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1991 Subaru LegacyProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 78 owner complaints about the 1991 Subaru Legacy, most often about the seat belts. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.

55
CarFlaw IndexSolid year20% below the Legacy median · #22 of 35 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Free fix at dealersOwner complaints786 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage176kSeat belts, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 11, 2017. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1991 Subaru Legacy has problems

78 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Seat belts190
Power train163
Latches/locks/linkages140
Structure130
Service brakes, hydraulic100
Visibility60
Engine and engine cooling60
Suspension50
Vehicle speed control51
7 other systems132

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

1991 Subaru Legacy recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Power train: manual transmission

Recall 94V-052 · Mar 23, 1994 · 31,295 vehicles

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 91V-082 · May 30, 1991 · 76,000 vehicles

Risk. DELAYED RELEASE OF TRANSMISSION FROM PARK CAUSES DELAYEDAND POSSIBLY ABRUPT VEHICLE MOVEMENT THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.

Best & worst years

1991 vs. every other Legacy year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Legacy median. How we score

'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1991 Subaru Legacy safety ratings

1991 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1991 Subaru Legacy, and the recalls they led to.

  1. HOOD LATCH FAILUREPE94051 · closed Oct 31, 1994
    No recall
In owners' words

What Legacy owners report

Recent seat belts complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT BELT JAMS IN THE MIDDLE AND RENDERS THE SEAT BELT INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED AND…
Complaint 10192125 · May 31, 2007 · 176,000 miles
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING WAS SEPARATING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THAT CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Complaint 10063507 · Mar 18, 2004
DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Complaint 831202 · Nov 23, 1998

Own a 1991 Legacy?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.