RoadVitals

1996 Subaru Legacy Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 15, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 123 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Jul 15, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10130211
Incident
Jun 28, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jun 17, 2005

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.

NHTSA ID
10125650
Incident
Jun 17, 1996
Mileage
144,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 15, 2003

CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO FOR RECALL 01V216000 REPAIRS REGARDING FRONT COIL SPRINGS. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 7/11/2003, AND THE DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FURTHER ASSIST THEM. *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID
10027091
Incident
Jul 11, 2003
Suspension
Filed Oct 22, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V216 AND HAD RECALL WORK DONE AND IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
563735
Incident
Jun 18, 2001
Suspension
Filed Mar 8, 2001

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN REAR END FALL DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
882436
Suspension
Filed Mar 6, 2000

CAR FISHTAILED OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID
857999
Incident
Feb 6, 2000
Suspension
Filed May 2, 1997

VEHICLE LOST CONTROL WHILE TRYING TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
516899
Suspension
Filed Sep 10, 1996

VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 67 MPH.

NHTSA ID
508479
Incident
May 1, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .