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1993 Subaru Legacy

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Subaru Legacy do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.

About this comparison →
77Owner complaints

Model-year median: 77

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
81
199078
199155
199277
199360
1994182
1995123
1996
Compare all Legacy years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
17Seat Belts
13Air Bags
10Power Train
9Tires
8
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Visibility
6Vehicle Speed Control
4Electrical System
3Exterior Lighting
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Steering
2Structure
2Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 77 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2003
Fuel System, GasolineStructure

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 CONS…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10038485

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

VEHICLE BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE TWO SEPARATE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AT 43,000 MILES, FOR SUSPECTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND IDLE CONTROL VALVE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. AT 60,000 MILES THE CAR WAS SERVICED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND TOLD TO CHECK THE T…

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VEHICLE BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE TWO SEPARATE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AT 43,000 MILES, FOR SUSPECTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND IDLE CONTROL VALVE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. AT 60,000 MILES THE CAR WAS SERVICED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND TOLD TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION, AS IT WAS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. FOUR THOUSAND MILES LATER, AT 64,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WHILE DRIVING WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND ONE PASSENGER. THE DEALER REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIR AT THIS TIME. RETRIEVED INFORMATION REGARDING THE RECALL ON 1993 LEGACY TRANSMISSIONS, CONCERNED THAT I NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL INFORMATION, NOR WAS TOLD BY ANY OF THE LAST THREE DEALERS THAT I HAVE DELT WITH ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL LIFE-THREATENING DEFECT!

NHTSA ODI #702139

Official recalls

1

94V052000 · Power Train:manual Transmission

Mar 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.