RoadVitals

1995 Subaru Legacy Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
17
Latest Jul 27, 2011
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.
9%
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.
2
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 17 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Jul 27, 2011
Fire reported

WE HAD A SLOW OIL LEAK AND OUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER STARTED GOING BAD AT THE SAME TIME. THE OIL LEAKED DOWN THE EXHAUST TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS OVER HEATING AND CAUSED A FLASH FIRE BURNING UP MY ENTIRE CAR. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10415336
Incident
Jul 22, 2011
Mileage
180,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 2003

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10040341
Incident
Jun 12, 2003
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 30, 2002

CONSUMER NOTICED SPOTS ON DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. DEALER DETERMINED THAT O RINGS WERE LEAKING, ALSO FRONT CRANK SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER REMOVED CARBON BUILD UP AT THE THROTTLE PLATE, ALSO WORK WAS NEEDED ON THE POWERTRAIN.*JB

NHTSA ID
8003160
Incident
Sep 10, 2001
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 2001

OIL LEAKS OUT OF CAMS AND GET ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSES ENGINE TO SMOKE WHEN STOPPED WITH ENGINE RUNNING, BROUGHT TO SHOP 3 TIMES BACK IN SHOP NOW, CONTINUES TO LEAK OIL.*AK

NHTSA ID
750750
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Feb 28, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
559965
Engine
Filed Feb 15, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND HEARD A NOISE, LIKE SOMETHING FELL, DASHBOARD LIT UP AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, VEHICLE STARTED COASTING LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, CONSUMER SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND IT WOULD NOT SHUT START UP AGAIN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND FOUND THAT THE CAMSHAFT HAD BROKEN, DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS BLOCKAGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHICH CAUSED CAMSHAFT TO LOCK AND THEN BREAK BECAUSE NO OIL WAS ABLE TO FLOW ON THAT SIDE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
880668
Incident
Feb 6, 2001
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
Engine
Filed Dec 13, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
715991
Incident
Oct 30, 1999
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 1998

THERE IS A SMELL OF GAS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD.

NHTSA ID
780883
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 1998

THERE IS A GAS SMELL WHEN ENGINE IS COLD.

NHTSA ID
780235
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
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 1996

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA ID
509028
Incident
Aug 18, 1996
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
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+2 more
Filed Jan 31, 1996

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED. *SD

NHTSA ID
501242
Incident
May 31, 1995
Engine
Filed Nov 13, 1995

BAD FUMES ODOR WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. TT

NHTSA ID
974910
Incident
Apr 29, 1995
Engine
Filed Oct 18, 1995

PURCHASED CAR NEW THE MOTOR BLEW . TT

NHTSA ID
973513

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .