U.S. public vehicle records

Subaru LEGACY problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,793 owner complaints analyzed

81 distinct recall campaigns

59,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1987 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,419 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 346 of 2,793 complaints (12.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	442	15.8%
Transmission and shifting	268	9.6%
Electrical and battery issues	228	8.2%
Engine operation	208	7.4%
Steering behavior	159	5.7%
Fuel system concerns	76	2.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System

346

Air Bags

279

Unknown Or Other

276

Visibility/Wiper

274

Engine

219

Power Train

208

Vehicle Speed Control

167

Service Brakes

140

Electrical System: 346; Air Bags: 279; Unknown Or Other: 276; Visibility/Wiper: 274; Engine: 219; Power Train: 208; Vehicle Speed Control: 167; Service Brakes: 140

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

420

25,000 to 49,999

222

50,000 to 74,999

187

75,000 to 99,999

184

100,000 to 149,999

267

150,000 and above

139

Under 25,000: 420; 25,000 to 49,999: 222; 50,000 to 74,999: 187; 75,000 to 99,999: 184; 100,000 to 149,999: 267; 150,000 and above: 139

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (420). 1,374 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

2000

131

2001

119

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

123

2016

169

2017

147

2018

105

2019

180

2020

187

2021

196

2022

147

2023

121

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	77
1996	54
2000	131
2001	119
2002	85
2003	76
2004	77
2005	70
2006	42
2007	33
2008	55
2009	35
2010	69
2011	57
2012	54
2013	68
2014	96
2015	123
2016	169
2017	147
2018	105
2019	180
2020	187
2021	196
2022	147
2023	121
2024	92
2025	83
2026	45

1995: 77; 1996: 54; 2000: 131; 2001: 119; 2002: 85; 2003: 76; 2004: 77; 2005: 70; 2006: 42; 2007: 33; 2008: 55; 2009: 35; 2010: 69; 2011: 57; 2012: 54; 2013: 68; 2014: 96; 2015: 123; 2016: 169; 2017: 147; 2018: 105; 2019: 180; 2020: 187; 2021: 196; 2022: 147; 2023: 121; 2024: 92; 2025: 83; 2026: 45

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 442 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 268 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 228 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 971969 · 1995-09-12 (September 12, 1995)

VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL CONDITIONS OF STALLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ACCELERATING UPON BRAKING AND DIFFICULT STARTING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971969 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 488702 · 1995-10-03 (October 3, 1995)

BRAKE PADS GLAZED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488702 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 481019 · 1995-02-06 (February 6, 1995)

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO DISENGAGE FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481019 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 503234 · 1996-02-13 (February 13, 1996)

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE FROM PARK, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503234 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 889161 · 2001-05-25 (May 25, 2001)

WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL ALL OF ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS STOPPED, AND VEHICLE STOPPED OPERATING. A BLACK FUSE CABLE IN FUSE BOX, FUSE LINK: 82301GA060 BURNED UP, AND BURNED A MARK ON COVER OF FUSE BOX. *AK *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889161 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 889367 · 2001-05-30 (May 30, 2001)

VEHICLE KEPT STALLING OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE. BUT, COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. CONSUMER FEELS IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889367 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10362851 · 2010-10-28 (October 28, 2010)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 193,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362851 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 722710 · 2000-05-15 (May 15, 2000)

THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSES A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER INCLUDING STEERING. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP THE CAR CAN BE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND AT ANY SPEED. NO INCREMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT. CHANCES OF RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ARE VERY HIGH. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722710 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 751031 · 2001-08-23 (August 23, 2001)

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MHP WHEN BELTS BEGAN TO MAKE NOISE. SHORTLY FOLLOWING CAR LOSS POWER, INCLUDING STEERING. IT WAS REPORTED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HAD COME LOOSE AND THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BEEN DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. CAR WILL NEED SMALL BLOCK OVERHAUL OR REPLACEMENT ENGINE TO FUNCTION AGAIN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751031 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 973738 · 1995-10-23 (October 23, 1995)

FUEL INJECTOR WIRINGS GROUNDED, RAW FUEL TO BE DUMPED INTO THE ENGINE WHILE RUNNING, WITHOUT WARNING 2 QUARTS OF FUEL CAME OF OIL PAN AND ALSO OUT OF EXHUAST

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973738 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10473657 · 2012-09-03 (September 3, 2012)

I BOUGHT MY YOUNGEST SON A 1992 SUBARU LEGACY STATION WAGON. I WENT TO FILL THE GAS TANK AND WHEN I GOT HOME YOU COULD SMELL GAS FUMES VERY STRONGLY AND LATER WE COULD SEE WHERE IT HAD LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. I ASKED MY OLDEST SON ABOUT IT SINCE HE IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT A RECALL ON THAT YEAR BECAUSE OF HOW THE COMPANY PUT IN THE BACK SEAT. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER (KELLY CADILLAC) AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THAT YEAR OR VIN NUMBER AND THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. THEY ACTED LIKE IF IT WAS NOT A NEW VEHICLE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10473657 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.