1987 Subaru Legacy problems

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The Subaru Legacy (Japanese: スバル・レガシィ, Hepburn: Subaru Regashi) is a mid-size car built by Japanese automobile manufacturer Subaru since 1989. The maker's flagship car, it is unique in its class for offering all-wheel drive as a standard feature, and Subaru's traditional boxer engine. The Legacy was sold as the Liberty in Australia out of deference to Legacy Australia, an organisation dedicated to caring for the families of military service veterans.

In 1996, a variant of the Legacy with heightened suspension called the Legacy Outback was introduced to compete in the burgeoning sport-utility vehicle class and proved to be a sales success for Subaru. The Outback line was split into its own model in 2008, known as the Subaru Outback.

As of 2008, 3.6 million Legacy models have been built since its 1989 introduction.

Production of the Legacy ended in Japan in June 2020, with the sixth-generation Legacy being the last model produced and marketed in Japan. Subaru of America announced in an internal email that 2025 will be the last model year for the Subaru Legacy. The Subaru Outback will remain in production, after being the company's top selling model in 2023.

1987 Subaru Legacy

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Common 1987 Subaru Legacy problems

The Subaru Legacy, introduced in 1989, is known for its reliability and good gas mileage. Owners have found that their engines consume oil excessively, requiring frequent top-ups.

Another issue that affects the Subaru Legacy, particularly the second generation models, is head gasket failures.

In addition to these issues, there are other common problems that can affect the Subaru Legacy. For example, the car's electrical connections may become loose over time, which can cause various electrical issues.

It is important to note that the Subaru Legacy is generally considered to be a reliable vehicle, with RepairPal giving it an overall score of 3.5 out of 5. However, like any vehicle, it can develop certain common problems over time. Regular maintenance and prompt attention to any issues that arise can help ensure that the Subaru Legacy remains a reliable and dependable vehicle for many years to come.

1987 Subaru Legacy engine

What is the most common problem with the Subaru Legacy?

Top Subaru Legacy Problems

  • Cooling System Problems Cause Head Gasket Failure. ...
  • Subaru Front O2 Sensor Recall. ...
  • Failure in ABS causes pump to run continuously and wear down battery. ...
  • Failure in ABS causes pump to run continuously and wear down battery. ...
  • Engine Oil May Leak From Camshaft/Crankshaft Front Seals.

What years did Subaru have a bad engine?

The Group 2 head gasket issues

Subaru head gasket issueCar Models
External leaks between the engine block and the cylinder headsSubaru Impreza (from 1999 to 2011) Subaru Forester (from 1999 to 2010) Subaru Legacy (from 2000 to 2009) Subaru Outback (from 2000 to 2009) Subaru Baja (from 2003 to 2006)

Is the Subaru Legacy a reliable car?

The Subaru Legacy Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 16th out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $563 which means it has average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average, and major issues are less frequent than average, so major repairs are not common for the Legacy.

What fails on Subaru engines?

Common issues include oil starvation, coolant leaks, and head gasket failure. Fortunately, most of these issues can be addressed with regular maintenance and repair from a qualified Subaru technician. Replace your faulty parts with quality Subaru parts from Subimods.

What is the most common problem with the Subaru Legacy?

Top Subaru Legacy Problems

  • Cooling System Problems Cause Head Gasket Failure. ...
  • Subaru Front O2 Sensor Recall. ...
  • Failure in ABS causes pump to run continuously and wear down battery. ...
  • Failure in ABS causes pump to run continuously and wear down battery. ...
  • Engine Oil May Leak From Camshaft/Crankshaft Front Seals.

Is the Subaru Legacy a reliable car?

The Subaru Legacy Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 16th out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $563 which means it has average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average, and major issues are less frequent than average, so major repairs are not common for the Legacy.

What years did Subaru have a bad engine?

The Group 2 head gasket issues

Subaru head gasket issueCar Models
External leaks between the engine block and the cylinder headsSubaru Impreza (from 1999 to 2011) Subaru Forester (from 1999 to 2010) Subaru Legacy (from 2000 to 2009) Subaru Outback (from 2000 to 2009) Subaru Baja (from 2003 to 2006)

Which Subaru has least problems?

What are the most reliable Subarus?

  1. Subaru Crosstrek. Ranked first among compact SUVs, the Crosstrek earns a 4.5 out of five-star rating from RepairPal. ...
  2. Subaru Legacy. As cliche as it sounds, the Subaru Legacy does uphold a tradition of reliability among midsize sedans. ...
  3. Subaru Outback.

1987 Subaru Legacy car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Subaru Legacy problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Engine and engine cooling problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Subaru Legacy vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1987 Subaru Legacy complaints

The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Subaru Legacy.

1995-07-07

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-07-07
  • VIN: JF2AC53B3HF
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: WATER PUMP BLEW OUT, CAUSING RADIATOR TO LEAK FLUID. *AK
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1987 Subaru Legacy problems:

What years did Subaru have engine problems? - Quora
What years did Subaru have engine problems? - Quora
https://www.quora.com/What-years-did-Subaru-have-engine-problems

Apr 18, 2021 ... The most common engine to have head gasket failures is the naturally aspirated (non turbo) Subaru 2.5 L four cylinder engine, commonly known as ...

1987 GL-10 Turbo Wagon MPG? - Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales ...
1987 GL-10 Turbo Wagon MPG? - Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales ...
https://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/137390-1987-gl-10-turbo-wagon-mpg/

Mar 28, 2013 ... Older Generations of Subaru's 1960-1994 Except Legacy and Impreza ... 1987 GL-10 Turbo Wagon MPG? ... Any common problems out there? Anything with ...

Oil Consumption After DIY Head Gasket Job 09 2.5 | Subaru ...
Oil Consumption After DIY Head Gasket Job 09 2.5 | Subaru ...
https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/oil-consumption-after-diy-head-gasket-job-09-2-5.512613/

Jul 5, 2019 ... - 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro (@T3TRIS) with 1994 Subaru Legacy Outback EJ22 2.2L engine ... this is not a common problem on Subaru's.

Subaru Legacy: Typical high-mileage repairs? — Car Forums at ...
Subaru Legacy: Typical high-mileage repairs? — Car Forums at ...
https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/842/subaru/legacy/subaru-legacy-typical-high-mileage-repairs

Oct 23, 1999 ... I have 101,000 miles on my Subaru. So far, the only problem I had was that the shafts had to be replaced because I didn't replace the CV boots ...

Is buying a used 2014 worth it? : r/subaruoutback
Is buying a used 2014 worth it? : r/subaruoutback
https://www.reddit.com/r/subaruoutback/comments/mb7943/is_buying_a_used_2014_worth_it/

Mar 23, 2021 ... ... was the head gaskets. Apparently it's a really common problem on subarus at least the slightly older ones. Upvote 2. Downvote Reply reply

Other years of Subaru Legacy

subaru legacy 1988 photo
Legacy 1988
Subaru

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0

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subaru legacy 1989 photo
Legacy 1989
Subaru

1

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subaru legacy 1990 photo
Legacy 1990
Subaru

102

4

17

  • 5
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subaru legacy 1991 photo
Legacy 1991
Subaru

111

3

25

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subaru legacy 1992 photo
Legacy 1992
Subaru

70

2

15

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subaru legacy 1993 photo
Legacy 1993
Subaru

86

1

0

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  • 1

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1987 Subaru Legacy photo