Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 9 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
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
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
RECALL 01V216000, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN SEPTEMBER, HAS BEEN TOLD BY SUBARU THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. *AK *YH
THIS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HYDROPLANED IN VERY HEAVY RAIN, ENBEKNOWNST TO MY WIFE, UNTIL THE CAR DRIFTED TOWARD THE MEDIAN OF THE DIVIDED 4-LANE. TRACTION WAS REGAINED AND SHE WAS PROPELLED ACROSS AND DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. THANKFULLY, NO CARS WERE COMING -- PLUS, THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GOT HER BACK UP THE EMBANKMENT AND HOME. SHOULDN'T A LIGHT OR SENSOR BE REQUIRED SO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAR OWNERS KNOW WHEN HYDROPLANING OCCURS? HOW ELSE IS THERE TO KNOW?!? THANKS SO MUCH.
CONTROL ARM CREASED AT CENTER DURING TURN AT LOW SPEED. DAMAGE APPEARS SIMILAR TO PLASTIC STRAW PLACED UNDER PRESSURE AT BOTH ENDS UNTIL STRESS CAUSES TO CREASE. TOW OPERATOR, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, STATED HE SAW NO SCRATCH OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF IMPACT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CREASE TO OCCUR, STRONGLY SUGGESTING THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS THE PRODUCT OF LONG TERM STRESS RELATED FAILURE. DEALER, HOWEVER, DISAGREES WITH THIS ANALYSIS, AND STATES IMPACT MUST HAVE OCCURRED TO CAUSE DAMAGE. IN ANY EVENT, SUCH A CONDITION COULD EASILY BE LIFE THREATENING UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE ARM EITHER BE STRENGTHEND OR PROTECTED TO MITIGATE SUCH A POSSIBILITY.
VEHICLE LOT BALANCE CONTROL DURING SWIFT STEERING RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER (FOREARM AND FACIAL).
RECALL NOTICE SENT FOR SUSPENSION WELD WORK TO BE COMPLETED, HOWEVER DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
CRUNCHING NOISE IN FRONT END SUSPENSION AREA PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .