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1992 Subaru Legacy Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1992 Subaru Legacy, and owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
55
owner complaints to NHTSA
6 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–23
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1992 Subaru Legacy

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Manual transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 94V052000 Reported 31,295 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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…

    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.

  2. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 92V044000 Reported 9,500 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    A misalignment of the rear seat cushion latching bracket reinforcement plate to the floor required a machine tap to clear the opening for a mounting bolt. The top of the fuel tank may have been punctured when the tap was used.

    Remedy: Inspect the fuel tanks; replace them if they are punctured.

55 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1992 Subaru Legacy have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 131,420 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 10 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I bought my youngest son a 1992 subaru legacy station wagon. I went to fill the gas tank and when i got home you could smell gas fumes very strongly and later we could see where it had leaked onto the”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 3, 2012 · Fuel/propulsion system

“Cracks appear in circumferential sipes after 9,000 miles / 1 yr 10 mo. This occurred in all 4 tires. Snowy northeast climate, properly inflated to 29-30 PSI. Similar cracking occurred on identical tir”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 27, 2009 · Tires

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1992 Subaru Legacy/Outback (Legacy, Legacy AWD, Legacy AWD Turbo, Legacy Wagon, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–23 mpg
City / Highway16–20 / 22–27
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classCompact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engine4 cyl, 2.2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Subaru Legacy model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Legacy model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1987 Subaru Legacy01
1988 Subaru Legacy01
1989 Subaru Legacy01
1990 Subaru Legacy481
1991 Subaru Legacy378
1992 Subaru Legacy255
1993 Subaru Legacy177
1994 Subaru Legacy060
1995 Subaru Legacy2182
1996 Subaru Legacy3123
1997 Subaru Legacy5139
1998 Subaru Legacy4114
1999 Subaru Legacy394
2000 Subaru Legacy394
2001 Subaru Legacy777
2002 Subaru Legacy454
2003 Subaru Legacy1460
2004 Subaru Legacy1049
2005 Subaru Legacy9184
2006 Subaru Legacy787
2007 Subaru Legacy933
2008 Subaru Legacy965
2009 Subaru Legacy1365
2010 Subaru Legacy18150
2011 Subaru Legacy16167
2012 Subaru Legacy1690
2013 Subaru Legacy1266
2014 Subaru Legacy1053
2015 Subaru Legacy3160
2016 Subaru Legacy3147
2017 Subaru Legacy2119
2018 Subaru Legacy3117
2019 Subaru Legacy3123
2020 Subaru Legacy6121
2021 Subaru Legacy331
2022 Subaru Legacy234
2023 Subaru Legacy210
2024 Subaru Legacy017
2025 Subaru Legacy06

Checking a specific 1992 Subaru Legacy

How do I know if my 1992 Subaru Legacy has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1992 Subaru Legacy; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 92V044000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.