1992 Subaru LEGACY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
124,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 35 complaints (11.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
Seat Belts: 4; Tires: 4; Structure:Body: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 32 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1995: 10; 1996: 7; 2000: 4; 2001: 5; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2009: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006432 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
MICHELIN TIRES KEEP BLOWING OUT. THE SIDEWALLS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE TIRES. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019110 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)
SEVERAL TULSA DEALERS UNABLE/UNWILLING TO REPAIR SMALL NAIL PUNCTURE OF FT70C TIRE. STATE "THIS TIRE NOT MADE TO BE REPAIRED-SELF SEALING" CONTINUAL LOSS OF AIR NECESSITATES CONSTANT REFILLING. PREVIOUS TIRE REPAIRED BY CERTIFIED TIRE SERVICE FACILITY SHOWED SIDEWALL SEPARATION USING ACCEPTABLE REPAIR EQUIPMENT. TIRE MAKE HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. NOW MANUFACTURED UNDER DIFFERENT MODEL DESIGNATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024639 · 2003-06-19 (June 19, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. DEALERSHIP PRESENTED VEHICLE REPAIRS AS COMPLETE, CONSUMER DISAGREED.*MR REAR GATE RELOCATED. SWITCH CONTROLLING CARGO LAMP AND STATUS PANEL DID NOT FUNCTION. FRONT BUMPER WAS GROSSLY MISALIGNED. FRONT BUMPER TO RIGHT FRONT FENDER MISMATCHED. REAR WIPER PIVOT COVER WAS MISSING. EXHAUST TIPS ROTATED. BUMPER REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS WERE MISSING. REAR TAIL LAMP SETTING OUT FROM BODY. GATE HINGE BOLT FELL OUT. INNER SKIRT WAS BOWED IN. GAP IN RIGHT REAR DOOR. …
Owner-reported narrative. 106,360 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063583 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT VEHICLE LOST POWER, FORCING DRIVER TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. DEALER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION BREATHING VENTS WERE BLOCKED DUE TO FLUID FREEZING. A RECALL 94V052000 WAS ISSUED,HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 163,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088038 · 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND UPON PUTTING FOOT ON THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO PUSH SOMETHING VERY HEAVY OUT OF THE WAY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122063 · 2005-05-24 (May 24, 2005)
1) TRAVELING ON I-10 WEST APPROACHING WILCOX, AZ. PASSED UP DIESEL, DIESEL CROSSED INTO LANE (POSSIBLY DUE TO HEAVY CROSSWINDS PROMINENT IN AREA), LOST CONTROL OF CAR AND ROLLED TWICE OFF THE HIGHWAY. 2) ROOF CAVED IN ON DRIVERS SIDE, CAUSING A COMPRESSING FRACTURE TO DRIVERS NECK. DRIVER NOW PARALYZED FROM NECK DOWN. DRIVER IS APPROXIMATELY 5'0 TALL SO AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE IS UNACCEPTABLE. CAR WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN CAR ROLLED OVER (SPEED LOST WHILE TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE) 3) VEHICLE TOTALLED
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10278382 · 2009-07-27 (July 27, 2009)
CRACKS APPEAR IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL SIPES AFTER 9,000 MILES / 1 YR 10 MO. THIS OCCURRED IN ALL 4 TIRES. SNOWY NORTHEAST CLIMATE, PROPERLY INFLATED TO 29-30 PSI. SIMILAR CRACKING OCCURRED ON IDENTICAL TIRE MODEL ALMOST 2 YRS AGO (DOT # ANRBMC112705), ALSO IN ALL 4 TIRES AFTER 10,000 MILES / 2 YEARS. PREVIOUS TIRES, AND THESE TIRES, WERE DIFFERENT LOTS. BF GOODRICH TRACTION T/A. NO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE EITHER TIME - FOUND ON STATE INSPECTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 124,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278382 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
92V044000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1992-04-01 (April 1, 1992)
A MISALIGNMENT OF THE REAR SEAT CUSHION LATCHING BRACKET REINFORCEMENT PLATE TO THE FLOOR REQUIRED A MACHINE TAP TO CLEAR THE OPENING FOR A MOUNTING BOLT. THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK MAY HAVE BEEN PUNCTURED WHEN THE TAP WAS USED.
Consequence: THE PUNCTURE IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK COULD CAUSE FUELTO LEAK, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE WHEN LEAKS OCCUR NEAR A SOURCE OFIGNITION.
Remedy: INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS; REPLACE THEM IF THEY ARE PUNCTURED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V052000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 1994-03-23 (March 23, 1994)
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN CONTINUOUSLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES (-22 DEGREES F.) AND HIGH HUMIDITY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION BREATHING (AIR) VENT CAN BE BLOCKED DUE TO MOISTURE FREEZING AT THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE. IF THIS OCCURS, PRESSURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE WILL INCREASE AND PUSH OUT THE REAR OIL SEAL, CAUSING TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKAGE. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN BURN THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP.
Consequence: SUDDEN STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN AROUND THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE OIL GAUGE PIPE AND MODIFY THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE (DIPSTICK) OR REPLACE IT, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF DIPSTICK IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗