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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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

What owners actually said

77 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 ENGIN…

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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 STOP ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING LIGHT FIRST AND SHOULD NEVER STOP ENGINE. I STILL THINK SUBARU HAVE FOLLOWING OBLIGATIONS: 1. AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM SUBARU CAR OWNERS ABOUT THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER, SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER BEFORE THE DANGEROUS UNCONTROLLABLE SITUATION HAPPEN. IF YOU SEARCH INTERNET WITH KEY WORD "+SUBARU +LEGACY +HESITATION" YOU CAN SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER. 2. SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER FREE WHEN A CUSTOMER COMPLAIN THE PROBLEM. NOW SOME DEALERS JUST DENY THE PROBLEM IF THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT FOR SOME CAR THE PROBLEM ONLY HAPPEN ON CERTAIN ROAD AND CERTAIN SPEED AND DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE. SOME DEALER ALSO LIKE TO CHARGE HOURS TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM. 3. SUBARU SHOULD DEVELOP SOME METHODS AND TOOLS TO CHECK THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER INSTEAD OF ASKING CAR OWNER TO RISK LIFE TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. 4. SUBARU SHOULD EDUCATE THE CAR OWNERS HOW TO HANDLE THE CAR WHEN THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER MAKING CAR UNCONTROLLABLE. I HOPE SUBARU CAN HELP ME: 1. FREE REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER AND FREE REPAIR MY CAR IF ANY DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE MALFUNCTION CONTROLLER. 2. OR TRADE ME ANOTHER SUBARU CAR. 3. OR SUBARU BUY BACK MY CAR BASED ON RESIDUE VALUE.. THANKS, ZHONGMIN SUN, 18666 REDMOND WAY, RR2141, REDMOND, WA 98052 TEL:4258369419, EMAIL: ZHONGMINSUN@MSN.COM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093799

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2004
Power Train

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH LEGACY. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PAST THE SECOND GEAR. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10095195

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2004
Tires

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 DANG…

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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 LIGHT FIRST AND SHOULD NEVER STOP ENGINE. I STILL THINK SUBARU HAVE FOLLOWING OBLIGATIONS: 1. AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM SUBARU CAR OWNERS ABOUT THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER, SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER BEFORE THE DANGEROUS UNCONTROLLABLE SITUATION HAPPEN. CHECK WEB: HTTP://HOME.EARTHLINK.NET/~HOBIEGARY/HESITATION.HTM YOU CAN SEE THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER. 2. SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER FREE WHEN A CUSTOMER COMPLAIN THE PROBLEM. NOW SOME DEALERS JUST DENY THE PROBLEM IF THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT FOR SOME CAR THE PROBLEM ONLY HAPPEN ON CERTAIN ROAD AND CERTAIN SPEED AND DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE. SOME DEALER ALSO LIKE TO CHARGE HOURS TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM. 3. SUBARU SHOULD DEVELOP SOME METHODS AND TOOLS TO CHECK THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER INSTEAD OF ASKING CAR OWNER TO RISK LIFE TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. 4. SUBARU SHOULD EDUCATE THE CAR OWNERS HOW TO HANDLE THE CAR WHEN THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER MAKING CAR UNCONTROLLABLE. I HOPE SUBARU CAN HELP ME: 1. FREE REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER AND FREE REPAIR MY CAR IF ANY DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE MALFUNCTION CONTROLLER. 2. OR TRADE ME ANOTHER SUBARU CAR. 3. OR SUBARU BUY BACK MY CAR BASED ON RESIDUE VALUE.. THANKS ZHONGMIN SUN 18666 REDMOND WAY, RR2141 REDMOND, WA 98052 TEL:4258369419 EMAIL: ZHONGMINSUN@MSN.COM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10092987

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2004
Tires

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 DANG…

Read full complaint

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 LIGHT FIRST AND SHOULD NEVER STOP ENGINE. I STILL THINK SUBARU HAVE FOLLOWING OBLIGATIONS: 1. AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM SUBARU CAR OWNERS ABOUT THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER, SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER BEFORE THE DANGEROUS UNCONTROLLABLE SITUATION HAPPEN. CHECK WEB: HTTP://HOME.EARTHLINK.NET/~HOBIEGARY/HESITATION.HTM YOU CAN SEE THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER. 2. SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER FREE WHEN A CUSTOMER COMPLAIN THE PROBLEM. NOW SOME DEALERS JUST DENY THE PROBLEM IF THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT FOR SOME CAR THE PROBLEM ONLY HAPPEN ON CERTAIN ROAD AND CERTAIN SPEED AND DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE. SOME DEALER ALSO LIKE TO CHARGE HOURS TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM. 3. SUBARU SHOULD DEVELOP SOME METHODS AND TOOLS TO CHECK THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER INSTEAD OF ASKING CAR OWNER TO RISK LIFE TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. 4. SUBARU SHOULD EDUCATE THE CAR OWNERS HOW TO HANDLE THE CAR WHEN THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER MAKING CAR UNCONTROLLABLE. I HOPE SUBARU CAN HELP ME: 1. FREE REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONED CONTROLLER AND FREE REPAIR MY CAR IF ANY DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE MALFUNCTION CONTROLLER. 2. OR TRADE ME ANOTHER SUBARU CAR. 3. OR SUBARU BUY BACK MY CAR BASED ON RESIDUE VALUE.. THANKS ZHONGMIN SUN 18666 REDMOND WAY, RR2141 REDMOND, WA 98052 TEL:4258369419 EMAIL: ZHONGMINSUN@MSN.COM

NHTSA ODI #10092985

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 · Oct 2, 2002
Seat Belts

CONSUMER NOTICED THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DOESN'T COME UP PROPERLY, DEALER REPLACED THE BELT THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURING. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8020062

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002
Latches/locks/linkages

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR HAS DEFECTIVE LOCKS, THE LOCKS WILL INTERMITTENLY LOCK. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8019802

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2002
Tires

CONSUMER STATED THAT ON JULY 1,2000, THERE WAS A BLOWOUT OF THE GOOD YEAR EAGLE GA TIRES, PRODUCT CODE 113-938-444-0, DOT #MKJ6FJOR206 AND MKJ6FJOR393, WHILE DRIVING, AT THAT TIME IT WAS 88,000 MILES ON THE CAR, ON NOVEMBER 6, 2000, THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURED ON A BUSY FREEWAY, AT THAT TIME IT WAS 93,837 MILES ON THE CAR. ON SEP…

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CONSUMER STATED THAT ON JULY 1,2000, THERE WAS A BLOWOUT OF THE GOOD YEAR EAGLE GA TIRES, PRODUCT CODE 113-938-444-0, DOT #MKJ6FJOR206 AND MKJ6FJOR393, WHILE DRIVING, AT THAT TIME IT WAS 88,000 MILES ON THE CAR, ON NOVEMBER 6, 2000, THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURED ON A BUSY FREEWAY, AT THAT TIME IT WAS 93,837 MILES ON THE CAR. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, THE THIRD BLOWOUT OCCURED ON A BUSY FREEWAY AT THAT TIME IT WAS 103,214 MILES ON THE CAR. AT CONSUMERS REQUEST, THE DEALER EXAMINED THE BLOWN OUT TIRES, HE DETERMINED THAT BOTH THE BLOWN TIRES AND THE REMAINING TIRE ON THE CAR THAT WAS PURCHASED WERE EXPERIENCING BELT EDGE SEPARATION. DEALER REMOVED THE TIRES AND GAVE TREAD LIFE CREDIT FOR THE BLOWN TIRE AND TWO TIRES THEY REMOVED FROM THE CAR. CONSUMER STATING THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. *YD

NHTSA ODI #564268

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2001
Power Train

THE CLUTCH ON THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED THREE (3) TIMES. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN 1995, REPLACED AGAIN IN 1999 AND HAS FAILED A THIRD TIME IN DECEMBER 2001. THE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AS THE DRIVER SUDDENLY FINDS THE VEHICLE CAN'T MOVE. ALL OF THE REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY THE ORIGINAL…

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THE CLUTCH ON THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED THREE (3) TIMES. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN 1995, REPLACED AGAIN IN 1999 AND HAS FAILED A THIRD TIME IN DECEMBER 2001. THE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AS THE DRIVER SUDDENLY FINDS THE VEHICLE CAN'T MOVE. ALL OF THE REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY THE ORIGINAL DEALER USING SUBARU ORIGINAL PARTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755874

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2001
Exterior Lighting

SOON AFTER PURCHASE, HEADLIGHT LENSES STARTED BECOMING OPAQUE/FOGGED IN APPEARANCE. THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY GIRLFRIEND'S '92 SUBARU LEGACY LOOKED THE SAME. NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE I LIVED IN A LARGE URBAN AREA WITH WELL LIT STREETS. WAS RECENTLY TRANSFERRED TO THE LITTLE CITY OF SAVANNAH, GA. NOTICED THAT IT IS HAR…

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SOON AFTER PURCHASE, HEADLIGHT LENSES STARTED BECOMING OPAQUE/FOGGED IN APPEARANCE. THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY GIRLFRIEND'S '92 SUBARU LEGACY LOOKED THE SAME. NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE I LIVED IN A LARGE URBAN AREA WITH WELL LIT STREETS. WAS RECENTLY TRANSFERRED TO THE LITTLE CITY OF SAVANNAH, GA. NOTICED THAT IT IS HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. LAST NIGHT SOMEONE INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS BECAUSE THEY ARE BARELY VISIBLE. I LOOKED AT THEM AND THEY ARE EXTREMELY DIM. CALLED THE NEAREST DEALER AND THE PARTS MANAGER SAID THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE CHEAP PLASTIC USED TO MAKE THE LENS FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT IS A LITTLE LATE TO BE REPORTING IT, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. WAS THERE EVER A RECALL FOR THESE HEADLIGHTS?*AK

NHTSA ODI #753610

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.