FaultScore

1990 Subaru Legacy body problems

22 of the 103 complaints about the 1990 Subaru Legacy are about the body and structure — 21% of everything reported for this model year.

C

22

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Door 17 77.3%
Body 5 22.7%

Body & Structure across every Subaru Legacy year

1990 22 46.8%
1991 15 31.9%
2015 10 21.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Bothell, WA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD LOCK ITSELF WHENEVER THE DOOR IS SHUT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8006452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lynnwood, WA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I HAVE A 1990 SUBARU LEGACY. EACH TIME I TRY TO EXIT THE CAR THE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. IT HAS AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS THAT ARE ACCUATED BY PUSHING THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK. I HAVE HAD THE LOCK APART AND THE PROBLEM WITH ALL 4 OF MY DOOR IS THAT A SINGLE SPRING IN THE LOCK MECHANISM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION AND TO HAVE THE LOCK BUYYON STAY OPEN. THE HANDLE IS ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SPRING AND THAT PART OF THE SPING KEEPS THE DOOR LOCK OPEN. WELL, THE DOOR LOCK PORTION OF THE SPRING IS WORN OUT AND EVERY TIME YOU USE THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE, THE WEAK HALF OF THE LOCK SPRING CLOSES THE LOCK. I AM A BATTALION CHIEF FOR A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF A PROBLEM ONE MIGHT HAVE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THIS CAR IN A HURRY. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU WITH NO RELIEF. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1990 - 1994 MODELS. OUR LOCAL PARTS HOUSES HAVE ALSO SAID THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE OTHER OWNERS THAT SAY THE SAME. IT IS $200.00 A DOOR TO REPAIR. PLEASE CONTACT ME ON THIS. THANKS [XXX][XXX]OR[XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #758422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Berre, VT

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

VEHICLE HAS A MASTER DOOR LOCK BUTTON ON DRIVER'S SIDE. 2 REAR DOORS LOCK WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. PASSENGER'S DOOR SHOULD NOT LOCK ONCE IT'S CLOSED. LOCK KNOB HAS TO BE HELD UP TO OPEN ANB CLOSE THE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN LOCKED OUT A FEW TIMES BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #899713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Lake Tahoe, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

PASSENGER FRONT DOOR-LOCK FAILED INITIALLY REQUIRING PASSENGER TO MANUALLY PUSH LATCH AND PULL DOOR LEVER SIMUTANEOUSLY IN ORDER TO OPEN DOOR. REAR DOOR-LOCKS DO NOT WORK NOW AND REQUIRE SAME EFFORT. ALL DOORS WILL LOCK ON THEIR OWN WHILE GETTING IN AND OUT. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR FIRE, THE OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. ALSO, DRIVER-SIDE VISOR FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING WHICH HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS. CONTACTED SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR BOTH PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP UNWILLING TO FIX WITHOUT CHARGING ME FOR REPLACEMENT AND LABOR OF ALL PARTS. DOOR LOCKS PRICED AT $130 EACH AND VISOR WAS AROUND $80 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS CORRECTED IN THE MID-90'S ON LEGACY MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #752400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Olympia, WA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

LEFT FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE AFTER UNLOCKING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTER OR EXIT VEHICLE. YH

NHTSA complaint #782037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hyattsville, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCK BY THEMSELVES.

NHTSA complaint #858494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, KY

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE DOOR HANDLE WHEN OPENED CAUSES THE DOOR TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BROKE IN 1993. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR BROKE IN 1998. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR BROKE IN 1999 WHICH IS THE MOST ANNOYING AS IT LOCKS ALL THE DOOR EVERY TIME THE HANDLE IS USED TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. IT COSTS $80 TO REPLACE THE PART.

NHTSA complaint #718675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

(1) THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR IS FINE; BUT IT COMES ON ONLY OCCASIONALLY; MECHANICS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. (2) DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING CAUSES GREAT INCONVENIENCE; (3) SUN VISOR FALLING DOWN IMPAIRS VISION; VELCRO AND EVEN DUCT TAPE WON'T KEEP IT UP.

NHTSA complaint #708229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY

(1) THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR IS FINE; BUT IT COMES ON ONLY OCCASIONALLY; MECHANICS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. (2) DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING CAUSES GREAT INCONVENIENCE; (3) SUN VISOR FALLING DOWN IMPAIRS VISION; VELCRO AND EVEN DUCT TAPE WON'T KEEP IT UP.

NHTSA complaint #708229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Watervliet, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR LOCKS FAILED ON ALL DOORS. MJS

NHTSA complaint #545239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Watervliet, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUN VISORS DO NOT STAY UP. MJS

NHTSA complaint #545239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Olympia, WA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

LEFT FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE AFTER UNLOCKING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTER OR EXIT VEHICLE. YH

NHTSA complaint #782037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upper Darb, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR HANDLES CONTINUALLY CRACKING.

NHTSA complaint #542907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wickliffe, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

PASSENGER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO OPEN AND UNLOCK WITHOUT MANEUVERING DOOR HANDLE AND LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #828312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Asheville, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSTANT ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #532444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wickliffe, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

PULLING INSIDE LEVER TO UNLOCK DOOR, PUTS THE DOOR IN THE LOCKED POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #519432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Charles, MO

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR LOCK SPRINGS BREAK, PREVENTING DOORS FROM BEING UNLOCKED ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY.

NHTSA complaint #518970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR LOCK/HANDLE MECHANISM FAILED, NOT ALLOWING PASSENGER TO EXIT VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #601567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM IS ERRATICALLY PERFORMING, WHEN DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPEN ALL OTHER DOORS LOCK; ALSO, THIS IS NOT THE DESIGN. PASSENGER DOOR WILL LOCK WHILE DOOR LATCH IS OPENED OR IT WILL LOCK WHEN EXITING. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE PASSENGER DOOR IS TO DEPRESS UNLOCKED POSITION OF DOOR LOCK WHILE OPENING DOOR, THIS REQUIRES TWO HANDS AND THE ABILITY TO DO SO, MANFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED AS CONSUMER WAS BEYOND 100,00 WARRANTY, AND WAS NOT DEEMED AS A SAFETY HAZARD TO EITHER PARTY.

NHTSA complaint #805478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Auburn, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUNVISORS HINGES MADE OF PLASTIC, WHICH WORE OUT CAUSING VISORS TO PARTIALLY BLOCK DRIVERS VISION.

NHTSA complaint #502364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Auburn, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUNVISOR HINGE MADE OF PLASTIC WEARS OUT, CAUSING SUNVISOR TO FALL DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #501819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newington, CT 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUNVISOR CONTINUOUSLY SLIPS DOWN WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT VISOR WHEN GETTING IN VEHICLE/INJURY. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479694) *SKD

NHTSA complaint #486858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Subaru Legacy problems

← Full 1990 Subaru Legacy report