Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1991 Subaru Legacy. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:5 SPEED AND UP
- Summary
- WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN CONTINUOUSLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES (-22 DEGREES F.) AND HIGH HUMIDITY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION BREATHING (AIR) VENT CAN BE BLOCKED DUE TO MOISTURE FREEZING AT THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE. IF THIS OCCURS, PRESSURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE WILL INCREASE AND PUSH OUT THE REAR OIL SEAL, CAUSING TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKAGE. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN BURN THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP.
- Consequence
- SUDDEN STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN AROUND THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE OIL GAUGE PIPE AND MODIFY THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE (DIPSTICK) OR REPLACE IT, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF DIPSTICK IN THE VEHICLE.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC
- Summary
- UNDER CERTAIN LOAD CONDITIONS, THE PARK GEAR MAY NOT DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.
- Consequence
- DELAYED RELEASE OF TRANSMISSION FROM PARK CAUSES DELAYEDAND POSSIBLY ABRUPT VEHICLE MOVEMENT THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE PAWL TO PREVENT DELAYED RELEASE INTO REVERSE GEAR.
STRUCTURE:DOOR ASSEMBLY:LATCHES AND LOCKS
- Summary
- TORQUE OF LATCH SCREWS ON FRONT DOORS MAY LOOSEN OVER TIME DUE TO A GAP BETWEEN THE LATCH BASE PLATE AND INNER DOOR PANEL UNDER THE SCREW HEAD.
- Consequence
- THE AFFECTED DOOR MAY NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE,PREVENTING EXIT FROM THAT DOOR.
- Remedy
- REPLACE FRONT DOOR LATCH SCREWS WITH "LOCK-TIGHT" SCREWS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (78)
78 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seat belts is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 78 |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 19 | 24.4% |
| Power train | 16 | 20.5% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 14 | 17.9% |
| Structure | 13 | 16.7% |
| Service brakes | 10 | 12.8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 7.7% |
| Visibility | 6 | 7.7% |
| Suspension | 5 | 6.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 6.4% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 3.8% |
How 1991 compares with other Legacy years
Best and worst Legacy years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 81 | 4 |
| 1991 | 78 | 3 |
| 1992 | 55 | 2 |
| 1993 | 77 | 1 |
| 1994 | 60 | 0 |
| 1995 | 182 | 2 |
| 1996 | 123 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 22 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 404 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 22 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1991 Legacy for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1991 Subaru Legacy FAQ
How many recalls does the 1991 Subaru Legacy have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 94V052000 (power train), 91V082000 (power train), 90V184000 (latch). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1991 Subaru Legacy problems?
Owners filed 78 complaints with NHTSA. Seat belts (19), Power train (16), Latches/locks/linkages (14) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1991 Subaru Legacy get?
EPA rates the 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 19 city, 27 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1991 Legacy compare with other years?
Among the 1987–1996 Subaru Legacy model years at least five years old, the 1987 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1995 the most (182). The 1991 drew 78. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.