IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *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
What owners actually said
77 reportsVEHICLE ENGINE HARD TO START. CRANKS BUT DOES NOT TURN OVER UNTIL 6 OR 7 TIMES TRYING, IF THEN. STRONG SMELL OF GAS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WHEN ENGINE IS WARM. NO PROBLEM WHEN ENGINE IS COLD OR HOT.
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
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PULLING INTO CAR WASH RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING POLE, WHEN DRIVER PUT CAR INTO REVERSE THE CAR ACCELERATED AGAIN HITTING ANOTHER POLE BEHIND THE CAR.
AUTOMACTIC SHOULDER BELT ISN'T WORKING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING. *AK
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!
PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE HOOD.
THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT, NOT RETRACTING OR RELEASING FOR USAGE. INFORMED THE MOTOR HAD FAILED & NEEDED REPLACING. *AK
RACK AND PINION SEALS LEAK FLUID.
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.