1992 Subaru Legacy Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine stalls, drivetrain lock-ups or sudden power loss while driving, and seat belts or air bags that did not work when needed. Tire cracking, blowouts and separation also come up, while sun visor, fuel leak and electrical complaints appear less often. Where mileage is recorded, the figures are above 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Stalling, lock-ups or sudden power loss while driving

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 163,000 mi at 12.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2005

   Owners describe engines that quit or stall while driving, for example when shifting into a higher gear at moderate speed or going uphill, sometimes with backfiring or pinging. Other complaints describe a manual transmission that locked up during a turn, locking the front wheels and sending the car into a skid, and a transmission that failed without warning at highway speed and left the vehicle without power. A complaint describes a vehicle that freezes up on the road with a knocking noise from the front, and some describe surging forward in stop-and-go traffic when pressing the clutch and brake. According to complaints, the dealer said transmission breather vents were blocked by freezing fluid, and that a related recall did not include the vehicle because of its VIN. Mileage is recorded for few of these complaints, and the figure given for the transmission failure is about 163,000 miles, while the engine stalls are described on cold engines and uphill driving.

   Recall 94V052000

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission breather vents and the oil level gauge area have been checked, especially for vehicles driven in very cold, humid conditions, and whether any transmission recall work was completed. On a test drive, check for stalling or hesitation when shifting up at moderate speed and on hills, and listen for knocking or binding noises.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10063583, filed 2004-03, 163,000 miles

   “Engine stalls when going uphill, backfires, pings and come to a stop. Appears to happen when engine is under very modest strain. More likely to happen on cold engine but not nearly all the case. Can't tell if choke is implemented for some reason.”

   NHTSA complaint #734533, filed 2000-10
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Seat belts that fail and air bags that do not deploy

   • 17 complaints (31%)
   • typically at 6.0 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2000

   Owners describe shoulder belts that do not retract, and a motorized driver belt that stopped operating and left the driver without restraint. Complaints also describe an automatic belt that was replaced and failed again, and the owner asked the manufacturer for help with the replacement costs. Other complaints describe air bags that did not deploy, in a crash into a pole and in a rear-end collision where the reason was not determined. Mileage is not recorded in these complaints, and the belt failures are described as recurring after earlier replacements.

   What to check: Check that each seat belt retracts, locks and latches properly, and ask whether any belt has been replaced before. Ask the dealer to check the air bag system for stored fault codes and the air bag warning light before buying.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was involved in a rearend collision which resulted in vehicle slamming into another vehicle, causing direct frontal damage, and there was no deployment of drivers side airbag, cause has not been determined.”

   NHTSA complaint #816539, filed 1997-09
3. 3
   Tires

   Tire cracking, blowouts and separation

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 124,900 mi at 17.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2009

   Owners describe cracks in the tread grooves that appeared on all four tires in a cold, snowy climate, found during a state inspection without a sudden failure. Other complaints describe a tire blowout while driving, after which the rear differential reportedly overheated and was damaged, and a front tire that came completely off its wheel on the freeway. The owner also reports that several dealers would not repair a small nail puncture, and that the tire model has since been discontinued. Mileage is recorded only for the cracking complaint, at about 124,900 miles, while the other reports describe failures or repair problems during ordinary use.

   What to check: Inspect all four tires for cracking in the tread grooves, and check the tire size and model, since complaints mention a discontinued model. After any blowout or tire loss, ask a mechanic to check the rear differential and axle for heat damage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10019110, filed 2003-05

   “While driving, experienced tire blow out, replaced tire with temporary (t-tire), drove approx. 20 miles to nearest garage at 45mph, as direct result from using t-tire, noticed rubber burning smell, rear differential severly overheated, causing damage to rear axel.”

   NHTSA complaint #809694, filed 1997-03

Buying note. Anyone considering this model year may want a pre-purchase check of the seat belts, air bag warning status, transmission breather area and tires, and to ask whether the transmission recall work has been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 25 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.