Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Subaru Legacy, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags22
- Engine and engine cooling22
- Electrical system21
- Service brakes, hydraulic17
- Power train8
- Suspension8
- Vehicle speed control7
- Unknown or other7
- Seats6
- Fuel system, gasoline5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 17 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 1996 Legacy vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 3 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 1996 Subaru Legacy failed the safety check 1.90% of the time — 30% more often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 139,114 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
17 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 151 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
12 of these cars first registered in 1996 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 302,000 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
406 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 85% arrived as used imports, 11% 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 6 variants: combined 10.6–12.0 L/100 km (about 20–22 mpg US), CO₂ 244–276 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy AWD · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.9 | 10.6 |
| Legacy AWD Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.0 | 8.9 | 10.6 |
| Legacy AWD · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 9.0 | 10.8 |
| Legacy AWD Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 9.0 | 10.8 |
| Legacy AWD · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 10.1 | 12.0 |
| Legacy AWD Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 10.1 | 12.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 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… |
| 2000069 17 Mar 2000 | Other Certain vehicle do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. Compliance label was not expressed in both official languages in regard to vehicle c… |
| 1998107 25 May 1998 | Suspension A WELD FRACTURE MAY OCCUR ON THE HANGER BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINKS. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET WITH SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LOW… |
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.
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.
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 1996 Subaru Legacy: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 631078 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHIFTER RATTLE. *JG |
| 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 |
| 618425 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF ALTERNATOR CHARGING DUE TO A BROKEN BRUSH WIRE. *TT |
| 608198 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY EXHIBIT FIRST GEAR POPPING OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 605951 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT TOW-HOOK REMOVAL CAMPAIGN. *TT |
| 605778 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTOR . *TT |
| 604953 | SERVICE MANUAL SUPPLEMENT VOLUME 7 FOR THE ABS 5.3I SYSTEM. *TT |
| 602763 | PROCEDURES ON TRANSVERSE LINK ASSEMBLIES. *YC |
| 602130 | SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN THE HEADLIGHTS. *YC |
| 601879 | SUBJECT ON TRANSVERSE LINK ASSEMBLIES. *YC |
| 54208 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF VOLTAGE REGULATION FROM THE ALTERNATOR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WIRING CONTACT TO THE ALTERNATOR IC REGULATOR. *YC |
| 51255 | 1995-97 LEGACY REAR WHEEL BEARING/SEAL NOISE. *JD |
| 46649 | ACCESSORY PROTECTIVE BUMPER COVER ADHESION. *SD |
| 46644 | CROSSBAR KIT INSTALLATION. *SD |
| 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) |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation