VehicleVerdict

1996 Subaru Legacy brakes problems

The 1996 Subaru Legacy has 21 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 13% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

21

Brakes complaints

13%

Share of year

6

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Legacy brakes complaints by model year34 complaints1989: 1 complaints1990: 5 complaints1991: 15 complaints1992: 1 complaints1993: 7 complaints1994: 7 complaints1995: 34 complaints1996: 21 complaints1997: 31 complaints1998: 14 complaints1999: 15 complaints2000: 8 complaints2001: 9 complaints2002: 7 complaints2003: 4 complaints2004: 3 complaints2005: 30 complaints2006: 11 complaints2007: 3 complaints2008: 13 complaints2009: 9 complaints2010: 15 complaints2011: 18 complaints2012: 7 complaints2013: 4 complaints2014: 2 complaints2015: 13 complaints2016: 8 complaints2017: 5 complaints2018: 6 complaints2019: 2 complaints2020: 2 complaints2021: 2 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 1 complaints
Legacy brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY MOVING INTO DRIVEWAY AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND HIT THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · August 17, 2004 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1996 Subaru Legacy have?

NHTSA has 21 complaints about the 1996 Subaru Legacy brakes — 13% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.