1996 Subaru Legacy Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 6%of 123 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 104,015miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1996 Subaru Legacy, 6% of the 123 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 104,015 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Dt: 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. Updated 11/16/2005 -”
NHTSA complaint #10140095, filed 2005-10, 133,030 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #704126, filed 1999-03“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.”
NHTSA complaint #707787, filed 1999-06“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.”
NHTSA complaint #807026, filed 1997-01“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.”
NHTSA complaint #719757, filed 2000-03Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 17% |
| 2022 | 2 | 6% |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 4 | 3% |
| 2019 | 4 | 3% |
| 2018 | 3 | 3% |
| 2017 | 2 | 2% |
| 2016 | 9 | 6% |
| 2015 | 14 | 9% |
| 2014 | 3 | 6% |
| 2013 | 4 | 6% |
| 2012 | 4 | 4% |
| 2011 | 5 | 3% |
| 2010 | 8 | 5% |
| 2008 | 5 | 8% |
| 2006 | 30 | 34% |
| 2005 | 15 | 8% |
| 2004 | 5 | 10% |
| 2003 | 5 | 8% |
| 2002 | 4 | 7% |
| 2001 | 9 | 12% |
| 2000 | 10 | 11% |
| 1999 | 12 | 13% |
| 1998 | 10 | 9% |
| 1997 | 9 | 6% |
| 1996 | 7 | 6% |
| 1995 | 3 | 2% |
| 1994 | 2 | 3% |
| 1993 | 4 | 5% |
| 1992 | 2 | 4% |
| 1991 | 5 | 6% |
| 1990 | 5 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1996 Subaru Legacy
22 complaintsEngine cooling
22 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsBrakes
18 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsSeats
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsTires
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Subaru Legacy
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology