1990 SUBARU LEGACY — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
103
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY
The 1990 SUBARU LEGACY has received a total of 103 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM. The most commonly reported problems involve the Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch (18 complaints), Structurebodydoor (17 complaints), and Power Trainautomatic Transmission (6 complaints).
Recalls for the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY, potentially affecting up to 292,039 vehicles.
Recall 94V052000 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
| 31,295 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 91V082000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
| 76,000 vehicles affected
Defect: UNDER CERTAIN LOAD CONDITIONS, THE PARK GEAR MAY NOT DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.
Consequence: DELAYED RELEASE OF TRANSMISSION FROM PARK CAUSES DELAYEDAND POSSIBLY ABRUPT VEHICLE MOVEMENT THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE PAWL TO PREVENT DELAYED RELEASE INTO REVERSE GEAR.
View full details →Recall 90V110000 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
| 81,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE DEFROSTER LEVER PIN OF THE DEFROSTER SHUTTER DOOR MAY BECOME DISLOCATED AND ALLOW THE SHUTTER TO CLOSE, PREVENTING DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING.
Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING DEFROSTER WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DRIVERVISIBILITY.
Remedy: INSTALL A POSITIONING STOPPER DEVICE TO PREVENT DISLOCATION OF DEFROSTER LEVER PIN TO ASSURE DEFROSTER OPERATION.
View full details →Recall 90V184000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
| 103,744 vehicles affected
Defect: TORQUE OF LATCH SCREWS ON FRONT DOORS MAY LOOSEN OVER TIME DUE TO A GAP BETWEEN THE LATCH BASE PLATE AND INNER DOOR PANEL UNDER THE SCREW HEAD.
Consequence: THE AFFECTED DOOR MAY NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE,PREVENTING EXIT FROM THAT DOOR.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT DOOR LATCH SCREWS WITH "LOCK-TIGHT" SCREWS.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY
103 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
THE LOCK/LATCH ON MY CAR'S PASSENGER DOOR IS DEFECTIVE AND THE RECALL 90V18400 DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND COULD EASIY FAIL ANY DAY AND TRAP MY PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR. THE MANUFACTUER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. *AK
THE CV BOOTS ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY NEED REPLACING. *AK
THE VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKS EXPERIENCED THE DEFECT STATED IN RECALL 90 V 184 000 BUT IT'S VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DOOR. *NLM
HEADLIGHT DEVICE IS PLASTIC, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE WHEN TURNING HEADLIGHTS ON. DEALERSHIP IS NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE PLASTIC LENS MATERIAL BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY LESS TRANSPARENT WITH TIME, DIMINISHING VISABILITY AT NIGHT. THE ADJACENT TURN SIGNAL LENS HAS NOT AGED. THIS INDICATES TO CONSUMER THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENS IS NOT MADE FROM THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE TURN SIGNAL LENS. *JG
CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD LOCK ITSELF WHENEVER THE DOOR IS SHUT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM
Safety Rating for the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1990 SUBARU LEGACY.
Investigation PE91039 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Closed
Opened:
REVERSE DELAYED ENGAGEMENT
Other Model Years of the SUBARU LEGACY
- 1987 SUBARU LEGACY — 1 complaint
- 1988 SUBARU LEGACY — 1 complaint
- 1989 SUBARU LEGACY — 1 complaint
- 1990 SUBARU LEGACY (current)
- 1991 SUBARU LEGACY — 121 complaints
- 1992 SUBARU LEGACY — 66 complaints
- 1993 SUBARU LEGACY — 90 complaints
- 1994 SUBARU LEGACY — 67 complaints
- 1995 SUBARU LEGACY — 230 complaints
Other SUBARU Models
- SUBARU OUTBACK — 12,068 total complaints
- SUBARU FORESTER — 8,432 total complaints
- SUBARU IMPREZA — 3,406 total complaints
- SUBARU CROSSTREK — 1,431 total complaints
- SUBARU ASCENT — 1,230 total complaints
- SUBARU WRX — 1,207 total complaints
- SUBARU SVX — 373 total complaints
- SUBARU XV CROSSTREK — 354 total complaints