1993 Subaru LEGACY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
52 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
114,385 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 52 complaints (13.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 13.5% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Tires:Tread/Belt: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Seat Belts: 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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 49 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 | 8 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 6; 2000: 14; 2001: 6; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 10; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10038485 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
FUEL FILLER PIPE HAD ALL KINDS OF DIRT, DEBRIS AND RUST CAUSING IT TO FAIL AND LEAK OIL. THE FILER TUBE RUSTED AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED THE PLASTIC SHROUD AWAY FROM THE FILLER PIPE HE NOTICED ALL KINDS OF ROAD DIRT, RUST AND DEBRIS HAD ACCUMULATED AND CAUSED THE PIPE TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAS A 1995 LEGACY L/L AND IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE MAY OCCUR IN THAT VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092985 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
DEAR SIR/MADAM: THANKS FOR HELP. T IS THREATEN TO THOUSANDS SUBARU CAR DRIVERS, LIKE FIRESTONE TIRES THREATEN TO THOUSANDS CAR DRIVERS USING FIRESTONE TIRES.*AK I HAVE A 93 4D LEGACY SEDAN, IT HAVE A PROBLEM FOR 4 MONTH, SOME TIME CAR UNCONTROLLABLE TO SLOWDOWN TO 10 TO 20 MPH AND SOME TIME ENGINE STOPPED, PUT ME IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION: MY CAR UNCONTROLLABLE STOPPED WHEN OTHER CARS DRIVE 65+ MILES ON FREE WAY OR 45+ MILS ON LOCAL ROAD. I THINK THIS A CONTROLLER DESIGN PROBLEM, IT SHOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AND STOP ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING LIG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092987 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
DEAR SIR/MADAM: THANKS FOR HELP. IT IS THREATEN TO THOUSANDS SUBARU CAR DRIVERS, LIKE FIRESTONE TIRES THREATEN TO THOUSANDS CAR DRIVERS USING FIRESTONE TIRES. I HAVE A 1993 4D LEGACY SEDAN, IT HAVE A PROBLEM FOR 4 MONTH, SOME TIME CAR UNCONTROLLABLE TO SLOWDOWN TO 10 TO 20 MPH AND SOME TIME ENGINE STOPPED, PUT ME IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION: MY CAR UNCONTROLLABLE STOPPED WHEN OTHER CARS DRIVE 65+ MILES ON FREE WAY OR 45+ MILS ON LOCAL ROAD. I THINK THIS A CONTROLLER DESIGN PROBLEM, IT SHOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AND STOP ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING LIG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093799 · 2004-10-08 (October 8, 2004)
DEAR SIR/MADAM: THANKS FOR HELP. IT IS THREATEN TO THOUSANDS SUBARU CAR DRIVERS, LIKE FIRESTONE TIRES THREATEN TO THOUSANDS CAR DRIVERS USING FIRESTONE TIRES. I HAVE A 93 4D LEGACY SEDAN, IT HAVE A PROBLEM SINCE 1994 AND BECOME VERY BAD SINCE 7/2000, SOME TIME CAR UNCONTROLLABLE TO SLOWDOWN TO 10 TO 20 MPH AND SOME TIME ENGINE STOPPED, PUT ME IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION: MY CAR UNCONTROLLABLE STOPPED WHEN OTHER CARS DRIVE 65+ MILES ON FREE WAY OR 45+ MILES ON LOCAL ROAD. I THINK THIS A CONTROLLER DESIGN PROBLEM, IT SHOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093800 · 2004-10-08 (October 8, 2004)
DEAR SIR/MADAM: THANKS FOR HELP. IT IS THREATEN TO THOUSANDS SUBARU CAR DRIVERS, LIKE FIRESTONE TIRES THREATEN TO THOUSANDS CAR DRIVERS USING FIRESTONE TIRES. I HAVE A 93 4D LEGACY SEDAN, IT HAVE A PROBLEM SINCE 1994 AND BECOME VERY BAD SINCE 7/2000, SOME TIME CAR UNCONTROLLABLE TO SLOWDOWN TO 10 TO 20 MPH AND SOME TIME ENGINE STOPPED, PUT ME IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION: MY CAR UNCONTROLLABLE STOPPED WHEN OTHER CARS DRIVE 65+ MILES ON FREE WAY OR 45+ MILES ON LOCAL ROAD. I THINK THIS A CONTROLLER DESIGN PROBLEM, IT SHOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095195 · 2004-09-23 (September 23, 2004)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH LEGACY. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PAST THE SECOND GEAR. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096555 · 2005-01-05 (January 5, 2005)
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW FIRESTONE TIRES. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CORD THAT MEETS THE RIM OF THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WAS TOLD SHE COULD PURCHASE ANOTHER TIRE FOR HALF PRICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10096555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100452 · 2004-11-24 (November 24, 2004)
DEAR SIR/MADAM: THANKS FOR HELP. IT IS THREATEN TO THOUSANDS SUBARU CAR DRIVERS, LIKE FIRESTONE TIRES THREATEN TO THOUSANDS CAR DRIVERS USING FIRESTONE TIRES. I HAVE A 93 4D LEGACY SEDAN, IT HAVE A PROBLEM SINCE 1994 AND BECOME VERY BAD SINCE 7/2000, SOME TIME CAR UNCONTROLLABLE TO SLOWDOWN TO 10 TO 20 MPH AND SOME TIME ENGINE STOPPED, PUT ME IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION: MY CAR UNCONTROLLABLE STOPPED WHEN OTHER CARS DRIVE 65+ MILES ON FREE WAY OR 45+ MILES ON LOCAL ROAD. I THINK THIS A CONTROLLER DESIGN PROBLEM, IT SHOULD NO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100452 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗