1988 Subaru Legacy
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 0
- Investigations
- 1
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
None on file
Opened by NHTSA
Not enough data
Complaints per year
1988: 1 complaint
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 81 |
| 1991 | 78 |
| 1992 | 57 |
| 1993 | 78 |
| 1994 | 61 |
| 1995 | 182 |
| 1996 | 123 |
| 1997 | 139 |
| 1998 | 114 |
| 1999 | 94 |
| 2000 | 94 |
| 2001 | 77 |
| 2002 | 54 |
| 2003 | 60 |
| 2004 | 49 |
| 2005 | 184 |
| 2006 | 87 |
| 2007 | 33 |
| 2008 | 65 |
| 2009 | 65 |
| 2010 | 151 |
| 2011 | 167 |
| 2012 | 90 |
| 2013 | 66 |
| 2014 | 53 |
| 2015 | 160 |
| 2016 | 147 |
| 2017 | 119 |
| 2018 | 117 |
| 2019 | 123 |
| 2020 | 121 |
| 2021 | 31 |
| 2022 | 34 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 6 |
Known problem areas
Only 1 complaint on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Electrical system
1 of 1 total report mentions: electrical system, most commonly citing front underhood.
Show complaint excerpts
Sockets connecting headlights to wire system have burnt, chared, become brittle, so that one headlight socket requried changing. Sockets are not available thru suburu with out ordering the auto's complete wire system.
NHTSA ODI report, 2004-07-24
Safety timeline
No recalls on file for this model year.
0 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
-
I
1994-06-29Preliminary evaluationClosed 1994-10-31 Hood latch failure
Buy-smart checklist
1988 Subaru Legacy — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Electrical system: 1 report on file for this year.
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 1988 Subaru Legacy reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1988 Subaru Legacy?
- The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 100% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1988 Subaru Legacy have?
- No recalls are on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.