Total Complaints
67 filings
SUBARU LEGACY · model year
67 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994SUBARULEGACY carries 67 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 5 fires, 6 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 LEGACY is seat belts with 17 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (3) and air bags:frontal (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1994 LEGACY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
67 filings
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 17 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 2 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 2 |
A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY SON WAS DRIVING MY OLDER SUBARU AND SAID THE BRAKES WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN HE APPLIED THEM NOT FAR FROM HOME. HE PUMPED THEM AND SLOW CREPT HOME WITH THE CAR. I FOUND A RUSTED OUT LEAK AT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CONNECTION LOCATION NEAR THE FRAME ON THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK. I JUST SAW THERE WERE A NUMBER OF RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED OR SAW ONE BEFORE. ARE THEY STILL VALATE? WHOM DO I CONTACT FOR SERVICE IF SO? MY SON WAS JUST LUCKY HE WASN'T ON A HIGHWAY!
Mileage: 123,567
THE RETRACTABLE MECHANIZED SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT WORK.
Mileage: 193,000
I WILL BE ACCELERATING AT ANY MPH AND THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY TURN ITSELF OFF. THE BATTERY IS STILL POWERING THE CAR (RADIO PLAYING, LIGHTS ON), BUT THE ENGINE WILL BE COMPLETELY STOPPED. STEERING AND BRAKES WILL BOTH LOCK AND REQUIRE MUSCLING IN ORDER TO GET TO THE ROADSIDE AND STOP THE CAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES SINCE THE DATE GIVEN (6/09). THE FIRST TIME WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL. *TR
Mileage: 173,000
1994 SUBARU LEGACY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. AFTER CAR WARMS UP, WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE THE TRANSMISSION FAILS ALTOGETHER AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. AFTER A COOLING OFF PERIOD, THE CAR WILL PROCEED FOR A SHORT DURATION. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON ISSUE DUE TO DESIGN DEFICIENCIES CAUSING AN OVER HEATING AND COMPONENT FAILURE. IT IS NOT CORRECTED YET. *TR
Mileage: 159,470
FUEL PUMP WIRING SHORTED OUT IN THE GAS TANK. *TR
Mileage: 160,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES, WHICH CAUSED HER TO HAVE HEADACHES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN DRY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CRASHING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HAVE SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE TO D AUTO 214-629-0941 BUT WISHES TO PURSUE HEALTH DAMAGE IN RESPIRATORY AND MENTAL ANGUISH. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
Mileage: 142,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES, WHICH CAUSED HER TO HAVE HEADACHES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN DRY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CRASHING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HAVE SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE TO D AUTO 214-629-0941 BUT WISHES TO PURSUE HEALTH DAMAGE IN RESPIRATORY AND MENTAL ANGUISH. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
Mileage: 142,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES, WHICH CAUSED HER TO HAVE HEADACHES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN DRY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CRASHING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HAVE SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE TO D AUTO 214-629-0941 BUT WISHES TO PURSUE HEALTH DAMAGE IN RESPIRATORY AND MENTAL ANGUISH. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
Mileage: 142,000
DT: 1994 SUBARU LEGACY L ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT BROKE. THE SEAT BELT IS CONNECTED TO THE DOOR, AND WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT WILL NOT RUN THE TRACK TO BE IN THE PROPER POSITION FOR SAFETY. THIS IS ON THE SHOULDER PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE LAP BELT ALONE IS NOT SAFE USE. HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE SEAT BELT, AND THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT WAS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 3 YEARS. THE COST TO REPLACE THE MOTOR OF THE SEAT BELT IS AT LEAST $400. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WITH THIS SEAT BELT MOTOR PROBLEM. BASED ON WHAT THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING TO THE MOTOR GOING OUT, NO NOISES, AND NO INDICATOR LIGHTS, IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. *AK
Mileage: 17,000
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, DRIVER OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXITED SAFELY, AND OBSERVED FLAMES COMING FROM THE AREA UNDER THE REAR OF THE CAR (STATION WAGON BODY, AWD MODEL) ABOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL AND NEAR THE GAS TANK. RESPONDERS QUENCHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED AND FOUND THAT THE WIRING FOR THE FUEL PUMP HAD THE INSULATION MELTED OFF, THE FUEL PUMP GASKET WAS COMPRIMISED, AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF FLAMES HAVING BEEN IN THE AREA. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCES, THE DIFFERENTIAL BECAME "RED HOT". THE AXLE WAS REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES ON BOTH INTERSTATES AND SECONDARY ROADS, AFTER WHICH THE DIFFERETIAL WAS SEEN SMOKING FROM THE HEAT THAT HAD BUILT UP. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE AXLE A SECOND TIME, WITH THE SAME OVERHEATING OBSERVED. IT IS THE MECHANICS' OPINION TH
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, DRIVER OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXITED SAFELY, AND OBSERVED FLAMES COMING FROM THE AREA UNDER THE REAR OF THE CAR (STATION WAGON BODY, AWD MODEL) ABOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL AND NEAR THE GAS TANK. RESPONDERS QUENCHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED AND FOUND THAT THE WIRING FOR THE FUEL PUMP HAD THE INSULATION MELTED OFF, THE FUEL PUMP GASKET WAS COMPRIMISED, AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF FLAMES HAVING BEEN IN THE AREA. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCES, THE DIFFERENTIAL BECAME "RED HOT". THE AXLE WAS REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES ON BOTH INTERSTATES AND SECONDARY ROADS, AFTER WHICH THE DIFFERETIAL WAS SEEN SMOKING FROM THE HEAT THAT HAD BUILT UP. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE AXLE A SECOND TIME, WITH THE SAME OVERHEATING OBSERVED. IT IS THE MECHANICS' OPINION TH
WE HAVE A 1994 SUBARU LEGACY. WHEN THE CAR WAS OUT OR WARRANTY, THE DRIVER SIDE RETRACTABLE SHOULDER HARNESS BROKE. WE COMPLAINED TO SUBARU AND THEY FIXED IT AT NO COST TO US IN 1999. IT WASN'T WORKING AGIAN AND WE PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED IN 2000.ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO IT BROKE AGAIN. THE SHOULDER HARNESS WOULD NOT RETRACT. WE WERE TOLD BY SUBARU THEY WOULD NOT HELP US. NOW WE FIND OUT THAT IT IS A TICKETABLE OFFENSE NOT TO HAVE A SHOULDER HARNESS. THERE IS A LAP BLET AND AN AIR BAG. SO WE CALLED SABARU AND THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD BE REPONSIBLE FOR 50% OF THE BILL. WE WENT TO THE SUBARU DEALER YESTERDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE $1140 TO FIX IT. WE FEEL THAT IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT FOR A SAFETY ITEM. I CALLED THEM BACK AND THEY WILL NOT HELP ME OUT. THIS SAFETY BELT IS POORLY DESIGNED AND THEY HAVE ADMITTED AND REDESIGNED IT IN FUTURE MODELS. OUR BELT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTS WHEN YOU TURN ON THE CAR AND HAS A CABLE AND A MOTOR. THERE IS ALSO A FEDERAL LAW THAT SAFTEY BELTS
MOTORIZED SEATBELT IS STUCK IN ONE POSITION. MOTOR STILL RUNS UPON OPENING/CLOSING OF CAR DOOR, BUT BELT DOES NOT MOVE IN TRACK. TWO FEET OF TRACK CABLE HAS FALLEN OUT OF ITS HOUSING.*AK
Mileage: 125,000
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT SLIDING RETRACTOR WILL NOT MOVE, MAKING USE OF THIS SEAT BELT INOPERABLE,
Mileage: 120,000
VEHICLE CONSUMED BY FIRE. FIRE INSPECTOR'S REPORT ATTRIBUTES CAUSE TO POWER STEERING HOSE SEPARATION AT PUMP.
Mileage: 74,500
SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYING 1994 SUBARU AND DAMAGING ANOTHER CAR AND ADJACENT HOME. FIRE INSPECTOR ASSESSED CAUSE AS RUPTURED POWER STEERING HOSE.
Mileage: 74,500
I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS ROLLING BACK, SO I APPLIED MY BRAKE AND THE AIR BAG WENT OFF. THE CAR HAS BEEN TESTED THREE TIMES AT THE REQUEST OF SABARU CORP. TO SEE WHAT WENT WRONG, THEY CAN NOT FIND THE REASON, THERE WAS NO COLLISION, THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS, I WAS TOLD IT SHOULD NOT DO THIS. THEY WANT ME TO PAY $500.00 OF THE $1000 TO REPAIR IT AND I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THE PARKING BRAKE RELASE BUTTON BROKE, DUE TO BEING MADE OF PLASTIC. *YD
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A BANG THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THEN, COULD HEAR A CLOCKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND OUT THAT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN JUST LIKE MENTIONED IN RECALL 01 V 216 000. *AK
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure
Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression
Front suspension control arm failure
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
FUEL LINE LEAK
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.