1990 Subaru Legacy
Safety Recalls & Notices
8 Active Recalls
Requires attention
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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.
Potential 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.
Powertrain
Summary
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. UNDER COLD AND HUMID CONDITIONS, FROST MAY FORM AT THE TRANSMISSION OIL LEVEL GAUGE (DIPSTICK) WHERE THE BREATHING MECHANISM IS INCORPORATED. THIS COULD CAUSE PRESSURE TO BUILD INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE WHICH IN TURN COULD PUSH OUT THE OIL SEAL. SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN BURNING OF TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO WHEEL LOCK-UP. CORRECTION: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ALL METAL TYPE DIPSTICK, THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE TUBE WILL BE MODIFIED AND THE DIPSTICK WILL HAVE A SPACER ADDED. VEHICLES WITH A PLASTIC DIPSTICK WILL HAVE A MODIFIED TYPE DIPSTICK INSTALLED.
Powertrain
Summary
ON ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE PARK GEAR DISENGAGEMENT MECHANISM, WHEN SUBJECT TO LOADS RESULTING FROM CERTAIN PARKING SITUATIONS, MAY NOT RELEASE IMMEDIATELY INTO REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN DELAYED AND POSSIBLY ABRUPT VEHICLE MOVEMENT. THIS COULD RESULT IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPAIRED WITH A MODIFIED PARKING PAWL.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary
UNDER CERTAIN LOAD CONDITIONS, THE PARK GEAR MAY NOT DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.
Potential 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
Summary
NOTE: SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS THE FRONT DOOR LATCH SCREWS COULD LOOSEN OR FALL OUT RESULTING IN THE OCCUPANTS BEING UNABLE TO OPEN THE AFFECTED DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. CORRECTION: THE FRONT DOOR LATCH SCREWS WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW TYPE "LOCK-TIGHT" SCREW.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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.
Potential 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.
Heater And Defroster
Summary
NOTE: 4-DOOR SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS. THE DEFROSTER LEVER PIN OF THE DEFROSTER SHUTTER DOOR MAY BECOME DISLOCATED, ALLOWING THE SHUTTER DOOR TO CLOSE AND PREVENTING THE DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING. CORRECTION: A POSITIONING STOPPER DEVICE WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL PREVENT DISLOCATION OF THE DEFROSTER LEVER PIN AND ENSURE DEFROSTER OPERATION.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
Summary
THE DEFROSTER LEVER PIN OF THE DEFROSTER SHUTTER DOOR MAY BECOME DISLOCATED AND ALLOW THE SHUTTER TO CLOSE, PREVENTING DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING.
Potential Consequence
NON-FUNCTIONING DEFROSTER WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DRIVERVISIBILITY.
Remedy
INSTALL A POSITIONING STOPPER DEVICE TO PREVENT DISLOCATION OF DEFROSTER LEVER PIN TO ASSURE DEFROSTER OPERATION.
Generated by Cardog • December 13, 2025
1990 Subaru Legacy
Safety Recalls & Notices
8 Active Recalls
Requires attention
