FaultScore

1991 Subaru Legacy transmission problems

18 of the 121 complaints about the 1991 Subaru Legacy are about the transmission — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 123,259 miles.

D

18

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 5 27.8%
Manual Transmission 2 11.1%
Constant Velocity Joint 2 11.1%
Power Train 1 5.6%
Torque Converter 1 5.6%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 5.6%
Axle Assembly 1 5.6%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 5.6%
Universal Joint 1 5.6%
Driveline 1 5.6%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Subaru Legacy year

1990 14 4.7%
1991 18 6.1%
1995 14 4.7%
1997 17 5.7%
1998 16 5.4%
1999 18 6.1%
2000 14 4.7%
2005 14 4.7%
2010 50 16.9%
2011 47 15.9%
2012 34 11.5%
2013 12 4.1%
2015 15 5.1%
2016 13 4.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 123,259 miles Santa Monica, CA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND THE GEAR SHIFTER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,259.

NHTSA complaint #10468800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE DRIVER PUT SHIFTER IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF, DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HIT A BRICK WALL BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10034164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fishers, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

LOCK ON VEHICLE DOESN'T WORK. CONSUMER STATED THAT WINDOW WILL BE LEFT DOWN IN ORDER TO GET INSIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT GOES UP AND DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #899853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gercey City, NJ

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE FOR SHORT DISTANCES, THEN WILL STOP. CONSUMER FEELS THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #897096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hyde Park, MA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

AXLE BOOT WAS CRACKED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT AXLE CVJ AXLE BOOT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #556628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yonkers, NY

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:BANJO HOUSING

RIGHT SIDE AXLE SHAFT BROKEN. YH

NHTSA complaint #604619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yonkers, NY

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT

UNIVERSAL JOINT SHAFT FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #604619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #838313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairbanks, AK

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #703180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, TN 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DISENGAGED FROM PARK BY CHILD RESULTING IN A COLLISION DUE TO A DESIGN FEATURE CALLED THE (BYPASS SWITCH).

NHTSA complaint #530239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #524830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport, PA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #526546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

THE DRIVE TRAIN FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shareveport, LA 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

RECALL RELATED , 94V052, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT WARNING AND LOSS OF CONTROL, IMPACT 12:00, SPEED 60MPH.

NHTSA complaint #806316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapol, IN

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

RIGHT CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT REPLACED DUE TO NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #501610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapol, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TORQUE CONVERTER SEAL REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #501610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Universal, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION REPLACED DUE TO NOISE AND STICKING IN 3RD GEAR. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #481092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ogden, UT

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAIL. TT

NHTSA complaint #958542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Subaru Legacy problems

← Full 1991 Subaru Legacy report