1994 Subaru Legacy

● Typical for this model
1994 Subaru Legacy
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:40:46.773Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

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.

Complaints
61
Recalls
0

None on file

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Seat belts

43% of complaints

Complaints per year

1987: 1 complaint 1987 1988: 1 complaint 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 81 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 57 complaints 1993: 78 complaints 1994: 61 complaints 1994 61 1995: 182 complaints 1996: 123 complaints 1997: 139 complaints 1998: 114 complaints 1999: 94 complaints 2000: 94 complaints 2001: 77 complaints 2002: 54 complaints 2002 2003: 60 complaints 2004: 49 complaints 2005: 184 complaints 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2007 2008: 65 complaints 2009: 65 complaints 2010: 151 complaints 2011: 167 complaints 2012: 90 complaints 2012 2013: 66 complaints 2014: 53 complaints 2015: 160 complaints 2016: 147 complaints 2017: 119 complaints 2017 2018: 117 complaints 2019: 123 complaints 2020: 121 complaints 2021: 31 complaints 2022: 34 complaints 2022 2023: 10 complaints 2024: 17 complaints 2025: 6 complaints
1987: 1 complaint 1987 1988: 1 complaint 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 81 complaints 1990 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 57 complaints 1993: 78 complaints 1994: 61 complaints 1994 61 1995: 182 complaints 1996: 123 complaints 1997: 139 complaints 1998: 114 complaints 1999: 94 complaints 1999 2000: 94 complaints 2001: 77 complaints 2002: 54 complaints 2002 2003: 60 complaints 2004: 49 complaints 2005: 184 complaints 2005 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2008: 65 complaints 2008 2009: 65 complaints 2010: 151 complaints 2011: 167 complaints 2011 2012: 90 complaints 2013: 66 complaints 2014: 53 complaints 2014 2015: 160 complaints 2016: 147 complaints 2017: 119 complaints 2017 2018: 117 complaints 2019: 123 complaints 2020: 121 complaints 2020 2021: 31 complaints 2022: 34 complaints 2023: 10 complaints 2023 2024: 17 complaints 2025: 6 complaints
1987: 1 complaint 1987 1988: 1 complaint 1989: 1 complaint 1989 1990: 81 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1991 1992: 57 complaints 1993: 78 complaints 1994: 61 complaints 1994 61 1995: 182 complaints 1996: 123 complaints 1997: 139 complaints 1997 1998: 114 complaints 1999: 94 complaints 1999 2000: 94 complaints 2001: 77 complaints 2001 2002: 54 complaints 2003: 60 complaints 2003 2004: 49 complaints 2005: 184 complaints 2005 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2007 2008: 65 complaints 2009: 65 complaints 2009 2010: 151 complaints 2011: 167 complaints 2011 2012: 90 complaints 2013: 66 complaints 2013 2014: 53 complaints 2015: 160 complaints 2015 2016: 147 complaints 2017: 119 complaints 2017 2018: 117 complaints 2019: 123 complaints 2019 2020: 121 complaints 2021: 31 complaints 2021 2022: 34 complaints 2023: 10 complaints 2023 2024: 17 complaints 2025: 6 complaints 2025

1994: 61 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19871
19881
19891
199081
199178
199257
199378
199461
1995182
1996123
1997139
1998114
199994
200094
200177
200254
200360
200449
2005184
200687
200733
200865
200965
2010151
2011167
201290
201366
201453
2015160
2016147
2017119
2018117
2019123
2020121
202131
202234
202310
202417
20256

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Seat belts

43% · 26 reports

Most commonly citing retractor and webbing.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Finger was caught in the seat belt retractor which caused injury. Tt

NHTSA ODI report, 1995-02-17

The retractable mechanized shoulder harness does not work.

NHTSA ODI report, 2016-04-01

Power train

8% · 5 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

FIRE

Air bags

8% · 5 reports

Most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHINJURY

Service brakes

8% · 5 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

Show complaint excerpts

A few months ago, my son was driving my older Subaru and said the brakes went down to the floor when he applied them not far from home. He pumped them and slow crept home with the car.

NHTSA ODI report, 2021-03-14

Engine and engine cooling

8% · 5 reports

Most commonly citing engine and exhaust system.

Safety timeline

No recalls on file for this model year.

0 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

Buy-smart checklist

1994 Subaru Legacy — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Seat belts: 26 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 5 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 5 reports on file for this year.

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1994 Subaru Legacy reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1994 Subaru Legacy is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Subaru Legacy?
The most-reported component is seat belts, accounting for 43% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1994 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.