IllustrationTHE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35 TO 40MPH AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED, NOW IN WHEELCHAIR. *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 reportsDRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED.
DRIVER'S MOTORBELT FAILED.
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RETRACTOR. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. *AK
IN HEAVY RAIN, SEALANT AROUND ELECTRIC SUNROOF FAILS AND WATER LEAKS ONTO THE DRIVER.
HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING CONTROLS DO NOT OPERATE FULLY. CANNOT REMOVE FOG OR ICE FROM WINDSHIELD.
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISON WIN HICH THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ALL THE WAY AROUND TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK
AIR BAG: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, LOOKED AWAY FOR SPLIT SECOND AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF A VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
CLUTCH WORE OUT PREMATURELY.
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.