NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1992 Subaru Legacy.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4 cyl Automatic 4-spd | 19 | 26 | 22 | $2,700 |
| 2.2L 4 cyl Manual 5-spd | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,600 |
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
Component: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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: 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.
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
A MISALIGNMENT OF THE REAR SEAT CUSHION LATCHING BRACKET REINFORCEMENT PLATE TO THE FLOOR REQUIRED A MACHINE TAP TO CLEAR THE OPENING FOR A MOUNTING BOLT. THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK MAY HAVE BEEN PUNCTURED WHEN THE TAP WAS USED.
Consequence: THE PUNCTURE IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK COULD CAUSE FUELTO LEAK, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE WHEN LEAKS OCCUR NEAR A SOURCE OFIGNITION.
Remedy: INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS; REPLACE THEM IF THEY ARE PUNCTURED.
I BOUGHT MY YOUNGEST SON A 1992 SUBARU LEGACY STATION WAGON. I WENT TO FILL THE GAS TANK AND WHEN I GOT HOME YOU COULD SMELL GAS FUMES VERY STRONGLY AND LATER WE COULD SEE WHERE IT HAD LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. I ASKED MY OLDEST SON ABOUT IT SINCE HE IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT A RECALL ON THAT YEAR BECAUSE OF HOW THE COMPANY PUT IN THE BACK SEAT. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER (KELLY CADILLAC) AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THAT YEAR OR VIN NUMBER AND THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. THEY ACTED LIKE IF IT WAS NOT A NEW VEHICLE THEN IT DID NOT MATTER. THIS IS MY SON'S ONLY WAY TO COLLEGE EVERY DAY BUT IT WORRIES ME WHETHER THIS CAR IS SAFE OR NOT. *TR
CRACKS APPEAR IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL SIPES AFTER 9,000 MILES / 1 YR 10 MO. THIS OCCURRED IN ALL 4 TIRES. SNOWY NORTHEAST CLIMATE, PROPERLY INFLATED TO 29-30 PSI. SIMILAR CRACKING OCCURRED ON IDENTICAL TIRE MODEL ALMOST 2 YRS AGO (DOT # ANRBMC112705), ALSO IN ALL 4 TIRES AFTER 10,000 MILES / 2 YEARS. PREVIOUS TIRES, AND THESE TIRES, WERE DIFFERENT LOTS. BF GOODRICH TRACTION T/A. NO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE EITHER TIME - FOUND ON STATE INSPECTION. *TR
1) TRAVELING ON I-10 WEST APPROACHING WILCOX, AZ. PASSED UP DIESEL, DIESEL CROSSED INTO LANE (POSSIBLY DUE TO HEAVY CROSSWINDS PROMINENT IN AREA), LOST CONTROL OF CAR AND ROLLED TWICE OFF THE HIGHWAY. 2) ROOF CAVED IN ON DRIVERS SIDE, CAUSING A COMPRESSING FRACTURE TO DRIVERS NECK. DRIVER NOW PARALYZED FROM NECK DOWN. DRIVER IS APPROXIMATELY 5'0 TALL SO AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE IS UNACCEPTABLE. CAR WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN CAR ROLLED OVER (SPEED LOST WHILE TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE) 3) VEHICLE TOTALLED
The 1992 Subaru Legacy has 2 NHTSA recalls and 70 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND UPON PUTTING FOOT ON THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO PUSH SOMETHING VERY HEAVY OUT OF THE WAY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT VEHICLE LOST POWER, FORCING DRIVER TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. DEALER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION BREATHING VENTS WERE BLOCKED DUE TO FLUID FREEZING. A RECALL 94V052000 WAS ISSUED,HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. DEALERSHIP PRESENTED VEHICLE REPAIRS AS COMPLETE, CONSUMER DISAGREED.*MR REAR GATE RELOCATED. SWITCH CONTROLLING CARGO LAMP AND STATUS PANEL DID NOT FUNCTION. FRONT BUMPER WAS GROSSLY MISALIGNED. FRONT BUMPER TO RIGHT FRONT FENDER MISMATCHED. REAR WIPER PIVOT COVER WAS MISSING. EXHAUST TIPS ROTATED. BUMPER REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS WERE MISSING. REAR TAIL LAMP SETTING OUT FROM BODY. GATE HINGE BOLT FELL OUT. INNER SKIRT WAS BOWED IN. GAP IN RIGHT REAR DOOR. VAPOR CANISTER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS LEFT LOOSE. DRAIN HOSE NOT CONNECTED. TIRE UNDER-INFLATED. FLOOR DATUM POINTS LEFT UNDONE. REAR HATCH OPENING WEATHERSTRIP WAS IMPROPERLY SEALED. *TT *JB
SEVERAL TULSA DEALERS UNABLE/UNWILLING TO REPAIR SMALL NAIL PUNCTURE OF FT70C TIRE. STATE "THIS TIRE NOT MADE TO BE REPAIRED-SELF SEALING" CONTINUAL LOSS OF AIR NECESSITATES CONSTANT REFILLING. PREVIOUS TIRE REPAIRED BY CERTIFIED TIRE SERVICE FACILITY SHOWED SIDEWALL SEPARATION USING ACCEPTABLE REPAIR EQUIPMENT. TIRE MAKE HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. NOW MANUFACTURED UNDER DIFFERENT MODEL DESIGNATION. *NLM
MICHELIN TIRES KEEP BLOWING OUT. THE SIDEWALLS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE TIRES. PH
I NEED YOUR HELP TO FIX A PROBLEM GONE ON FAR TOO LONG. MY SUBARU SVX TRANSMISSION SUFFERS WITH A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, HIGH REVS AND SLIPPING WHILE SHIFTING AND A CLUNKING WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. THE HEAT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN THE SUBARU SVX AND LEGACY MODELS SUFFER FROM A SEVERE COOLING PROBLEM. THE RADIATOR BASED TRANSMISSION COOLER CAN NOT COOL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOL ENOUGH. THE TRANSMISSIONS POOR DESIGN DOES NOT ALLOW THE LUBRICANT TO FLOW THROUGH IT TO KEEP PARTS LUBRICATED(THUS MORE FRICTION AND HEAT DAMAGE). UNUSUAL HIGH OVERDRIVE PLACES ADDITIONAL SIDE LOADS ON BEARINGS GENERATING HEAT. THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM PUTS EVEN MORE STRAIN ON THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING EVEN MORE HEAT. THIS PROBLEM IS OF EPIDEMIC PROPORTION SO COMMON AMONG OVER 90% OF THESE CARS MANUFACTURED. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING DEFECTS IN THE TRANSMISSIONS FOR ALL SVX MODELS. ALMOST ALL SVX OWNERS, EVERY WEBSITE, AND EVEN YOUR OWN COMPLAINT FILES ARE AWARE OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT AND SPECIFIC PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS. SUBARU HAS DONE NOTHING IF ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT IT. AT THE VERY LEAST I NEED SUBARU TO REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW ONE UPGRADED WITH HIGH CLUTCH DRUM AND THRUST BEARINGS, NEW REVERSE CLUTCH STEEL PLATES, MODIFIED TRANSMISSION CASE, OIL PUMP GASKET AND TRANSFER CLUTCH DRIVEN PLATE, A TRANSMISSION OIL FILTER KIT AND AN AFTER TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER AND WARRANTY IT. THIS CAR IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX THE DAMAGE FROM THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND UNUSUALLY HIGH COST COMPARED TO OTHER TRANSMISSIONS. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER AND IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK STARTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
ENGINE QUITS ON HILLS WHEN SHIFTING INTO A HIGHER GEAR AT ABOUT 35 MPH. ENGINE ALSO QUITS AT ABOUT 40 MPH, AGAIN WHEN RPM ABOUT 3000 ON A COLD ENGINE.*AK
IN THE CAR'S MANUAL AND, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM TALKING WITH FRIENDS, THERE IS A FUSE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SWITCH FROM 4WD/AWD TO FWD FOR TOWING ETC. MY CAR LACKS THIS FUSE/HOLDER AND IF IT WERE TO EVER BE TOWED THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE DAMAGED. I HAD A FRIEND LOOK UP MY VIN TO BE SURE IT IS APPLICABLE FOR MY VEHICLE AND IT IS.*AK
VIN # JF2 BJ65C3 NH903488. NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
FRONT RIGHT TIRE COMPLETELY FELL OFF THE WHEEL WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE TIRES HAD ONLY BEEN PUT ON 6 MONTHS PRIOR, AND THEY WERE NOT BALD. MY CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, AND MY HUB CAP ROLLED OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, CAUSING A CAR TO HIT THE BACK OF A CAR IN FRONT OF IT. THE TIRE LOOKS AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN PEELED OFF OF THE WHEEL. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 1857014 TIRESIZE: FT70C 87S)
WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL ALL OF ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS STOPPED, AND VEHICLE STOPPED OPERATING. A BLACK FUSE CABLE IN FUSE BOX, FUSE LINK: 82301GA060 BURNED UP, AND BURNED A MARK ON COVER OF FUSE BOX. *AK *SLC
Showing 15 of 70 complaints