IllustrationBATTERY BLEW UP. STARTED CAR AND LOUD EXPLOSION AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ALL THE TOPS OFF THE BATTERY CELLS WERE OFF AND THE HOUSING CRACKED.*AK
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
What owners actually said
123 reportsON AUGUST THE 12 AFTER GOING UP A STEEP HILL THE ENGINE STARTED MISSING REALLY BAD TO THE POINT I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO QUIT . THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REOCCURING EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. I CONTACTED MY DEALER ON AUGUST THE 11 AND THEY HAD ME TO BRING IN THE CAR TO DECARBON THE ENGINE . THIS DIDNOT STOP THE PROBLEM. ITOOK T…
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ON AUGUST THE 12 AFTER GOING UP A STEEP HILL THE ENGINE STARTED MISSING REALLY BAD TO THE POINT I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO QUIT . THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REOCCURING EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. I CONTACTED MY DEALER ON AUGUST THE 11 AND THEY HAD ME TO BRING IN THE CAR TO DECARBON THE ENGINE . THIS DIDNOT STOP THE PROBLEM. ITOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER ON SEPT. 12 TO HAVE IT DECARBONED AGAIN. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT SUBARU HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND STILL HAS NO KNOWN FIX FOR THIS LOST POWER AND ROUGH ENGINE PROBLEM WHICH THEY SAY IS DUE TO CARBON BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE.*AK
WHEN BRAKING PEDAL PULSATES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT AND REAR ROTORS IN JUNE AND AUGUST OF 1999 AT 27000 MILES. IN AUG OF 2001, REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED. FRONT ROTORS ARE TO BE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.*AK REPAIR SHOP OWNER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE TOO THIN FOR VEHICLE WEIGHT, THEY WARP AND CAN NOT BE RESHAPED, CONSUM…
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WHEN BRAKING PEDAL PULSATES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT AND REAR ROTORS IN JUNE AND AUGUST OF 1999 AT 27000 MILES. IN AUG OF 2001, REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED. FRONT ROTORS ARE TO BE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.*AK REPAIR SHOP OWNER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE TOO THIN FOR VEHICLE WEIGHT, THEY WARP AND CAN NOT BE RESHAPED, CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED DUE TO THIS BRAKE PROBLEM BEING A DESIGN DEFECT, MANUFACTURER DOES NOT AGREE. *SLC
VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL WHEN IT WAS HIT HEAD ON. FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL PASSENGER WENT THROUGH WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER HAS NOT YET MADE ANY CONTACT WITH MANUFACTURER OR DEALER.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT BECOMES ILLUMINATED, THEN CUTS OFF. ENGINE WILL TURN OVER WHEN RESTARTED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WILL FAIL AT THE SAME PLACE DAILY, WAS TOLD BY A SUBARU ENGINEER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD LIFTERS INSTALLED WHICH WERE TOO SMALL AND SUGGESTED T…
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WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT BECOMES ILLUMINATED, THEN CUTS OFF. ENGINE WILL TURN OVER WHEN RESTARTED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WILL FAIL AT THE SAME PLACE DAILY, WAS TOLD BY A SUBARU ENGINEER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD LIFTERS INSTALLED WHICH WERE TOO SMALL AND SUGGESTED THAT ONLY VERY THIN SYNTHETIC OIL BE USED, CONSUMER TRIED THIS AND VEHICLE OPERATES NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 1200 MILES, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FOLLOWING TO TRY AND CORRECT PROBLEML MAF SENSOR, CRANK AND CAM SENSORS, PLUGS AND WIRES, COIL, COMPUTER, STARTER, ALTNERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, AND TIMING BELT. *SLC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN REAR END FALL DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
CONSUMER WAS FORCED OFF OF ROAD WHERE SHE IMPACTED A TREE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THIS EVENT. *AK
BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN 1/2" TO 3/4" TO FLOOR ONLY WHEN VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR A WHILE OR WHILE APPLYING BRAKE AT A STOP POSITION. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
CONSUMER WAS ON THERE WAY BACK FROM A TRIPLE TRAVELING DOWN A SNAKE ROAD. ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED UP BESIDE HIM AND YELLED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, GOT OUT WITH THE CHILDREN. FLAMES WERE BURSTING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE NEAR FUEL TANK. TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE CAUSE.*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