Model year record

1992 Subaru Legacy recalls & problems

The 1992 Subaru Legacy has 2 safety recalls and 55 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (22 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints55filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainMar 23, 1994

Manual transmission

Recall 94V05200031,295 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.

Fuel system, gasolineApr 1, 1992

Storage › Tank assembly

Recall 92V0440009,500 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS; REPLACE THEM IF THEY ARE PUNCTURED.

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

1992 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.

OverallNot 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

23mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Legacy Wagon

23mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Legacy

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-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 · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Legacy AWD

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 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 AWD

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 AWD

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 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 AWD

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 AWD Turbo

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

Legacy Wagon AWD Turbo

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

Legacy AWD Turbo

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

Legacy Wagon AWD Turbo

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Front › Retractor	22	1	2	—
StructureBody; Frame and members	8	3	2	—
VisibilityWindshield; Sun/moon roof assembly	5	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission › Column shift assembly	5	0	0	—
Tires	5	1	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	4	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Fuses and circuit breakers; Ignition	3	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	2	0	0	—
Exterior lighting	2	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch	2	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	2	2	2	—
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Fuel/propulsion system
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
Apr 2, 2012
Tires
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
Jul 22, 2009 · 124,900 miles
Structure › Body › Roof and pillarsCrash2 injuries
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
Jul 8, 2001
Vehicle speed control
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
Mar 1, 2004
Power train › Automatic transmission
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
Jan 15, 2004 · 163,000 miles
StructureCrash
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…
Aug 1, 2002 · 106,360 miles
Tires
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
Nov 20, 2002
Tires
MICHELIN TIRES KEEP BLOWING OUT. THE SIDEWALLS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE TIRES. PH
Feb 4, 2003

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.