apr 25, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 11, 1996

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HER VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CONSUMER DISCOVERD THAT A UNIVERSAL FUSE HAD BLOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID
802186
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 26, 1996

FUEL GAUGE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
507882
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 2, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983952
Incident
Apr 17, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jan 24, 1996

SMALL HORN BUTTONS DIFFICULT TO FIND IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OR WHEN TURNING. *DSH

NHTSA ID
500592
Incident
Jan 24, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jan 16, 1996

LOCATION OF HORN BUTTON ON STEERING COLUMN MAKES IT HARD TO ACCESS. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAIL. TT

NHTSA ID
977629
Incident
Feb 16, 1995
Electrical
Filed Nov 13, 1995

THE HORN BUTTON PROBLEMS. TT THERE ARE TWO SMALL BUTTONS LOCATED ON EACH SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO OPERATE THE HORN, WHEN THE DRIVER TURNS THE WHEEL IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO QUICKLY LOCATE THE SMALL HONR TO OPERATE THE HORN IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.*JB

NHTSA ID
974854
Electrical
Filed Aug 23, 1995

DUE TO POOR INSTALLATION OF ALARM SYSTEM, WIRES VIBRATED LOOSE/CUT INTO IGNITION SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
600513
Incident
Aug 23, 1995
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 10, 1995

PURCHASE CAR BRAND NEW A MONTH ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OFF AND STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCK UP WHEN DRIVING. TT

NHTSA ID
958490
Incident
Jan 7, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Airbags45Brakes29Fuel system18Engine17Suspension14Seat belts9Interior & seats9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .