24 of the 161 complaints about the 1996 Subaru Legacy are about the electrical system — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 53,869 miles.
24
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1996 SUBURU LEGACY SHUTS DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PURCHASED IN UTAH DROVE TO DENVER AREA. WENT TO DMV TO REGISTER THEN CAR QUIT. RESTS A WHILE THEN STARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10347967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT REGARDING THE REPAIR OF THE 1996 SUBARU LEGACY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING.*MR DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING ON THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. WHEN THE ORIGINAL SPRING FAILED THE FIRST TIME, IT CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE TIRE AND THE SPARE TIRE. THE IGNITION WIRE WERE WORN, THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10130211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION , WHO INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF ALTERNATOR FAILURE. THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. AN ALTERNATOR RECALL 00I002000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10088009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION , WHO INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF ALTERNATOR FAILURE. THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. AN ALTERNATOR RECALL 00I002000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10088009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY L WITH AN INTERMITTENT ENGINE MISS WITH A P0304 (MISS IN CYLINDER 4) CODE. MOST OF THE TIME IT RUNS FINE BUT WHEN IT MISSES, IT IS VERY VIOLENT. IT SEEMS TO RESONATE. CHANGING SPEED USUALLY MAKES IT GO AWAY. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, IT ONLY OCCURRED ONCE A MONTH. OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND AFTER SEVERAL MECHANICS VISITS, IT NOW OCCURS NEARLY EVERY TRIP.I HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS (YES NGK), SPARK PLUG WIRES (SUBARU ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT), GAS FILTER, AIR FILTER, COIL, PCV VALVE, KNOCK SENSOR, CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. THE INJECTORS HAVE BEEN SWAPPED BETWEEN CYLINDERS. I HAVE BEEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TWICE. ON THE SECOND TRIP HE GAVE UP AND ADVISED I GO TO A SUBARU DEALER. AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE SUBARU DEALER, I'VE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED PLUGS, KNOCK, CAM, AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS.DOESN'T SUBARU HAVE DIAGNOSTICS TO IDENTIFY WHAT THIS PROBLEM IS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY COULD IDENTIFY WHAT IS WRONG INSTEAD OF JUST REPLACING HIGHLY SUSPECT PARTS. THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE DOING ANY BETTER THAN I HAVE DONE ON MY OWN.*AK I'VE SEEN OTHERS POST PROBLEMS HERE AND AT EDMUNDS WITH DRIVEABILITY ISSUES. I'VE NEVER SEEN A POSTING THAT INDICATED IT WAS ACTUALLY SOLVED. SURELY SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A FIX. IT HAS GONE FROM AN ANNOYANCE TO A SAFETY ISSUE. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? ARE SOME SUBARUS JUST LEMONS?
NHTSA complaint #10025205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD AND STATED THAT IT WAS RECALLED FOR LEGACY MODELS BUT NOT GT LEGACY MODELS. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10019330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER DASHBOARD. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS BURNED; 90 PERCENT OF DASHLIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, COMPUTERS, ETC, WAS AFFECTED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ALTERNATOR SURGED BURNING OUT ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE BATTERY, RADIO, FUSE BOX, ALL BULBS IN THE DASH, BURNED OUT ABS AND TRANSMISSION COMPUTERS, SPEEDOMETER, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, KEYLESS ENTRY, TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND HEATER CONTROL. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8010863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLED, LOST ALL POWER.BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING FROM BATTERY CAP. ALTERNATOR FAILED WHICH MELTED FUSE BOX. BATTERY LOST ALL CHARGING CAPACITY. DEALER CONTACTED. OVER A $1000.00 IN REPAIRS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8008581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLED, LOST ALL POWER.BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING FROM BATTERY CAP. ALTERNATOR FAILED WHICH MELTED FUSE BOX. BATTERY LOST ALL CHARGING CAPACITY. DEALER CONTACTED. OVER A $1000.00 IN REPAIRS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8008581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER WARM. TOOK 6 TIMES TO GET IT CORRECTED. ALSO, HAS HAD THREE OIL LEAKS IN 6 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #759001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY BLEW UP. STARTED CAR AND LOUD EXPLOSION AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ALL THE TOPS OFF THE BATTERY CELLS WERE OFF AND THE HOUSING CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #752687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER WAS ON THERE WAY BACK FROM A TRIPLE TRAVELING DOWN A SNAKE ROAD. ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED UP BESIDE HIM AND YELLED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, GOT OUT WITH THE CHILDREN. FLAMES WERE BURSTING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE NEAR FUEL TANK. TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #880246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
A FUSE HAD BLOWN OUT FIVE TIMES, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL . ALSO, AFFECTING WINDOWS AND FAN.
NHTSA complaint #860188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PE99067, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED BLINKING, THERE WAS A HUGE POPPING NOISE, AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. AFTER PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER, DRIVER OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND AN ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN FUSES AND WIRES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #854304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PE99067, INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS INOPERATIVE AND VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. OCCUPANT IS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS OPERATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #853198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #547673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
NHTSA complaint #843196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WAS RETURNING FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE AND THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS WORKED ON FOR 3 1/2 WEEKS. THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED, SO THEY TOLD SUBARU OF AMERICA THAT IT WAS AN "OUTSIDE SOURCE" (WHATEVER THAT IS) THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO INSINUATED THAT I HAD DONE SOMETHING AND HAD NEGLECTED TO TELL THEM. THEY WERE VERY RUDE, AND NOT AT ALL HELPFUL. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT FROM A CERTIFIED SUBARU MECHANIC THAT THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATORS IN SOME OF THE SUBARU'S WHICH CAUSED THE MAIN FUSE TO BLOW. INTERESTING THAT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR, BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CONNECTION. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, AND DEAL WITH THE RUDENESS OF THE DEALER AS WELL AS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE FOLKS AT SUBARU OF AMERICA. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED SOMEONE ALONG THE WAY TO HAVE HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS, AND I WOULD ALSO HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE BEEN TREATED A LITTLE BETTER AS A PAYING CUSTOMER WHO SIMPLY WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THEIR CAR. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A BETTER ANSWER TO MY QUESTIONS THAN THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY AN "OUTSIDE SOURCE". WHEN THERE ARE EQUIPMENT OR PARTS PROBLEMS, PEOPLE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. MINIMALLY, THE SUBARU MECHANICS SHOULD BE AWARE OF PROBLEMS. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT IT HAS BEEN TO OWN A SUBARU.
NHTSA complaint #703734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHEN CAR STARTED AFTER HAVING STOPPED FOR 3 HOURS, BATTERY WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CHECKED BRAKES/FLUID AND ALTERNATOR BELT - NO PROBLEM FOUND. CONTINUED DRIVING; VARIOUS LIGHTS, INCLUDING "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CONTINUED TO GO ON AND OFF. CAR FINALLY STALLED ON HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #702504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHEN CAR STARTED AFTER HAVING STOPPED FOR 3 HOURS, BATTERY WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CHECKED BRAKES/FLUID AND ALTERNATOR BELT - NO PROBLEM FOUND. CONTINUED DRIVING; VARIOUS LIGHTS, INCLUDING "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CONTINUED TO GO ON AND OFF. CAR FINALLY STALLED ON HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #702504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #528642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST OF POWER, HAD TO PULL OFF HIGHWAY AND RESTART.
NHTSA complaint #808097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF AT SPEEDS OF 30 TO 35 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SINCE EVERYTHING IS POWERED THE BRAKES AND STEERING NO LONGER OPERATE AND THE CAR CANNOT GET OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #806946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS OUT AT ANY SPEED, DEALER CAN NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. TT
NHTSA complaint #978712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.