Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Subaru Legacy, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 19 | 17% |
| Power train | 16 | 14% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 12% |
| Structure | 12 | 11% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 12 | 11% |
| Visibility | 6 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 4% |
| Suspension | 4 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT'S ELBOW WAS CUT SEVERAL TIMES ON THE DOOR JAM WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOS
NHTSA complaint: Structure
DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DRIVE CABLE SLIPS OUT OF TRACK MAKING SEAT BELT USELESS AND DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
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 INSP
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH AND FASTER, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BRIEFLY ILLUMINATE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED. THE CON
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT BELT JAMS IN THE MIDDLE AND RENDERS THE SEAT BELT INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE CURRENT AN
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING WAS SEPARATING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THAT CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. DRIVER TRIED TO USE THE TURN SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICL
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1991 Subaru Legacy. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 A
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
UNDER CERTAIN LOAD CONDITIONS, THE PARK GEAR MAY NOT DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.
Risk: DELAYED RELEASE OF TRANSMISSION FROM PARK CAUSES DELAYEDAND POSSIBLY ABRUPT VEHICLE MOVEMENT THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE PAWL TO PREVENT DELAYED RELEASE INTO REVERSE GEAR.
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.
Risk: THE AFFECTED DOOR MAY NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE,PREVENTING EXIT FROM THAT DOOR.
Fix: REPLACE FRONT DOOR LATCH SCREWS WITH "LOCK-TIGHT" SCREWS.
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 83 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 72 | good |
| Performance | 57 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 19 of them (17%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.