IllustrationDT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE RESTRAINT WHEN IN USE. THE STRAPS GAVE WAY WHEN PROPERLY BUCKLED. THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HE PURCHASED REPLACEMENT STRAPS AND PLANNED TO REPLACE THE STRAPS HIMSELF. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Legacy years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
Seat Belts complaints
13 reportsCONSUMER NOTICED THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DOESN'T COME UP PROPERLY, DEALER REPLACED THE BELT THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURING. NLM
BOTH FRONT SEAT MOTERIZED SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS FAILED. THE CABLE ON BOTH SIDES CAME OUT.*AK
5 MINUTES AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, IGNITION TURNED OFF CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE ON INSIDE OF VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER STATED THA TFIRE CAUSED BY AUTOMATIC TRACK SEAT BELT MOTOR. PASSENGER DOOR PANEL, SEAT AND HEAD REST WERE MELTED. PLEASE ADD FURTHER COM…
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5 MINUTES AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, IGNITION TURNED OFF CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE ON INSIDE OF VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER STATED THA TFIRE CAUSED BY AUTOMATIC TRACK SEAT BELT MOTOR. PASSENGER DOOR PANEL, SEAT AND HEAD REST WERE MELTED. PLEASE ADD FURTHER COMMENTS.*AK
BOTH OF THE MOTORIZED SEATBELTS FAILED. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR AND EVERYONE OF THEM HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE. THE REPAIR IS $800. THE SEATBELTS SHOULD BE RECALLED.
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS LOCKED INTO PLACE AND HAS TO BE MANUALLY OPENED. MOTOR IS BROKEN AND MAY NOT PROTECT DRIVER IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, WARRANTY OR INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER. *AK
THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER HARNESS RETRACTOR OPERATES ERRATICALLY, FREQUENTLY LEAVING THE HARNESS ONLY PARTIALLY RETRACTED. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE WITH STEERING, TURN SIGNAL OPERATION AND VISIBILITY (INCLUDING VISIBILITY IN LEFT REAR VIEW MIRROR). THERE IS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT ST…
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THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER HARNESS RETRACTOR OPERATES ERRATICALLY, FREQUENTLY LEAVING THE HARNESS ONLY PARTIALLY RETRACTED. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE WITH STEERING, TURN SIGNAL OPERATION AND VISIBILITY (INCLUDING VISIBILITY IN LEFT REAR VIEW MIRROR). THERE IS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT STRANGULATION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH BECAUSE OF THE POSITION OF THE BELT WELL FORSARD OF THE BODY, AND BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE NECK. MY WIFE CONSISTENTLY DISCONNECTS THE BELT, LEAVING ONLY THE LAP BELT, BUT THIS CERTAINLY DOESN'T PROVIDE OPTIMAL SAFETY EITHER, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR BAG. THE DEALER HAS ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS AT OVER $500.00. WE FEEL BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT, THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *AK
AUTOMACTIC SHOULDER BELT ISN'T WORKING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING. *AK
THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT, NOT RETRACTING OR RELEASING FOR USAGE. INFORMED THE MOTOR HAD FAILED & NEEDED REPLACING. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED.
Official recalls
194V052000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.