The 1990 Subaru Legacy has 4 safety recalls and 81 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (22 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints81filed by owners
Crashes · fires4 · 2reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Power train › Manual transmission
NHTSA recall 94V052000 · Mar 23, 1994 · 31,295 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power train › Automatic transmission
NHTSA recall 91V082000 · May 30, 1991 · 76,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: UNDER CERTAIN LOAD CONDITIONS, THE PARK GEAR MAY NOT DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.
Risk: DELAYED RELEASE OF TRANSMISSION FROM PARK CAUSES DELAYEDAND POSSIBLY ABRUPT VEHICLE MOVEMENT THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE PAWL TO PREVENT DELAYED RELEASE INTO REVERSE GEAR.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
NHTSA recall 90V184000 · Oct 16, 1990 · 103,744 vehicles
Problem: TORQUE OF LATCH SCREWS ON FRONT DOORS MAY LOOSEN OVER TIME DUE TO A GAP BETWEEN THE LATCH BASE PLATE AND INNER DOOR PANEL UNDER THE SCREW HEAD.
Risk: THE AFFECTED DOOR MAY NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE,PREVENTING EXIT FROM THAT DOOR.
Fix: REPLACE FRONT DOOR LATCH SCREWS WITH "LOCK-TIGHT" SCREWS.
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system
NHTSA recall 90V110000 · Jun 4, 1990 · 81,000 vehicles
Problem: THE DEFROSTER LEVER PIN OF THE DEFROSTER SHUTTER DOOR MAY BECOME DISLOCATED AND ALLOW THE SHUTTER TO CLOSE, PREVENTING DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING.
Risk: NON-FUNCTIONING DEFROSTER WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DRIVERVISIBILITY.
Fix: INSTALL A POSITIONING STOPPER DEVICE TO PREVENT DISLOCATION OF DEFROSTER LEVER PIN TO ASSURE DEFROSTER OPERATION.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1990 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Legacy
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Legacy Wagon
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Legacy
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Legacy Wagon
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Legacy 4WD
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
Legacy 4WD
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
Legacy Wagon 4WD
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
Legacy Wagon 4WD
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Structure Body › Door; Body
22
0
0
1
—
Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch; Trunk lid › Lock
19
0
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission; Axle assembly
14
1
1
0
—
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly; Front › Anchorage
14
1
0
1
—
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal; Cables
7
1
0
1
—
Suspension Front › Macpherson strut; Rear › Shock absorber
4
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap; Fuel injection system › Injectors
4
0
1
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Foundation components
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys; Engine › Gasoline
2
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Feb 1, 2003 · 104,000 milesLatches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch THE LOCK/LATCH ON MY CAR'S PASSENGER DOOR IS DEFECTIVE AND THE RECALL 90V18400 DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND COULD EASIY FAIL ANY DAY AND TRAP MY PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR. THE MANUFACTUER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. *AK
Jun 12, 1992Power train › Driveline › Constant velocity joint THE CV BOOTS ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY NEED REPLACING. *AK
Sep 17, 2003 · 40,000 milesLatches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch THE VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKS EXPERIENCED THE DEFECT STATED IN RECALL 90 V 184 000 BUT IT'S VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DOOR. *NLM
Aug 1, 2002Exterior lighting › Headlights HEADLIGHT DEVICE IS PLASTIC, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE WHEN TURNING HEADLIGHTS ON. DEALERSHIP IS NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE PLASTIC LENS MATERIAL BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY LESS TRANSPARENT WITH TIME, DIMINISHING VISABILITY AT NIGHT. THE ADJACENT TURN SIGNAL LENS HAS NOT AGED. THIS INDICATES TO CONSUMER THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENS IS NOT MADE FROM THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE TURN SIGNAL LENS. *JG
Jul 1, 2000Structure › Body › Door CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD LOCK ITSELF WHENEVER THE DOOR IS SHUT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM
Jan 1, 1999Structure › Body › Door I HAVE A 1990 SUBARU LEGACY. EACH TIME I TRY TO EXIT THE CAR THE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. IT HAS AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS THAT ARE ACCUATED BY PUSHING THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK. I HAVE HAD THE LOCK APART AND THE PROBLEM WITH ALL 4 OF MY DOOR IS THAT A SINGLE SPRING IN THE LOCK MECHANISM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION AND TO HAVE THE LOCK BUYYON STAY OPEN. THE HANDLE IS ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SPRING AND THAT PART OF THE SPING KEEPS THE DOOR LOCK OPEN. WELL, THE DOOR LOCK PORTION OF THE SPRING IS WORN OUT AND EVERY TIME YOU USE THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE, THE WEAK HALF OF THE LOCK SPRING CLOSES THE LOCK. I AM A BATTALION CHIEF FOR A…
Jan 1, 2001Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch LOCKS ON DOOR WILL LOCK EVEN WHEN UNLOCKING DOORS. LOCKS WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BACK UP. CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD LOCK U, AND THEN PUSH THE DOOR OPEN TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *YH
Aug 1, 2001Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap I NOTICED ANOTHER INCIDENT ON THE DATABASE REPORTING THIS SAME FAILURE. THE PLASTIC SHIELD TRAPS DEBRIS AGAINST THE FILLER PIPE CAUSING THE PIPE TO RUST THROUGH. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY '90 SUBARU LEGACYS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD, BUT I SUSPECT (GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE RUST), THAT ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE THIS SAME CONDITION. EVEN IF THEY HAVEN'T RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT OF LEAKING, THEY MAY EASILY RUPTURE UPON IMPACT. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
PE94051 · opened Jun 29, 1994 · closed Oct 31, 1994HOOD LATCH FAILURE There is no summary currently available
PE91039 · opened Jan 23, 1991 · closed May 30, 1991 · led to recall 91V082000REVERSE DELAYED ENGAGEMENT There is no summary currently available