1997 Subaru Legacy Owner Complaints

CAR WAS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO START, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD STALL/HESITATE WHEN IN MOTION ON CITY STREET. DISCOVERED TO BE CAUSED BY AGED/WORN FUEL PUMP CAUSING OVERCURRENT DRAW THAT FAILS TO BLOW FUSE CAUSING MELTDOWN IN WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WHERE PIGTAIL FROM PUMP CONNECTS TO THE CHASSIS SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. HEAT/SPARK POTENTIAL IS CREATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO FUEL TANK THAT HAS MANY REPORTED CASES OF FUEL FILLER NECK RUSTING OFF AND LEAKING FUEL. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALS THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, WITH PHOTOS, HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE. PHOTO PROVIDED IS FROM INTERNET BUT THE RESULT IS THE SAME.

NHTSA ID

11375007

Incident

Nov 16, 2020

Mileage

97,255 mi

1997 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. CAME OUT TO MY PARKED VEHICLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FLAT DUE TO PART OF THE SUSPENSION SPRING BEING SNAPPED AND STICKING INTO INSIDE OF THE TIRE. SPRING WAS INTACT WHEN I PARKED IT. FRIGHTENING TO THINK IF THAT HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OF WHICH I WAS THE DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11013111

Incident

Aug 6, 2017

Mileage

225,812 mi

1997 SUBARU LEGACY GT 2.5L ENGINE, APPROX. 92K MILES, ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING. CAR WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITIES AND DIAGNOSED AS BLOWN HEAD GASKET AFTER PRESSURE TEST, BLOCK TEST, NO SIGNS OF LEAKING. CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FAITHFULLY BY ORIGINAL OWNER AT SUBARU DEALERSHIPS SINCE PURCHASE. I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM REPAIR FACILITIES WITH THIS MODEL AND ENGINE BUT WHEN QUESTIONED SUBARU DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AS HEAD GASKET AND COOLING SYSTEM ARE NOT RELATED (?) AND PROBLEM WAS A CRACKED BLOCK OR CYLINDER. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET $2450-. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE ENGINE $5700-. I HAD ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE THAT CONNECTS TO THE GAS TANK FROM WHERE YOU PUR THE GASOLINE IN FROM THE PUMP HAD RUSTED AWAY AND LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. I HAD THAT REPLACED AT APPROX. COST OF $400-. AGAIN SUBARU DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH IN SIX MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662887

Incident

Nov 16, 2014

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN PARK. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO LUBRICATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE THE SHIFT LOCK MODULE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000. UPDATED 06/10/14 MA THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/23/14

NHTSA ID

10576868

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED ABOVE HALF A TANK, FUEL LEAKS ONTO THE GROUND IN LARGE AMOUNTS NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE A SPARK OR CIGARETTE WOULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551508

Incident

Oct 14, 2013

Mileage

199,932 mi

I INSTALLED MEVOTECH STRUT MOUNTS (MP903987 & MP903986) ON OUR 1997 SUBARU LEGACY POSTAL WHEN INSTALLING NEW REAR SHOCK ABSORBER/STRUTS. THE RIGHT SIDE FAILED ON THE FIRST DAY AFTER AROUND 60 MILES. I REPLACED IT WITH THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PART THAT HAD LASTED 420,000 MILES. THE LEFT SIDE FAILED THE NEXT DAY AFTER BEING IN SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES TOTAL. I RETURNED THE OTHER ORIGINAL PART TO SERVICE. THE FAILURES ALLOWED THE STRUT TO PUSH THROUGH THE MOUNT AND HIT ON THE THIN RETAINING PLATE. IT ALLOWED THE REAR SUSPENSION TO BECOME EXTREMELY LOUD AND LOOSE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I REPORTED IT TO THE SELLER, ROCKAUTO, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT I SHOULD DO MORE RESEARCH ON PART QUALITY. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POOR QUALITY AND DANGEROUS DEFECT. I HAVE THE FAULTY MEVOTECH PARTS IN THEIR ORIGINAL BOXES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10545985

Incident

Sep 20, 2013

MY FUEL FILLER RUSTED OFF @ THE FUEL TANK CAUSING IT TO LEAK ON THE GROUND WHEN THE TANK IS NEARLY FULL.I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.IT'S A BIG JOB FOR A DIY.YOU NEED TO DROP THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL , DRIVE SHAFT , MUFFLER , ETC..IS THIS SOMETHING SUBARU COVERS COST WISE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10448926

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY WAS JUMP STARTED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY TERMINAL DUE TO SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 02/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BATTERY CORROSION DESTROYED THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL. UPDATED 03/08/12

NHTSA ID

10446947

Incident

Aug 9, 2011

Mileage

75,000 mi

GASOLINE FILLER TUBE ON SUBARU LEGACY MODELS (1994 & 1997) RUST OUT AND CAUSE VERY SERIOUS DANGER FROM POSSIBLE FIRE/EXPLOSION DUE TO LEAKING FUEL. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARU OWNERS AND COSTLY ($350+) TO REPAIR. THIS PART WAS REPLACED ON BOTH A 1994 AND A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY AND THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE DEALT WITH QUITE OFTEN. I FEEL THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10303534

Incident

Jan 7, 2010

1997 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5 L ENGINE. 118,000 MILES. CHRONIC OVERHEATING. MANY DOLLARS SPENT ONLY TO FIND THAT THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BLOWING HEAD GASKETS. SURE ENOUGH, THAT'S THE TROUBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293403

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

118,000 mi

I AM SURE YOU HAVE RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2.5L ENGINE IN 1997 SUBARU LEGACY GT'S. THE HEAD GASKETS ARE VERY WEAK, WHICH WHEN THEY BLOW, CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A RUSH OF COOLANT FLOWING INTO THE SYSTEM, WHICH KILLS THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WIDESPREAD, AND SUBARU DOES NOT ADMIT ANYTHING. HOWEVER, IN CANADA, SUBARU WAS SUED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING ERRATIC FAILURE WITH THESE HEAD GASKETS, AND THERE ISN'T EVEN A TSB ON THEM. PLEASE, HELP US!

NHTSA ID

10259756

Incident

Feb 18, 2009

Mileage

195,748 mi

I WAS OUT DRIVING ON A SUNNY SUNDAY WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS TO SEE THE FALL COLOR, AND WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR OVERHEATED. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND HE SAID IT WAS A "BLOWN HEAD GASKET". I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIRS DONE YET BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE OR JUST REPAIR THE OLD ONE. THE COST IS GOING TO BE IN EXCESS OF $1500 DOLLARS EITHER OPTION AND AFTER DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE WEBSITES OUT THERE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO EFFECT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEAR MODELS AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SUBARU DO SOMETHING TO HELP ALERT THOSE WHO WILL POTENTIALLY BE BUYING THESE VEHICLES WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THEY ARE BUYING INTO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247657

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

Mileage

116,000 mi

AFTER A GAS FILL-UP, I NOTED A LARGE WET SPOT UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE IT SMELLS LIKE GAS, I TOOK IT TO MY AUTHORIZED SUBARU MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FILLER NECK WAS LOOSE. IN ORDER TO FIX THE MANUFACTURER DEFLECTIVE, HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE REAR AXLE. SINCE THE CAR IS 11 YEARS OLD WITH OVER 83K MILES, THE CAR IS OF COURSE OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IN MY OPTION, MY 1997 SUBARU LEGACY GT SEDAN IS NOW CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNDER ANY SPEED. I RECOMMENDED THAT SUBARU TAKES THE INITIATE BY ISSUING A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES AS RESULT OF THIS MANUFACTURER DEFLECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245208

Incident

Sep 27, 2008

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING GASOLINE FROM THE FILLER TUBE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SAFETY RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10242783

Incident

Jun 2, 2008

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH MEANS THAT SHE COULD EXPERIENCE SPORADIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT OR IMPROPER DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10238404

Incident

Aug 14, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

IN COLD WEATHER (ZERO OR BELOW), THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 1997 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN BECOMES HARD, AND WHEN I PUT IT ANY GEAR, FORWARD OR REVERSE, THE IDLE SPEED WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO MOVE AND THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THE CAR-I HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I HAVE LEARNED THAT PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE CAR IS AT IDLE IN N OR P WILL USUALLY HELP, AT -20 DEGREES, I HAVE TO LET THE CAR IDLE FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AND THEN TRY IT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT THAT THERE IS NO EASY FIX FOR THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY WINTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2001. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226565

Incident

Jan 15, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

1997 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH VEHICLES HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAST IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. THE CONSUMER DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECTIFIED. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T STATE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10218307

Incident

Nov 24, 2007

SUDDEN OVERHEATING OCCURRING MOSTLY ABOVE 60 KM/H SYMPTOMS INCLUDED LARGE POCKETS OF AIR IN COOLING SYSTEM AS WELL AS SMALL BUBBLES. FIRST THOUGHT BY MECHANIC WAS HEAD GASKET, HOWEVER TESTS ON COOLANT SHOWED OTHERWISE. SMALL LEAK FOUND IN WATER PUMP GASKET, REPLACED ENTIRE PUMP AND GASKET, AS WELL AS THERMOSTAT, BELTS, HOSES, ETC. CURRENT RESEARCH HAS PROVEN THAT YEARS 1997 THROUGH 2002 ALL DO THIS AS A RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10204444

Incident

Jul 21, 2007

Mileage

224,992 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY, THE HOOD LATCHE FAILED AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10169200

Incident

Sep 23, 2006

Mileage

105,000 mi

FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE ROTTED OUT. PLASTIC SHIELD OVER FILLER NECK TRAPS SAND. STEEL FILLER PIPE RUSTS WHERE WET SAND IS TRAPPED AGAINST IT. INTERMITTENT FUEL LEAK DEPENDING ON FUEL LEVEL WAS THE FIRST SYMPTOM OF PROBLEM (MARKS ON DRIVEWAY). ONLY FUEL IN FILLER PIPE LEAKS. DEALERSHIP STAFF SUGGESTED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10158980

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS. THE BRAKES HAVE GOTTEN VERY HOT AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE OR CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. THE DUAL PISTON DESIGN RESULTS IN ONE PISTON DOING MOST OF THE WORK SO THE OTHER PISTON BECOMES STIFF AND DOES NOT RELEASE. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES GRAB AND BECOME EXTREMELY HOT TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE NOW ON OUR FOURTH SET OF CALIPERS WITH JUST OVER 36,000 MILES ON THE CAR. OUR MECHANIC ADVISES THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON ON SUBARU'S FOR AT LEAST THE 1996 THROUGH 1998 MODEL YEARS. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10133120

Incident

Aug 8, 2005

APRROX. 3 MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN MY HOOD POPPED UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED IN MANY PLACES AND THE HOOD WAS BENT AND PAINT CHIPPED. I CONTACTED SUBARU THE FOLLOWING DAY BECAUSE MY HOOD HAD NOT BEEN OPENED FOR APPROX 2MTHS PRIOR THIS AND WAS CONCERNED OF A DEFECT IN PART. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NONE AND SOMETIMES IT JUST HAPPENS. I PAID FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD (I BELEIVE ABOUT 235) AND HAVE YET TO REPLACE HOOD. TODAY I WAS INFORMED BY A TECHNICIAN THAT REPLACES WINDSHIELDS (CONTACT WAS UNRELATED TO MY CAR) THAT HE REPLACES MORE WINDSHIELDS ON SUBARUS THAN ANY OTHER CAR BECAUSE THE FIRST HOOD LATCH FAILS AND THE SECOND LETS GO WHEN HIGH WAY SPEED IS REACHED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PART MALFUNCTION THAT POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO DRIVERS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. IF I HAVE CONTACTED THE WRONG DEPARTMENT OR COMPANY PLEASE DIRECT ME IN RIGHT DIRECTION. I AM UNSURE BUT COULD FIND OUT OF THE EXACT INCIDENT DATE.

NHTSA ID

10126205

Incident

Mar 20, 2005

THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET COLD. THE BRAKES SEEM TO FREEZE UP. DEALER HAD TO BLEED THE LINES. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10109548

Incident

Dec 17, 2001

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH VEHICLE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHAIC CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON A 2.5L ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10111315

Incident

Feb 9, 2005

Mileage

93,412 mi

VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD A FEW FEET BEFORE STOPPING COMPLETELY. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. LAST INCIDENT RESULTED TO IMPACT WITH ANOTHER CAR IN PARKING LOT. DEALER COULD NOT FIND FAULT ON TWO OCCASIONS. SAYS IT MAY BE DUE TO AIR CONDITIONER COMING ON.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105986

Incident

Dec 18, 2004

Mileage

44,000 mi