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1993 Subaru Legacy

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Legacy.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1993 Subaru Legacy is a passenger car that debuted in 1990 as the brand's first full-size sedan and wagon, built on Subaru's legacy platform and powered by a horizontally opposed engine requiring 4.8 quarts of 5W-30 API oil; it achieved EPA fuel economy ratings of 19 city/26 highway/22 combined mpg with a four-speed automatic transmission. This model year accumulated 86 total owner complaints, with engine and cooling issues representing the most frequently reported problem area, and carried a single associated recall. While the Legacy's complaint data across its model range from 1990 to 2025 shows the 1995 model year reached the highest complaint count at 216 and the 2025 model year dropped to the lowest at just 6, the 1993 example falls well below that peak period, suggesting it was not among the model's problem-prone years and that Subaru's reliability trajectory improved meaningfully in the decades that followed.

Model year2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 1993

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy19/26/22 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	177.6 in
Overall width	66.5 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	101.6 in
Curb weight	3131 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	19 / 26 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	90 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Legacy of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 1991 Sport

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1991	Sport 2.2L Turbo F-4	7.90 sec	16.10 sec	160 hp	AWD
1991	Sport 2.2L Turbo F-4	7.90 sec	16.40 sec	160 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.6 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.8 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF
Transfer Case Fluid	80W-90 · GL-5

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi.

At 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Hill Holder System (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Headlamp (inspect alignment)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
At 105,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1993 Subaru Legacy sits in a relatively quiet stretch of the model's early years, with 86 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations, and 18 TSBs. Compared with 1990-1991 (102-111 complaints, 3-4 recalls, 2-3 investigations), 1993 shows a clear moderation in federal activity, and it precedes the 1994 low point of 63 complaints and zero recalls. The early-year arc trends downward from 1990 through 1994 before a major spike in 1995 (216 complaints, 2 recalls, 3 investigations), placing 1993 near the calmer end of that initial cycle. Top complaint categories for 1993 are engine and engine cooling (16), seat belts (14), air bags (11), and tires (9), with 10 crash-related and 1 fire-related complaint, though the data does not specify root causes. Given its low recall count, absence of federal investigations, and position just before the model line's most complaint-heavy year, 1993 looks like one of the more stable early Legacy model years to consider.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

10 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92’93’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 86 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling16

Seat Belts14

Air Bags11

Tires9

Power Train9

Service Brakes, Hydraulic6

Visibility5

Electrical System4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V052000Power Train:Manual TransmissionReported 23/03/1994

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… 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 18 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
15-302-22	2022-08-23	Equipment	This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as…
01-167-08R	2022-08-23	Equipment	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
15-192-22R	2022-03-18	Electrical System	This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential…
01-167-08R	2021-06-17	Electrical System	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
09-51-08R	2021-06-07	Equipment	This bulletin is to advise of SOAâs revised catalytic converter recycling program…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Legacy. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.8 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Legacy take?

4.8 qt of 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Legacy have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Legacy get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.