1996 Subaru Legacy Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS BUMPER AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO PHYSICAL DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS AND THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

MY 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK EXPERIENCED AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION ON 6/14/2005. WHILE DRIVING DOWN OUR LOCAL HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THEY REFUSED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT REPAIRS. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO INDICATE A 55 MPH CRASH. *NM *NM

1996 SUBARU LEGACY, BRIGHTON MODEL SW 65,000 MILES I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. I HAVE HAD PLUGS AND WIRES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THIS LAST TIME ONE PLUG WIRE AND PLUG WAS BAD. THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WAS WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS THERE WAS A MISS OR HESITATION IN THE ENGINE AS WELL AS THE A SHAKING. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS ALSO HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD OR WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. MY LOCAL DEALER FINALLY BELIEVES IT IS A BAD VALVE GUIDE. HE DROPPED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND COULD SEE ONE OF THE GUIDES HAVING DOWN FROM THERE. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS FIXED YET, I JUST FOUND THIS OUT 1-2-04. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL LEGACY'S WHICH WERE MADE IN 1995 AND 1996 THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO SEEN A COMPLAINT WHICH WAS FILED AT THIS WEB SITE REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM IT IS ODI ID NO. 732588. THIS IS A COSTLY PROBLEM AND FEEL SUBARU SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES. I AM HOPING TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO. I ALSO FEEL DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM WHEN PLUGS BEGIN TO FOWL OUT LIKE MINE HAS DONE SEVERAL TIMES NOW. I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW THIS GOES. JD *LA

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, DRIVER LOST POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE DIED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH SOME OTHER COMPONENTS. *AK

1996 SUBURU LEGACY SHUTS DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PURCHASED IN UTAH DROVE TO DENVER AREA. WENT TO DMV TO REGISTER THEN CAR QUIT. RESTS A WHILE THEN STARTS. *TR

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT REGARDING THE REPAIR OF THE 1996 SUBARU LEGACY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING.*MR DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING ON THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. WHEN THE ORIGINAL SPRING FAILED THE FIRST TIME, IT CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE TIRE AND THE SPARE TIRE. THE IGNITION WIRE WERE WORN, THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. *JB

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 NO WARNING. THE FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED THE FRONT BRAKES ROTORS AND PADS TO BURN UP. *SC

CAR WAS PARKED, WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND IN GEAR ON A HILL. OWNER HEARD A SHARP METALLIC NOISE AFTER CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 10 MIN. AND SAW CAR BEGIN ROLLING DOWNHILL FROM THE PARKED POSITION, PICKED UP SPEED AND CRASHED. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN THE CRASH WAS OVER IT WAS FOUND WITH E-BRAKE DISENGAGED AND STILL IN GEAR. *TS *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**764464

MY DAUGHTER SPUN HER 1996 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON WHILE TRYING TO MISS A DEER AT ABOUT 45 MPH. SHE HIT A TREE GOING BACKWARDS. IN THE COLLISION THE SEAT BACK BROKE ON THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS CAUSED HER TO HIT HER HEAD AND NECK AND SHE SUFFERED A BROKEN NECK. THE SEAT BACK SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE CAR WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AND ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE HOOD FLEW OPEN, SHATTERING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT REGARDING THE REPAIR OF THE 1996 SUBARU LEGACY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING.*MR DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING ON THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. WHEN THE ORIGINAL SPRING FAILED THE FIRST TIME, IT CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE TIRE AND THE SPARE TIRE. THE IGNITION WIRE WERE WORN, THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. *JB

TODAY, 06/17/05, DURING A ROUTINE NYS SAFETY INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT OF MY 1996 SUBARU LEGACY FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. IN 1999 THE ORIGINAL SPRING SNAPPED CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE TIRE AND THE SPARE. AT THAT TIME THE SPRING WAS REPALCED.I CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THIS UNUSUAL FAILURE BUT THEY DID NOTHING. IN 2001 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM SUBARU BECAUSE OF SPRING FAILURES. AS INSTRUCTED, I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE WAS FITTED WITH SAFETY DEVICES TO PREVENT ANOTHER FAILURE. I ASSUMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AND THE CAR WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE. EVENTUALLY I WAS REIMBURSED FOR MY REPAIR EXPENSES. TODAY I CONTACTED SUBARU CONSUMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEN I LEARNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT SUBARU HAD MET ITS RECALL OBLIGATIONS AND WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE FRONT END REPLACEMENT SPRING. SUBARU HAS NOT SOLVED MY PROBLEM AND I WILL BE REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR A SECOND TIME.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE TO THE WIRES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK BEING BURNT BECAUSE THE INTERNAL CONNECTOR HAD LOOSE TERMINALS. THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,600.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE OF GAS FORMING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FILLER PIPE RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THIN HOLES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.*AK

DT: CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND HIT THE REAR OF THE GARAGE AND DID DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - *NM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE LURCHES FOWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.**AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

A FUSE HAD BLOWN OUT FIVE TIMES, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL . ALSO, AFFECTING WINDOWS AND FAN. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 MPH THROUGH THE SNOW VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW. VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, BUT DIDN'T PERFORM LIKE IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING TIRE TREAD IS STARTING TO SEPARATE ON FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE. IT COULD CAUSE A FUTURE BLOW OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE THE SIZE AND DOT#.*AK

1996 SUBARU LEGACY - AUTO TRANS. CAR BINDS ON SLOW TURNS. SUBARU TECH. STATES THAT VEHICLE NEEDS ABOUT $1000 IN REPAIR TO THE AWD SYSTEM, THIS INCLUDES TRANSFER CLUTCHES, HOUSING, ETC. ONLY 44,000 MILES ON VEHICLE! TECH STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT ASSIST IN REPAIRS. I PURCHASD THE VEHICLE TO HAVE AWD AND THIS IS THE SYSTEM THAT IS FAILING! SINCE AWD IS THE BENCHMARK OF SUBARU, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE ADVISE.*AK

WHEN THE REAR CLUTCH PACK FAILS THE REAR OF CAR BINDS AND ON SLIPPERY ROADS THE CAR'S BACK END WILL LOCK UP UPON LETTING OFF THE GAS. THE REAR END SWINGS AROUND AND CAUSES THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS DONE AT 35000 MILES THE SAME PIECE HAS FAILED AGAIN AT 67000 MILES. EACH TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO BIND AT VIRTUALLY THE SAME MILEAGE. SUBARU REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE. SUBARU CLAIMS TIRE ROTATION CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE WORK PERFORMED BY SUBARU PER THEIR SERVICE GUIDELINES.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL TURNED VEHICLE INTO A SPIN, CAUSING A COLLISION. *AK

DRIVER EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. YH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INSPECTED AND ADVISED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED DUE TO THE VEHICLE BECOMING OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 255,000.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 96 SUBARU LEGACY THE OTHER DAY TO THE STORE WHEN SHE WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT HER CAR WAS ON FIRE. LUCKILY THEY HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT. BEECHMONT SUBARU SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY EVER SAW A REAR DIFFERENTIAL CATCH ON FIRE. I WANTED TO MAKE SUBARU AWARE AND MAYBE GET SOME HELP ON THIS REPAIR. MAKING SURE IT DONE CORRECTLY. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING PHONE CALL FROM MY DAUGHTER. THIS WEB SITE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO ENTER THE VIN. [XXX]. I WILL EDIT THE VIN TILL THE SITE ACCEPTS MY COMPLAINT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I CONTACT SUBURU THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM

VEHICLE DESIGNED WITH LOW REAR BENCH SEAT AND NO HEAD RESTRAINTS.

THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER FAILED SOMETIME IN MAY 2000 (5/15/2000 & 82,200 MILES ARE ESTIMATES). THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CONDENSER HAS FAILED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE ORIGINAL REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS IDENTIFIED THE SPOT OF FAILURE AS MATCHING THAT IDENTIFIED BY MY MECHANIC (NOT A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC). NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR SUBARU OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE CONSIDERS THIS A DEFECTIVE PART AND HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE OR EVEN PROVIDE ME THE PART UNLESS I PAY FOR IT SINCE THE PREVIOUS CONDENSER REPLACEMENT WAS MORE THAN 1 YEAR AGO. I CONTEND THAT THE CONDENSER IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME. HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THEIR POSITION ON THE MATTER, I WILL HAVE IT REPLACED AND WILL ATTEMPT TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT UNLESS I AM CONTACTED BY JUNE 28, 2000 BY SUBARU INDICATING THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE CONDENSER OR AT LEAST JUST PROVIDE THE PART AT NO COST TO ME. *AK

LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT REGARDING THE REPAIR OF THE 1996 SUBARU LEGACY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING.*MR DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING ON THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. WHEN THE ORIGINAL SPRING FAILED THE FIRST TIME, IT CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE TIRE AND THE SPARE TIRE. THE IGNITION WIRE WERE WORN, THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. *JB

NEW DESIGN HEADLIGHTS HAVE POOR ILLUMINATION. OWNER HAS DETAILS OF DISTANCE. TT

KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED DUE TO PINCHED WIRE IN DRIVER'S DOOR.