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1995 Subaru Legacy

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Legacy years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Subaru Legacy are substantially higher than the model-year median of 77.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 182 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports3 fire reports25 injury reports

Fuel System, Other complaints

9 reports
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164,135 miles · Nov 19, 2010
Fuel System, Other

FUEL TANK FILLER NECK LEAK AND FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366871

184,000 miles · Oct 14, 2005
Fuel System, Other

DT: THE CONTACT DETECTED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE GENERATOR AND HIS WIFE'S VEHICLE IN WHICH NOTHING WAS FOUND. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED VEHICLE BACK INTO THE GARAGE HE NOTICED A GASOLINE STAIN WHERE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SUBARU DEALER, WHO NOTICED THE LEAK IMM…

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DT: THE CONTACT DETECTED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE GENERATOR AND HIS WIFE'S VEHICLE IN WHICH NOTHING WAS FOUND. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED VEHICLE BACK INTO THE GARAGE HE NOTICED A GASOLINE STAIN WHERE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SUBARU DEALER, WHO NOTICED THE LEAK IMMEDIATELY WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE FILLER NECK OF THE GASOLINE STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FROM WHERE GASOLINE GAS PUMP NOZZLE GOES INTO THE GAS TANK ITSELF. THIS WAS CONSIDERED A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS PLASTIC AND BREAKING DOWN. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AT FOUR SEPARATE SUBARU DEALERS, THE FILLER NECK PART NUMBER WAS 42066FA030. OUT OF FEAR OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, SUCH AS AN EXPLOSION AND DEATH THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT ADDED THIS WAS THE SAME PART THAT WAS USED IN THE 1995-1997 SUBARU LEGACY VEHICLES. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10139658

135,000 miles · Feb 16, 2004
Fuel System, Other

DRIVEABILITY CONCERN: THERE IS A VALVE GUIDE MOVEMENT ON THE CYLINDERS THAT LEAD TO VERY HEAVY CARBON DEPOSITS ON VALVES AND INTAKE/COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. THE VALVE GUIDE WEAR OCCURS BECAUSE THE HEADS ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM. UNDER LOAD, THE ENGINE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR, MISFIRES RANDOMLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND …

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DRIVEABILITY CONCERN: THERE IS A VALVE GUIDE MOVEMENT ON THE CYLINDERS THAT LEAD TO VERY HEAVY CARBON DEPOSITS ON VALVES AND INTAKE/COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. THE VALVE GUIDE WEAR OCCURS BECAUSE THE HEADS ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM. UNDER LOAD, THE ENGINE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR, MISFIRES RANDOMLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR "BUCKS." THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE CAR IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND IT "BUCKS." THE GAS MILEAGE IS VERY POOR (17 MPG). MY GARAGE (WORKS EXCLUSIVELY ON JAPANESE CARS) THEY SEE SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON MANY SUBARU MODELS AND YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058257

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2003
Fuel System, Other

THE GAS GAUGE PROVIDED AN INACCURATE FUEL READING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10012124

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2000
Fuel System, Other

WHEN GAS GUAGE WAS 1/2 FULL, SUDDENLY DROPPED TO SHOW EMPTY TANK, WILL READ EMPTY FOR MANY MILES (100+)

NHTSA ODI #727715

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2000
Fuel System, Other

FUEL SENSORS ARE BAD. THE VEHICLE HOLDS A LOWER AMOUNT OF FUEL THAN SPECIFIED, CAUSING THE GAUGE TO MISREAD THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854772

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1999
Fuel System, Other

GAS GUAGE INACCURATELY READS THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845375

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1998
Fuel System, OtherUnknown Or Other

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH UP A HILL AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN PUTTING FUEL INTO THE TANK, THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY TAKE ABOUT 1 OR 2 GALLONS OF GAS AND THE FUEL TANK WON'T TAKE ANYMORE GAS. THE GUAGE ISN'T WORKING RIGHT. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO …

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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH UP A HILL AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN PUTTING FUEL INTO THE TANK, THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY TAKE ABOUT 1 OR 2 GALLONS OF GAS AND THE FUEL TANK WON'T TAKE ANYMORE GAS. THE GUAGE ISN'T WORKING RIGHT. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY PUT MORE GAS INTO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829148

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

FUEL GAUGE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #507882

Official recalls

2

01V216000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Jun 25, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

98V315000 · Air Bags

Dec 11, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOW HOOKS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

PE99067 · Electrical System

Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed May 31, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ODI HAS RECEIVED 5,820 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING.OUR COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMPAINTS ARE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART.BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPOMSE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THE OWNER NORTIFICATION PROGRAM CITED ABOVE, INCLUDING QUARTERLY NOTIFICATIONS TO ODI.THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OWNERS TO GET THEIR ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR FREE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS MATTER CLOSELY, AND THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE MODELS IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

EA97010 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment

Opened Apr 30, 1997 · Closed Dec 23, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

IN ITS LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 1998, SUBARU STATED THAT THE VEHICLES IDENTIFIED ABOVE WILL BE RECALLED.SUBARU DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOWING/TIE-DOWN HOOKS.REFER TO NHTSA RECALL NO. 98V-315 FOR DETAILS.

PE96075 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment

Opened Dec 18, 1996 · Closed Apr 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

ODI HAS REVIEWED 33 COMPLAINTS OF OVERSENSITIVE' AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT (I.E., ANY NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT) RECEIVED BY ODI AND SUBARU INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 1995 SUBARU IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES AND ALL OTHER IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAG SYSTEMS IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE 1995 IMPREZA & LEGACY; THEY ARE LATE 1994-1996 IMPREZA AND ALL1995 & 1996 LEGACY (33 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 165,385 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT CERTAIN IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES - - LATE 1994 & EARLY 1995 IMPREZA AND ALL 1995 & EARLY 1996 LEGACY (29 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 95,678 VEHICLES) -- HAVE MUCH HIGHER COMPLAINT RATE THAN THE REMAINING VEHICLES WHICH ARE DIFFERENT IN VEHICLE STRUCTURE OR EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT AIR BAG SENSING SYSTEM.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS (26 OF THE 29) INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE'S DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM AN UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACT WITH A CURB, BUMP, DIP, POTHOLE, ETC.IN THE REMAINING 3 COMPLAINTS, THE DRIVER ALLEGED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY OR WITHOUT ANY IMPACT.IN 13 OF THE 29 CASES, ONLY THE VEHICLE'S FRONT TOW HOOKS REPORTEDLY WERE FOUND DAMAGED OR SHOWED EVIDENCE OF IMPACT, AND IN 6 OTHER CASES BOTH TOW HOOKS AND OTHER UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS WERE REPORTEDLY DAMAGED OR IMPACTED; NO DETAILS WERE GIVEN IN THE 10 REMAINING CASES.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO EA97-010