IllustrationCAR FISHTAILED OUT OF CONTROL. *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 reportsWHEN 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
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP ABOUT 5 MPH, CONSUMER BUMPED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
SMELLING OIL FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE IN 6 WEEKS AGO FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE & DISCOVERED OIL LEAKS. WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC LEAKS CAMEFROM CRANKSHAFT OR CAMSHAFT GASKET AND CYLINDERS. CONTACTED DEALER REPLACED CRANKSHAFT GASKETS/WATER PUMP. ANOTHER LEAK IN THE BACK OF ENGINE CAUSED BY SEPARATOR COVER GASKE…
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SMELLING OIL FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE IN 6 WEEKS AGO FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE & DISCOVERED OIL LEAKS. WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC LEAKS CAMEFROM CRANKSHAFT OR CAMSHAFT GASKET AND CYLINDERS. CONTACTED DEALER REPLACED CRANKSHAFT GASKETS/WATER PUMP. ANOTHER LEAK IN THE BACK OF ENGINE CAUSED BY SEPARATOR COVER GASKET. *AK
ABS DOES NOT SEEM TO SLOW OR STOP VEHICLE QUICK ENOUGH, IN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *ET
PE99067, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED BLINKING, THERE WAS A HUGE POPPING NOISE, AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. AFTER PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER, DRIVER OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND AN ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN FUSES AND WIRES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER…
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PE99067, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED BLINKING, THERE WAS A HUGE POPPING NOISE, AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. AFTER PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER, DRIVER OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND AN ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN FUSES AND WIRES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
PE99067, INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS INOPERATIVE AND VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. OCCUPANT IS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS OPERATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
4 INCIDENTS ENGINE FAILURE. FIRST TIME I PUSHED ACCELATOR AND THERE WAS NO POWER. CONTINUED TO APPLY GAS PEDAL AND NO POWER, IT WAS AS IF I WAS NOT APPLYING THE GAS AT ALL. CHECH ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, AND AS SOON AS CHECK ENGINE STOPPED BLINKING AND LIGHT REMAINED ON, THE CAR RAN SMOOTHLY. THE SECO…
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4 INCIDENTS ENGINE FAILURE. FIRST TIME I PUSHED ACCELATOR AND THERE WAS NO POWER. CONTINUED TO APPLY GAS PEDAL AND NO POWER, IT WAS AS IF I WAS NOT APPLYING THE GAS AT ALL. CHECH ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, AND AS SOON AS CHECK ENGINE STOPPED BLINKING AND LIGHT REMAINED ON, THE CAR RAN SMOOTHLY. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE FIRST. THE THIRD INCIDENT THE CAR DID THE SAME EXACT THING BUT THIS TIME IT STALLED OUT AS WELL. 4TH TIME WAS VERY MUCH LIKE THE FIRST TWO. HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
REPEATED EPISODES W/OUT RESOLUTION. CAR WILL STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITH NO WARNING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS AND CAR WILL LOOSE POWER OR COMPLETELY STALL. NO WARNING, NO BRAKES, NO REASON AFTER REPEATED VISITS TO DEALER. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN .
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