Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1995 Subaru Legacy, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags46
- Service brakes, hydraulic25
- Electrical system20
- Engine and engine cooling17
- Suspension14
- Fuel system, other9
- Power train9
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Visibility7
- Seat belts7
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 29 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 1995 Legacy vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1995 Subaru Legacy failed the safety check 0.78% of the time — 40% less often than the average 1995 passenger car (1.29%). Median odometer at inspection: 162,367 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
6 cars built in 1995 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 101 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
6 of these cars first registered in 1995 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 228,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
291 1995 cars are on the New Zealand register; 82% arrived as used imports, 13% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 7 variants: combined 9.6–11.0 L/100 km (about 21–25 mpg US), CO₂ 221–253 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.1 | 7.8 | 9.6 |
| Legacy · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.3 | 10.2 |
| Legacy Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.3 | 10.2 |
| Legacy 4X4 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.0 | 9.0 | 10.7 |
| Legacy 4X4 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.3 | 9.1 | 10.9 |
| Legacy 4X4 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.5 | 9.1 | 11.0 |
| Legacy 4X4 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.5 | 9.1 | 11.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1995 Subaru Legacy.
| 2001183 3 Jul 2001 | Other Certain passenger vehicles equipped with front coil springs.The front coil springs were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corr… |
| 1999020 15 Feb 1999 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the front tow hook may contact curbing, dips, speedbumps, potholes etc. and cause inadvertent air bag deployment. Correction: Front tow h… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Subaru told its dealers about the 1995 Subaru Legacy: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 627826 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT SPRING GUARD BULLETIN UPDATE. *YD |
| 626926 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BELT LATCH SLIDES TO THE LOWER SEAT BELT ANCHOR. *YH UPDATED *EH |
| 625877 | SUBJECT ON REGARDING STEERING KNOCKING/RATTLE NOISE WHEN TURNING. *ET |
| 608198 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY EXHIBIT FIRST GEAR POPPING OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 605951 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT TOW-HOOK REMOVAL CAMPAIGN. *TT |
| 605779 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF RETROFIT AIR BAG |
| 602130 | SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN THE HEADLIGHTS. *YC |
| 54208 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF VOLTAGE REGULATION FROM THE ALTERNATOR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WIRING CONTACT TO THE ALTERNATOR IC REGULATOR. *YC |
| 54207 | VARIOUS INFORMATION ON CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *YC |
| 53025 | VARIOUS INFORMATION ON PROCEDURES AND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS. *YC |
| 51255 | 1995-97 LEGACY REAR WHEEL BEARING/SEAL NOISE. *JD |
| 46649 | ACCESSORY PROTECTIVE BUMPER COVER ADHESION. *SD |
| 46645 | KNOCK SENSOR. *SD |
| 38095 | ENGINE OIL PUMP LEAKS. *TW |
| 10240110 | This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering vehicles with long time exposure to pollen on painted surfaces on vehicles imported from Japan. This bulletin does not apply to SIA built vehicles. |
| 10219492 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models. |
| 10219491 | This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. |
| 10209915 | This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment). |
| 10198758 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models |
| 10198749 | This bulletin is to advise of SOAs revised catalytic converter recycling program shipping procedure. |
| 10187315 | To help reduce confusion and increase technician efficiency, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has developed the following cross reference list to help locate the appropriate Special Service Tool. |
| 10179378 | Special Service Tools Cross Reference List. |
| 10174543 | All Models (Vehicle Cleaning- COVID-19Best Practices) |
| 10163525 | This Service Information bulletin announces instruction for application of additional lubrication between the brake caliper support and pad clips. This will prevent the pad from dragging due to corrosion buildup which may result in uneven or premature wear of the replacement brake pads. This additional instruction applies to all models with brake pads using the upper and lower pad clips and has been added to the brake pad installation procedures found in the related Service Manuals. |
| 10161824 | Subaru Service and Technical Support Line Newletter. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation