IllustrationWHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED/TAPPED THEY SUDDENLY TIGHTEN AND GET HOT AS TIME PROGRESSES. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A FIRE DUE TO MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILURE. BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *AK
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Legacy years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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
What owners actually said
182 reportsCONSUMER STATED ALTERNATOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, TAIL LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. *AK
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 01V216000 FAILED. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN …
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NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 01V216000 FAILED. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING. *JB
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
MY VEHICLE, A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY L STATION WAGON, HAD STALLED AT A RED LIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT "COLLAPSED" TO A FULLY-RECLINED POSITION. I SUFFERED MUSCLE AND LIGAMENT STRAIN IN MY NECK AND BACK,…
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MY VEHICLE, A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY L STATION WAGON, HAD STALLED AT A RED LIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT "COLLAPSED" TO A FULLY-RECLINED POSITION. I SUFFERED MUSCLE AND LIGAMENT STRAIN IN MY NECK AND BACK, AND MY DAUGHTER (WHO WAS SEATED BEHIND ME) SUSTAINED A LARGE BRUISE ON HER RIGHT THIGH AS A RESULT OF BEING STRUCK BY MY SEAT WHEN IT COLLAPSED. *JB
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. AS A RESULT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED, INJURING THE DRIVER. ALSO, WHEN THE SEAT COLLAPSED IT INJURED THE REAR PASSENGER'S LEGS. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. *AK
DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO DO RECALL 01V216000 REPAIRS FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. *AK
THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE PERMISSION TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS REMOVED OR DISCONNECTED. *NLM *JB
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THAT HOLDS THE HEAD LIGHT INTO SOCKET HAS SHORTED OUT 4 TIMES. THIS ACTUALLY MELTS AND SMELLS LIKE A ELECTRICAL FIRE. WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEAD LIGHT CONNECTOR'S 2 TIMES. THIS IS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY. THE DEALER IN ANGLES CAMP,CA HAS TOLD US HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES FOR THE MODEL AND YEAR…
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ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THAT HOLDS THE HEAD LIGHT INTO SOCKET HAS SHORTED OUT 4 TIMES. THIS ACTUALLY MELTS AND SMELLS LIKE A ELECTRICAL FIRE. WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEAD LIGHT CONNECTOR'S 2 TIMES. THIS IS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY. THE DEALER IN ANGLES CAMP,CA HAS TOLD US HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES FOR THE MODEL AND YEAR OF OUR CAR. *NLM
Official recalls
201V216000 · 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
3PE99067 · 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