1997 Subaru Legacy Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

I HAVE NOW REPLACED MY SUBARU 97 ENGINE 5 TIMES, AND EACH TIME THE NEW/USED ENGINE FAILED. EACH ENGINE HAD BETWEEN 60 AND 80,000 MILES ON IT. IN MOST OF THESE CASES, THE ENGINE BLEW A HEADGASKET.

NHTSA ID

10060133

Incident

Dec 15, 2003

Mileage

80,500 mi

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BLOWING HEAD GASKETS.*MR WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE TAIL PIPE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. COOLANT AND OIL SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND IGNITED A SMALL FIRE ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, BUT IT EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO HER LOCAL DEALER. SHE OBTAINED TWO OPINIONS AND THEY BOTH SAID THE SAME THING. EXTREME COOLANT LOSS BUT NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK. IT APPEARED WITHOUT TAKING THE ENGINE APART TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. IT'S EITHER A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET, CASTING FLAW IN THE METAL OR A HEAD THAT WASN'T TORQUED PROPERLY. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SUBARU TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST A OF A ENGINE (INCLUDING LABOR), REIMBURSEMENT FOR AIR FLOW AND FILTER REPLACEMENT, REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOWING, COST OF A RENTAL CAR, AND MECHANIC'S VEHICLE CHECK FOR A TOTAL OF $1976.16 DOLLARS. *PH

NHTSA ID

10049945

Incident

Dec 24, 2001

Mileage

63,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE REAR SEPARATOR PLATE AND OIL PUMP SEAL. *AK THIS CAUSED COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF SMOKE TO BILLOW OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND OUT THE FRONT WHEEL WELLS WHEN STOPPED AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES. TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES FOR THE SMOKE TO SUBSIDE. CONSUMER QUESTIONED WHETHER THERE WERE ANY FINES FOR THIS FAILURE. HE HEARD SUBARU MADE CHANGES TO THE NEWER MODEL LEGACY. CONSUMER LEARNED OF TWO OTHER SUBARU OWNER'S THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME DEFECT. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID

10038415

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD, AND NOTICED COOLANT AND OIL SPRAYED OVER ENGINE. ALSO A COUPLE OF FLAMES WERE PRESENT. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.*AK

NHTSA ID

10042496

VEHICLE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL. *MR THE OIL LEAKED FROM THE OIL PUMP SEAL AND ALSO FROM THE REAR SEPARATOR PLATE THAT COULD START A FIRE. THE CONSUMER FOUND TWO OTHER OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10040582

VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT DURING A PERIOD OF TIME AND MECHANIC FOUND SEVERAL PROBLEMS. RADIATOR AND HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE MOTOR, AND THE AXLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD GONE BAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10033998

FRONT OIL SEAL IN MOTOR FAILED CAUSING OIL LEAK ONTO EXHAUST DEALER SAID IS NORMAL WEAR E/MAILED MANUFACTURE WITH NO RESPONSE.FRONT OIL SEAL SHOULD NOT BE A NORMAL MAINTAINCE ITEM.LEKED ONTO EXHAUST POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD,ALSO CAUSED WATER PUMP FAILURE.REPAIR WAS ON 7/22 E/MAILED SUBRAU 7/23 RECIVED NO RESPONSE

NHTSA ID

766345

Incident

Jun 2, 2002

THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR. OIL CAN LEAK SO BAD IT WILL HIT HOT EXHAUST AND POSSIBLY START A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

763842

Incident

Jul 4, 2002

OIL LEAK FROM CRANK CASE SEAL DRIPS BACK ONTO EXHUST MANAFOLD DURING NORMAL DRIVING. ONCE CAR HAS STOPPED AND IS AT IDLE THE OIL BURNS OFF THE MANAFOLD AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE POUR FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE CAR. IF VENTILATION SYSTEM LEFT ON THEN SMOKE ENTERS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NUMBER 2: THE CAR SHUDDERS WHEN TURNS LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS (5MPH). NUMBER 3: THE METAL GUIDES FOR THE SIDE WINDOW (DRIVERS SIDE) HAVE SCRATCHED THE GLASS AND IT CAN'T BE REPAIRED MUST REPLACE. NUMBER 4: CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER OR MISS AFTER 61000 MILES. IT OCCURS ONLY AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS UP.

NHTSA ID

756894

Incident

Nov 28, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. MALFUNCTION COULD POSSIBLY BE OCCURRING WITHIN SPEEDODMETER. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FOUND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN.*SLC

NHTSA ID

8001843

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

INTERMITTENT SEVERE HESITATION - HAS BECOME SAFETY ISSUE WHEN SUDDEN POWER LOSS OCCURS IN TRAFFIC UNDER ACCELERATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

755481

ENGINE WAS KNOCKING AND MAKING A TICKING NOISE, BRAKES WERE MAKING A SQUEAK/ LOUD NOISE, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES, ALSO RIM WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING BENT. *YD

NHTSA ID

899069

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

FRONT CRANK SEAL IS LEAKING OIL ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FORNT CRACK SEAL WHERE THE OIL PUMP MEETS THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILS AT REGULAR INTERVALS, WHEN THIS SEAL LEAKS OIL DRIPS ONTO THE EXHAUST AND SMOKES.*SLC

NHTSA ID

898798

CRANK SEAL LEAK IS A FIRE RISK. OIL DRIPS ALONG OIL PAN AND ONTO Y SECTION OF EXHAUST WHERE IT BURNS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARUS WITH 50K MILES. ALTHOUGH TORQUE CONVERTER BIND IS NOT DIRECTLY A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS TOO COMMON AMONG SUBARUS WITH > 50K MILES.

NHTSA ID

754109

Incident

Oct 10, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

743115

Incident

Mar 25, 2001

DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE MECHANIC NOTICED CRANKCASE LEAK. WENT TO DEALER WHO TOLD CONSUMER ALL 3 OF THEIR VEHICLES DO THAT, SEEMED LIKE A DESIGN FLAW. *AK A CRANKCASE SEAL FAILED CAUSING CRANKCASE LEAK. *YH

NHTSA ID

877111

Incident

Dec 21, 2000

I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A WATER PUMP LEAKING PROBLEM. SO THEY CHANGED IT ABOUT 5000 MILS LATER I HAVE AN OVER HEATING PROBLEM. NOW THEY TELL ME I MIGHT HAVE A CRACKED HEAD OR A CRACKED HEAD GASKET.BUT THEY CANT TELL EVAN AFTER THE TEST.NOW THEY WANT TO GO IN. *AK

NHTSA ID

737243

Incident

Jun 21, 2000

BOLT ON THE IDLER ARM SNAPPED, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO DROP, AND RESULTING IN A BENT ENGINE VALVE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

858228

Incident

Feb 26, 2000

THE SCRATCH ON THE GLASS IS ON BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD IT IS FROM THE INNER DOOR METAL RUBBING AGAINST THE GLASS WHEN WINDOWS GO UP AND OR DOWN. THE MARK ON THE GLASS IS ABOUT AND INCH WIDE AND DEEP ENOUGH THAT IT WILL NOT COME OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE LOT. THE CAUSE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER WAS THAT THE CAM BELT SLIPPED OFF BY ONE TOOTH. THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO ABNORMAL WEAR AND CONSIDERING THE LOW 53,000 MILES - THIS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE DONE. CAR WHEN COLD IDLES ROUGH, HEAT SHEILD RATTLES, DASH LIGHTS IN CENTER CONSOLE NOT WORKING, EXTREAM CORROSION UNDER CAR EFFECTING SUSPENSION AND MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT.

NHTSA ID

718161

Incident

Jan 11, 2000