RoadVitals

1999 Subaru Legacy

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
94
Latest Sep 24, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jun 25, 2001
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
19
12 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 94 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Subaru Legacy, most frequently naming the engine, transmission and brakes categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 39 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
01V216000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

Jun 25, 2001
180,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
The risk: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
99V040000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Mar 3, 1999
221,987 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.Manufacturer number WXQ-74View on NHTSA.gov
98V127000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Jun 8, 1998
20,306 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.
The risk: THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 94
Suspension
Filed Sep 24, 2019

FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE AT BASE OF STRUT.

NHTSA ID
11257865
Incident
Sep 20, 2019
Mileage
162,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 12, 2017

LEAKING COOLANT AND REPLACED RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AND STILL LEAKING AND STARTED TO OVERHEAD. FOUND OUT IT WAS HEAD BASKETS AND DID RESEARCH ON RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. FOUND OUT ON FORUMS THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH TYPES OF ENGINES THAT YEAR THE SINGLE AND DUAL OVERHEAD CAM ENGINES AND ALL AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE, BUT ONLY THE SINGLE OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE HAD THE RECALL. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DUAL OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
11054207
Incident
Dec 1, 2017
Mileage
175,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 5, 2015
1 injury reported

WIFE COMING HOME FROM WORK SPRING BLEW AND WENT THROUGH TIRE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP HAD IT FIXED WHEN BEING FIXED REPAIR SHOP SAID OTHER SIDE WAS BROKE TO SO HAD BOTH REPAIRED LATER FOUND SUBARU HAD A RECALL ON THIS SO CALLED THEM ON THE 1800 NUMBER THEY SAID IT WAS VIN SPEC AND OURS WASN'T ON THERE I WISH IT MET THAT OUR CAR WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THE SAME THING. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ANY ON THE REPAIR COST, SO THEY ADVERTISE THE CAR IS A SAFE CAR YOU HAND DOWN TO YOUR CHILDREN BUT ACCORDING TO THE MANAGER I SPOKE WITH A 1999 AND 140 THOUSAND MILES THE CAR WAS BEYOND THEIR WORRIES. THE CAR IS IN OTHERWISE GOOD SHAPE. I GUESS FROM WHERE THEY STAND IF THEY MAKE IT A FEW YRS ON A BAD DESIGN NOONE GETS HURT THEY ARE OFF THE HOOK . I JUST THINK THIS IS UNSAFE AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE NO MATTER WHAT ... *TR

NHTSA ID
10714646
Incident
Mar 18, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 27, 2014

STARTED NOTICING A PROBLEM WHEN COMING DOWN A LONG, STEEP HILL WITH EXTENSIVE SHUDDERING WHEN BRAKING. WHEN I GOT INTO TOWN, THERE WAS A EVEN MORE SHUDDERING WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I HAD TO PULL ON THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. WHEN WE STARTED UP AGAIN, IT PULLED VERY HARD SO WE PULLED OVER AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RACED UP ABOVE 4,000 RPM. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, BUT WHEN IT WAS STARTED AGAIN, IT RACED AGAIN. I EASED IT SAFELY HOME A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY WITH THE UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION PROBLEM CONTINUING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668510
Incident
Dec 27, 2014
Mileage
141,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 25, 2014

DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE LEFT LANE OF I-78, THE SHIFTER POPPED OUT OF 5TH GEAR BY ITSELF (THAT IS, WITHOUT ANY HUMAN INTERVENTION). THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY, AS IT WAS NOW IN NEUTRAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10616335
Incident
Jul 16, 2014
Mileage
134,700 mi
Airbags
Filed May 20, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION OF 23RD AND UNION IN SEATTLE ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS GOING NORTH. IT WAS ABOUT 7:40 A.M. ON TUESDAY, 5/20/2014. I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW A CAR COMING UP BEHIND ME AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FAST TO STOP. THE DRIVER DIDN'T EVEN SEEM TO SLOW DOWN. MY CAR WAS HIT PRETTY HARD. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AS FAR AS I CAN RECALL MY HEAD OR FACE DID NOT HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. WE GOT OUT OF OUR CARS. I DID NOT SEE A LICENSE PLATE ON HIS CAR EITHER ON THE FRONT OR BACK OF HIS CAR. I THINK THAT HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT HAVE HIS DRIVER LICENSE...I'M NOT QUITE SURE NOW. HIS CAR WAS A ORANGE REDDISH MERCEDES, IT LOOKED LIKE AN SUV. IT HAD TAN INTERIOR. WE MOVED OUR CARS TO THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT TO TALK ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. MY NECK FELT SORE AND PAINFUL. I DECIDED TO GO TO WORK AS I DROVE MY SIDE BEGAN TO HURT A LOT, SO I WENT TO THE DOCTOR. THERE ARE NEW SCRATCHES ON MY BUMPER AND OTHER THAN THAT I CAN'T TELL IF THERE IS ANY OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10592787
Incident
May 20, 2014
Mileage
155,134 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed May 20, 2012

HESITATION, SURGING, AND BUCKING AT MID-RANGE ENGINE RPMS. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRENT PROBLEM DESPITE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR X3. *TR

NHTSA ID
10459031
Incident
May 31, 2010
Mileage
101,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 16, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, THE FILLER NECK CORRODED AND FUEL EMITTED FROM THE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FILLER NECK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,782.

NHTSA ID
10448198
Incident
Feb 1, 2012
Mileage
128,782 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

12-249-23R

EQUIPMENT

This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering vehicles with long time exposure to pollen on painted surfaces on vehicles imported from Japan. This bulletin does not apply to SIA built vehicles.

01-167-08R

EQUIPMENT

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

15-302-22

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.

15-192-22R

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment).

01-167-08R

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models

09-51-08R

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT

This bulletin is to advise of SOA’s revised catalytic converter recycling program shipping procedure.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Subaru Legacy by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025600—
2024160038.3
2023102059.3
2022322054.1
2021313048.6
20201216048.8
20191233049.3
20181163056.3
20171182155.3
20161463155.7
20151593157.0
20145310053.0
20136612051.4
20129016161.8
201116716051.4
201015018052.7
20096513051.4
2008659048.2
2007339053.5
2006877050.0
20051839259.4
20044911260.9
20036015255.3
2002545052.7
2001778055.1
2000944051.2
1999Viewing943054.8
19981145054.8
19971396159.3
19961234366.3
19951812362.9
1994600041.6
1993771044.8
1992552050.2
1991783152.3
1990814258.0
1989101—
1988101—
1987101—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.