IllustrationDT: CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND HIT THE REAR OF THE GARAGE AND DID DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - *NM
1996 Subaru Legacy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 23 of 123 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports4 fire reports14 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
7 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE LURCHES FOWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.**AK
WHEN CHANGING LANE, CAR MALFUNCTIONED. CAR LURCHED TO RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN FISHTAILED ACROSS 3 LANES OF SUPERHIGHWAY. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. CAR UNRESPONSIVE TO DRIVER'S COMMANDS. FISHTAILED ACROSS 3 LANES. ABS BRAKES APPLIED APPROPRIATELY ... CAR SKIDDED DIAGONALLY. CAR SKIDDED INTO BACK OF AN SUV THEN INTO AXLE OF 18-WH…
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WHEN CHANGING LANE, CAR MALFUNCTIONED. CAR LURCHED TO RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN FISHTAILED ACROSS 3 LANES OF SUPERHIGHWAY. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. CAR UNRESPONSIVE TO DRIVER'S COMMANDS. FISHTAILED ACROSS 3 LANES. ABS BRAKES APPLIED APPROPRIATELY ... CAR SKIDDED DIAGONALLY. CAR SKIDDED INTO BACK OF AN SUV THEN INTO AXLE OF 18-WHEELER. CAR TOTALLED. DESTRUCTION OF LEFT FRONT END, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL, WINDSHIELD, DRIVERS WINDOW, DASH, STEERING COLUMN. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MIRROR FLEW INTO DRIVER'S HEAD. SEAT PUSHED BACK AND BENT.*AK
FIRST INSTANCE WAS IN DEC 98, 2ND 6-21-99 CRUISE CONTROL STAYS ON, CANNOT CANCEL OR TURN OFF, BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT WHAT SO EVER, HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF CRUISE AND GET THE BRAKES BACK (THIS IS A LITTLE SCARRY WHEN YOU HAVE POWER STEERING). THIS WAS A LIFE…
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FIRST INSTANCE WAS IN DEC 98, 2ND 6-21-99 CRUISE CONTROL STAYS ON, CANNOT CANCEL OR TURN OFF, BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT WHAT SO EVER, HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF CRUISE AND GET THE BRAKES BACK (THIS IS A LITTLE SCARRY WHEN YOU HAVE POWER STEERING). THIS WAS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION IN TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON AN APPROACH TO A SEVERE TURN ON A EXIT RAMP. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *YC
AFTER CAR IS WARM AND YOU HAVE DRIVEN A WHILE, WHEN YOU STOP, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, SAY TO GET GAS, WHEN YOU START UP AGAIN THE ENGINE RUNS BETWEEN 1500 AND 2000 RPMS. IF YOU DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE IDLE COMES DOWN, YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE SLOWING DOWN WITHOUT USING THE BRAKE. EVEN IF YOU SHIFT DOWN, YOU WILL BE IDLING AT A SPEED OF …
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AFTER CAR IS WARM AND YOU HAVE DRIVEN A WHILE, WHEN YOU STOP, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, SAY TO GET GAS, WHEN YOU START UP AGAIN THE ENGINE RUNS BETWEEN 1500 AND 2000 RPMS. IF YOU DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE IDLE COMES DOWN, YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE SLOWING DOWN WITHOUT USING THE BRAKE. EVEN IF YOU SHIFT DOWN, YOU WILL BE IDLING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 -35 MPH AND YOU EXPECT TO BE SLOWING DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE VERY START. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THOMASON AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE CAR DO WHAT WE SAID IT WAS DOING AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. ALL THEY SAID WAS IT WAS TO NEW AND IT SHOULD BE ALRIGHT AFTER A FEW MILES. WE TOOK IT BACK BEFORE THE 30,000 MILE WARRANTY WAS UP AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THE SAME THING. THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. WE THEN TO THE CAR TO CARR CHEVROLET IN BEAVERTON, OR. THEY DID A LOT OF CHECKING ON THE CAR AND SAID THEY WOULD LIKE A FACTORY REP. TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A FACTORY REP. AND HE DROVE THE CAR AND SAID THAT IT WAS DOING JUST WHAT WE HAD SAID AND THAT HE HAD HEARD OF A COUPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME TYPE. HE WAS GOING TO CHECK AND GET BACK TO US. HE NEVER DID, SO WE CONTACTED CHRIS, WHO WAS OUT CONTACT AT CARR, AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AT THIS TIME. THAT THE CAR WAS PERFORMING AS IT WAS MADE TO DO. WE ARE CURRENTLY WAITING FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE FACTORY REP. TO HAVE HIM DRIVE IT AGAIN AND DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE ON YOUR TOES. YOU MAY THINK YOU WILL SLOW DOWN IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOD OFF THE GAS AND SHIFT DOWN, BUT YOU WILL STILL BE GOING AT A SPEED YOU MAY NOT WANT TO BE GOING. THIS IS NOT THE WAY A 5 SPEED SHOULD WORK. MY WIFE DOESN'T DRIVE THE CAR AS MUCH AS I DO AND SHE FEELS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE WHEN SHE DOES. THE LAST WE HEARD IS THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS MANUFACTURED. THAT MAY BE SO, BUT IT WAS MANUFACTURED WRONG.
WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE IDLED HIGHLY W/NO WARNING. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE HUSBAND DROVE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HIS WIFE PUSHED ACCELERATOR. AGAIN, VEHICLE ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN REAR END COLLISION W/NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DETECT DEFECT. *AK
Official recalls
301V216000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Jun 25, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
98V315000 · Air Bags
Dec 11, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOW HOOKS.
98V091000 · Suspension:front:springs:leaf Spring Assembly:hanger,bracket
May 4, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.
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
3PE99067 · Electrical System
Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed May 31, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ODI HAS RECEIVED 5,820 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING.OUR COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMPAINTS ARE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART.BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPOMSE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THE OWNER NORTIFICATION PROGRAM CITED ABOVE, INCLUDING QUARTERLY NOTIFICATIONS TO ODI.THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OWNERS TO GET THEIR ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR FREE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS MATTER CLOSELY, AND THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE MODELS IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
EA97010 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment
Opened Apr 30, 1997 · Closed Dec 23, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
IN ITS LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 1998, SUBARU STATED THAT THE VEHICLES IDENTIFIED ABOVE WILL BE RECALLED.SUBARU DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOWING/TIE-DOWN HOOKS.REFER TO NHTSA RECALL NO. 98V-315 FOR DETAILS.
PE96075 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment
Opened Dec 18, 1996 · Closed Apr 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ODI HAS REVIEWED 33 COMPLAINTS OF OVERSENSITIVE' AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT (I.E., ANY NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT) RECEIVED BY ODI AND SUBARU INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 1995 SUBARU IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES AND ALL OTHER IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAG SYSTEMS IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE 1995 IMPREZA & LEGACY; THEY ARE LATE 1994-1996 IMPREZA AND ALL1995 & 1996 LEGACY (33 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 165,385 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT CERTAIN IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES - - LATE 1994 & EARLY 1995 IMPREZA AND ALL 1995 & EARLY 1996 LEGACY (29 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 95,678 VEHICLES) -- HAVE MUCH HIGHER COMPLAINT RATE THAN THE REMAINING VEHICLES WHICH ARE DIFFERENT IN VEHICLE STRUCTURE OR EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT AIR BAG SENSING SYSTEM.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS (26 OF THE 29) INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE'S DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM AN UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACT WITH A CURB, BUMP, DIP, POTHOLE, ETC.IN THE REMAINING 3 COMPLAINTS, THE DRIVER ALLEGED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY OR WITHOUT ANY IMPACT.IN 13 OF THE 29 CASES, ONLY THE VEHICLE'S FRONT TOW HOOKS REPORTEDLY WERE FOUND DAMAGED OR SHOWED EVIDENCE OF IMPACT, AND IN 6 OTHER CASES BOTH TOW HOOKS AND OTHER UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS WERE REPORTEDLY DAMAGED OR IMPACTED; NO DETAILS WERE GIVEN IN THE 10 REMAINING CASES.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO EA97-010