1988 Subaru Legacy problems
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.
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Common 1988 Subaru Legacy problems
The Subaru Legacy, first introduced in 1989, is known for its reliability and impressive gas mileage. However, as with any vehicle, there are common issues that owners have reported over the years. While the article primarily focuses on newer models, there are a few issues that have been reported for the 1988 Subaru Legacy.
One common problem with the 1988 Subaru Legacy is related to the engine. Some owners have reported that their vehicles suddenly lose power and die, without any warning or electrical issues. The engine may run strong with no missing, idle fine, and have no hesitation, but it will suddenly die. This issue can happen at any speed, whether the vehicle is cold or hot. After it dies, it may take some time to restart, and there is no way to predict when it will happen again.
The cause of this problem is not clear, but some owners have reported hearing a "click" under the dashboard just before the engine dies. This may indicate an issue with a relay or other electrical component. However, diagnosing this problem can be difficult, as it may not happen consistently.
Another potential issue with the 1988 Subaru Legacy is related to the fuel system. Some owners have reported that their vehicles lose power and die, but in these cases, the engine may not start back up again. This may be related to a problem with the fuel pump or fuel injectors.
To diagnose and repair these issues, it may be necessary to take the vehicle to a Subaru dealer or a qualified mechanic. While some owners have been able to diagnose and repair these issues themselves, this may not be possible for everyone.
In summary, the 1988 Subaru Legacy is known for its reliability and impressive gas mileage. However, some owners have reported issues with the engine and fuel system, which can cause the vehicle to suddenly lose power and die. These issues can be difficult to diagnose and repair, and may require the assistance of a qualified mechanic.
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.
Are 1998 Subaru Legacy reliable?
1998 Subaru Legacy GT
The car is a well built, fun, and comfortable car. In the hands of an individual that is willing to put effort into basic maintenance and willing to pay for some regular repairs it is a trustworthy and reliable vehicle.
What years did Subaru have a bad engine?
The Group 2 head gasket issues
| Subaru head gasket issue | Car Models |
|---|---|
| External leaks between the engine block and the cylinder heads | Subaru 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.
1988 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:
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1988 Subaru Legacy vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1988 Subaru Legacy complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1988 Subaru Legacy.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-07-01
- VIN: 4S3BJ6335P7
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: SOCKETS CONNECTING HEADLIGHTS TO WIRE SYSTEM HAVE BURNT, CHARED, BECOME BRITTLE, SO THAT ONE HEADLIGHT SOCKET REQURIED CHANGING. SOCKETS ARE NOT AVAILABLE THRU SUBURU WITH OUT ORDERING THE AUTO'S COMPLETE WIRE SYSTEM. A SEARCH THUR THE AUTO RECYCLING YARD SHOWED ALL SOCKETS WERE BURNT. THE DEGREE OF BURNING VARIED BUT FINDIND A USEABLE SOCKET WAS DIFFICULT. THANK YOU.*AK
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1988 Subaru Legacy problems:
Considering buying a 1988 GL-10 Wagon with EA82T - HELP! - Old ...
Nov 26, 2013 ... Older Generations of Subaru's 1960-1994 Except Legacy ... Other common problems to watch for is the alternator and the ECU fuel pump circuit.
What are the common problems to look for when buying a 2001 ...
Sep 10, 2015 ... Since 1988 have owned/fixed: Subaru, Fiat ... What years did Subaru have engine problems? ... I have a 2018 Subaru Legacy and it has over 50,000 ...
1988 Justy Problem. Help Please! - Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT ...
Jun 15, 2006 ... Your solution regarding the engine temp sensor seemed sound to me. I called the nearest Subaru dealer that I said was 2 hours away and they had ...
Q: LGT versus Outback XT - Fourth Generation Legacy (2005 - 2009 ...
Feb 21, 2015 ... So I was reading through the "MY05-09 Legacy GT Common Issues" thread and a question arose regarding the LGT versus Outback XT.
1988 Subaru XT-6 2.7 Engine: Troubleshooting and Q&A
Nov 13, 2009 ... Both are very common and can cause you vehicle to loose power along with many other drive ability issues. First look for cracks or rips or ...
Other years of Subaru Legacy
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