1996 SUBARU LEGACY — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
161
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
5
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY
The 1996 SUBARU LEGACY has received a total of 161 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, AIR BAGS. 5 technical service bulletins have been issued by Subaru of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bagsfrontal (20 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip (14 complaints), and Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (11 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY, potentially affecting up to 528,635 vehicles.
Recall 01V216000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
| 180,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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....
View full details →Recall 00I002000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
| 223,520 vehicles affected
Defect: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM THAT CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF CHARGING CAPABILITY.
Consequence: IF THE ALTERNATOR FAILS, THE ALTERNATOR WARNING TELLTALE WILL ALERT THE DRIVER TO THE PROBLEM, GIVING AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK REPAIR BEFORE A LOSS OF BATTERY POWER, WHICH, IF THE WARNING WERE IGNORED, COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER (ENGINE STALL).
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR WITH A MODIFIED ALTERNATOR. OWNERS WILL ALSO BE CAUTIONED THAT, SHOULD THE ALTERNATOR TELLTALE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATE, THEY MUST SEEK IMMEDIATE REPAIR TO AVOID THE EVENTUAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN...
View full details →Recall 98V315000 — AIR BAGS
| 95,673 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.
Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOW HOOKS.
View full details →Recall 98V091000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET
| 29,442 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.
Consequence: SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY
161 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INSPECTED AND ADVISED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED DUE TO THE VEHICLE BECOMING OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 255,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS BUMPER AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO PHYSICAL DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS AND THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 96 SUBARU LEGACY THE OTHER DAY TO THE STORE WHEN SHE WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT HER CAR WAS ON FIRE. LUCKILY THEY HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT. BEECHMONT SUBARU SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY EVER SAW A REAR DIFFERENTIAL CATCH ON FIRE. I WANTED TO MAKE SUBARU AWARE AND MAYBE GET SOME HELP ON THIS REPAIR. MAKING SURE IT DONE CORRECTLY. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING PHONE CALL FROM MY DAUGHTER. THIS WEB SITE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO ENTER THE VIN. [XXX]. I WILL EDIT THE VIN TILL THE SITE ACCEPTS MY COMPLAINT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
1996 SUBURU LEGACY SHUTS DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PURCHASED IN UTAH DROVE TO DENVER AREA. WENT TO DMV TO REGISTER THEN CAR QUIT. RESTS A WHILE THEN STARTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE TO THE WIRES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK BEING BURNT BECAUSE THE INTERNAL CONNECTOR HAD LOOSE TERMINALS. THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,600.
Safety Rating for the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY
Subaru of America, Inc. has issued 5 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
130499 — EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES
SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT TOW-HOOK REMOVAL CAMPAIGN. *TT
WXK68 — SUSPENSION
SUBJECT ON TRANSVERSE LINK ASSEMBLIES. *YC
010398 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN THE HEADLIGHTS. *YC
08-06097 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SERVICE MANUAL SUPPLEMENT VOLUME 7 FOR THE ABS 5.3I SYSTEM. *TT
0114195 — EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
CROSSBAR KIT INSTALLATION. *SD
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 SUBARU LEGACY
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SUBARU LEGACY
- 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
- 1996 SUBARU LEGACY (current)
- 1997 SUBARU LEGACY — 179 complaints
- 1998 SUBARU LEGACY — 155 complaints
- 1999 SUBARU LEGACY — 119 complaints
- 2000 SUBARU LEGACY — 119 complaints
- 2001 SUBARU LEGACY — 90 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