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1993 Subaru Legacy
1 recall campaign and 77 complaints are on NHTSA's register for the 1993 Subaru Legacy; the recalls concern power train.
The component named most often is engine and engine cooling: 188.9 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 140.7 per 1,000 across all 1993 model-year vehicles and against 85.6 per 1,000 for the Subaru Legacy line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 59.9 complaints per model year across the 37 Subaru Legacy model years on this register; 9 complaints reported a crash and 1 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2000 (14); the most recent in the file is dated 15 Oct 2007.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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 can burn the internal components of the transmission, cause the transmission to seize and the vehicle to come to a sudden stop.
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.
Filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC..
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1993 Subaru Legacy (black) against all 1993 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1993 | Legacy line | All 1993 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 188.9 | 85.6 | 140.7 |
| Seat Belts | 144.4 | 45.5 | 56.1 |
| Air Bags | 111.1 | 123.9 | 34.6 |
| Power Train | 100 | 95.9 | 84.9 |
| Tires | 100 | 31.5 | 30.5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 66.7 | 58.5 | 185.9 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1993 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 17 | 188.9 | 85.6 | 140.7 |
| Seat Belts | 13 | 144.4 | 45.5 | 56.1 |
| Air Bags | 10 | 111.1 | 123.9 | 34.6 |
| Power Train | 9 | 100 | 95.9 | 84.9 |
| Tires | 9 | 100 | 31.5 | 30.5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 66.7 | 58.5 | 185.9 |
| Visibility | 6 | 66.7 | 22.9 | 47 |
| Electrical System | 5 | 55.6 | 73.3 | 82.2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 55.6 | 60.6 | 38.5 |
| Steering | 2 | 22.2 | 32.5 | 34.2 |
| Structure | 2 | 22.2 | 43.1 | 45.1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 22.2 | 33.2 | 52.5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 22.2 | 25.7 | 32.6 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 11.1 | 3.4 | 5.4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 | 11.1 | 19.5 | 12.6 |
77 unique complaints, 90 component mentions; 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Subaru Legacy model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1988 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1989 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1990 | 4 | 81 | 292,039 |
| 1991 | 3 | 78 | 211,039 |
| 1992 | 2 | 55 | 40,795 |
| 1993 | 1 | 77 | 31,295 |
| 1994 | 0 | 59 | — |
| 1995 | 2 | 182 | 275,673 |
| 1996 | 3 | 123 | 305,115 |
| 1997 | 5 | 138 | 309,673 |
| 1998 | 4 | 113 | 441,679 |
| 1999 | 3 | 93 | 422,293 |
| 2000 | 3 | 93 | 170,142 |
| 2001 | 7 | 73 | 477,572 |
| 2002 | 4 | 49 | 471,396 |
| 2003 | 14 | 51 | 1,916,339 |
| 2004 | 10 | 42 | 1,580,644 |
| 2005 | 9 | 163 | 1,672,351 |
| 2006 | 7 | 80 | 1,666,189 |
| 2007 | 9 | 25 | 1,783,031 |
| 2008 | 9 | 47 | 1,783,031 |
| 2009 | 13 | 44 | 1,988,974 |
| 2010 | 18 | 113 | 3,242,605 |
| 2011 | 16 | 117 | 3,115,845 |
| 2012 | 16 | 58 | 2,142,573 |
| 2013 | 12 | 46 | 2,061,376 |
| 2014 | 10 | 34 | 1,944,601 |
| 2015 | 3 | 96 | 75,369 |
| 2016 | 3 | 42 | 54,963 |
| 2017 | 2 | 18 | 48,873 |
| 2018 | 3 | 20 | 475,806 |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 | 366,282 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | 504,336 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 214,735 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 214,553 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 100,141 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Subaru Legacy model years · Subaru: 29 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1993 Subaru Legacy have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign name this model year; the most recent, 94V052000, was reported to NHTSA on 23 Mar 1994 and concerns power train:manual transmission. Across all model years the Subaru Legacy line has 81 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1993 Subaru Legacy?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 1993 Subaru Legacy complain about most?
Engine and Engine Cooling: 17 of 90 component mentions (188.9 per 1,000). Next is seat belts with 13. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.