RoadVitals

1997 Subaru Legacy Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
18
Latest Nov 17, 2020
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.
13%
of 139 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 the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 electrical

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

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Nov 17, 2020

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
Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 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
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 2002

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REOCCURING ALTERNATOR FAILURES, AS A RESULT OF THE ALTERNATOR FAILING THE HARNESS WIRES HAVE MELTED AND BURNED, ALSO THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACE.*NLM

NHTSA ID
567692
Incident
Feb 14, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jun 7, 2002

HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT DIFFICULTY WITH STARTING VEHICLE BETWEEN 03/2002 & 05/2002. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE ON COOL MORNING AND OCCASIONAL AFTERNOONS, IT DOESN'T START. THE RADIO, GAUGES FUNCTION BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T ENGAGE. THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND AND A PARTIAL TURNING OF THE ENGINE. AFTER 4-8 ATTEMPTS, VEHICLE STARTS AND FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE LOCAL SERVICE CENTER WHEN PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPEAT IT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO CONTACTED LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND CENTER OFFERED TO REPEAT EXAM. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IN SERVICE CENTER'S POSSESSION BUT PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED FOR THEM. UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE VEHICLE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ANNOYING SITUATION WHEN ONE HAS TO RELY ON PRIVATE AUTO FOR TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL AND WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID
762757
Incident
May 29, 2002
Electrical
Filed Jan 13, 2002

LOUD, UNEXPECTED STATIC SOUND OVER VEHICLE'S STEREO SPEAKERS.--THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS IF RADIO IS OFF OR ON. --THE SOUND CAN BE VERY LOUD AND VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. THE SOUND FIRST APPEARED WHILE AT IDLE, CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING, --RELATED?--PASSENGER MENTIONED FEELING MILD ELECTRIC SHOCK AT THE SAME TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
756775
Incident
Jan 11, 2002
Electrical
Filed Aug 17, 2001

CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE, AND IT WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND A PINCHED WIRE IN WIRING HARNESS. WIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 2200.00 . CONSUMER FELT SUBARU WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
894633
Incident
Aug 16, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 21, 2000

ALTERNATORS ON 1995 & 1996 MODELS WERE RECALLED, 1997 MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY NO RECALL?

NHTSA ID
728593
Incident
Aug 12, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jul 26, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
726041
Incident
Mar 10, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jan 6, 2000

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON - CAR DROVE WITHOUT INCIDENT - LIGHT WENT OUT- LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN, AND CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND MAKE KNOCKING SOUNDS. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND WIRING DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
716964
Incident
Dec 31, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 21, 1999

BATTERY EXPLODED AND DAMAGED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. MJS

NHTSA ID
549138
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Jan 14, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE ALL POWER. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. MANUFACTURER DENIES PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
833538
Incident
Jan 13, 1999
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Sep 30, 1998

ALTERNATOR BELT SNAPPED, CAUSING BATTERY AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON AND HARD TO STEER.

NHTSA ID
780591
Incident
Sep 19, 1996
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 23, 1998

REPLACED THREE ALTERNATORS,HAZARD SWITCH SHORTED DRAINING BATTERY.

NHTSA ID
538209
Incident
Nov 16, 1996
ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Jul 21, 1998

CRUNCHING NOISE IN FRONT END SUSPENSION AREA PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
538027
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Electrical
Filed May 21, 1998

COMPUTER FAILED FOUR TIMES, RESULTING IN TWO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID
535226
Incident
Mar 10, 1998
Electrical
Filed Mar 28, 1998

COMPUTER MALFUNCITION ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, LAST INCIDENT RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF ABS AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
532875
Incident
Mar 10, 1998
Electrical
Filed Dec 12, 1996

IGNITOR FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID
512386
Incident
Dec 4, 1996
Electrical
Filed Nov 6, 1996

IGNITER FAILED, CAUSING UNBURNED GASOLINE TO FLOW INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
510972
Incident
Oct 29, 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 .