2003 Subaru Legacy Problems

DEADLY DEFECTIVE PASSENGER AIRBAG! AIR BAG RECALL. REPORTED ON LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL.

I HAVE AN AIRBAG RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE TO GET IT SERVICED. WHEN CALLING MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME I'D BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST AND THAT THEY ARE BOOKED OUT THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. IN THE NOTICE IT STATES THAT THIS COULD KILL ME OR MY PASSENGERS. WAITING TILL THE END OF THE YEAR DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS GUSTMAN SUBARU OF APPLETON WISCONSIN.

The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle began to stall and then seized. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated a police officer assisted to push the vehicle out of the roadway. The contact stated he was able to restart the vehicle and drive to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated he and his daughter continued to experience the failure while driving the vehicle. The contact then took the vehicle to Fairway Subaru (2209 Laurens Rd, Greenville, SC 29607, (864) 242-5060) and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated he continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR WITHIN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LEAK OF FLUID LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ODOR WAS MORE STRINGENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE DIAL FOR THE AIR/HEAT WAS FRACTURED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,192.

THE ELECTRICAL IN MY CAR SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES NOT WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS FOR NOTIFICATION OF BRAKE OR ANS GO OFF AND ON. MY HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY BLINK TOO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR WITHIN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LEAK OF FLUID LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ODOR WAS MORE STRINGENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE DIAL FOR THE AIR/HEAT WAS FRACTURED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,192.

FOR THE SECOND TIME (SEE MY FIRST REPORT), MY 2003 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ENGINE STOPPED REVVING. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN "DRIVE" AND YOU ARE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN,FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE RPM'S INCREASE BY 200 TO 330 RPM'S AND THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD. THIS IS A CONSTANT ON-GOING PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO VERY CAREFUL WHEN PULLING INTO MY GARAGE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T RUN THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS "NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION". THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER DETERMINES WHAT THE RPM'S SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO THE ELECTRICAL DEMAND. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE EXPLANATION. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO LUNGE FORWARD. *JB

FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS THE FRONT BRAKES STALLED 4 TIMES ON THE HIGH WAY. I HAD TO PULL OVER, WAIT 20 MINUTES AND THE BRAKES ARE WORKING AGAIN. THE MECHANIC'S COMPUTER DOESN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

BRAKE LINE AT REAR WHEEL CONNECTOR RUSTED THROUGH AND LITERALLY BROKE A HOLE THROUGH THE VERY RUSTED METAL WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH, BUT LUCKILY THIS WAS ON EMPTY ROAD AND IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST EFFECTIVENESS AND THE USABILITY IS NOW DANGEROUS, SO IT IS PARKED AT HOME, WHILE MY REGISTRATION, TAX AND INSPECTION LIVES ARE ONLY HALF USED.

I OWN A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN. AS I PICK UP SPEED YOU CAN HEAR AN INCREASING WIND NOISE COMING FROM AROUND THE FRONT 2 WINDOWS. AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH AND ABOVE IT GETS REALLY BAD AND IT STARTS SOUNDING LIKE A REF BLOWING HIS WHISTLE. I TAKE MANY TRIPS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT GET REALLY BAD AND IT GETS WORSE IF THE WIND IS BLOWING. THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAD OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION HESITATING AND SHIFTING HARD UPON STARTING OFF IN DRIVE. OTHER THAN THESE 2 PROBLEMS IN IS A GREAT CAR. *NM

WHEN ACCELERATING AT ANY SPEED HESITATES FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION OVER TIME. *NM

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL STUDS BREAK OFF OVER THE YEARS AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE STUDS ON MY 2003 SUBARU LEGACY LAST SUMMER. THE LAST EVENT OCCURRED LAST SUMMER 2013. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT MY 400 MILE DESTINATION, I HAD ONLY ONE STUD HOLDING MY TIRE ON. EITHER THIS IS A HUGE METAL DEFECT WITH THE STUDS OR A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL EVENT AGAINST OUR FAMILY. I HAVE KEPT ALL RECORDS FROM VARIOUS GARAGES WHICH HAVE REPLACED THE STUDS OVER THE YEARS. *TR

TIRE VALVE STEM FAILURE. *TR

BROKE TAILGATE WINDOW. GLASS SHOP INDICATED DEALER-ONLY ITEM. DEALER INDICATED NO REPLACEMENT WINDOWS EXISTED IN THE UNITED STATES. DEALER ALSO INDICATED THEY ALREADY HAD ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE IN THEIR SHOP THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN WAITING 3 WEEKS FOR A WINDOW, AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHEN ONE WOULD COME IN. VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AT TIME OF INCIDENT. FORCED TO GET USED TAILGATE/WINDOW FROM JUNKYARD. NO NEW REPLACEMENT WINDOWS EXISTED IN THE UNITED STATES, EVEN THOUGH THE WINDOW WAS THE SAME ON BOTH LEGACY WAGONS (LIKE MINE) AND OUTBACK WAGONS, AND WAS THE SAME FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS EVEN BUILT IN THE U.S. WINDOW ITSELF WAS NOT DEFECTIVE - PROBLEM WAS NO AVAILABLE REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN; AND WHILE TRAVELING ON ROADS WITH SPEED LIMITS OF 45 MPH OR MORE, I HEAR SWISHES FROM THE 2 FRONT WINDOWS. THEY SOUND AS IF I HAVE THEM ROLLED DOWN JUST SLIGHTLY ENOUGH TO WHERE THIS CONSTANT, AND VERY ANNOYING, WHOOSHING IS HEARD. I TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY EVERYWHERE I GO, AND THIS SOUND INCREASES AS VELOCITY IS INCREASED. IT'S SO I'M CONSTANTLY CHECKING THE POWER BUTTONS TO MY WINDOWS TO SEE IF I HAVE THEM ROLLED UP ALL THE WAY. ONE DAY ME AND 3 OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS; RODE IN MY CAR TO SPEND THE AFTERNOON TOGETHER AND ONCE WE HIT THE HIGHWAY, THEY ALL COMMENTED ON THE ANNOYING NOISE. THEY EVEN ASKED IF MY WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP TIGHTLY. MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S SUPERLATIVE TO THE MUSIC COMING FROM MY RADIO. **TR

DT: SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE SUNROOF SHATTERED. THE SUNROOF WAS OPEN AND LOUDLY CRACKED AS IF IN AN EXPLOSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSISTED A ROCK MUST HAVE STRUCK VEHICLE. AFTER INSISTING THIS WAS NOT SO OWNER AGREED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. CURRENTLY, A YEAR AND A HALF LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT ANY FOREIGN OBJECT STRIKING THE SUNROOF, AND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY KIND. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT NOTICE AND WAS CLOSED WHEN THE CRACK WAS DISCOVERED. VEHICLE CURRENTLY AWAITING REPAIRS. CONSUMER FELT THIS SUN ROOF WAS DEFECTIVE WITH SOME SORT OF UNDUE STRESS. *AK

WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK THAT STARTS ON THE PASSENGER EDGE MIDWAY UP THE WINDSHIELD AND GOES IN TOWARD THE CENTER TOWARD THE REARVIEW MIRROR. NORMALLY I WOULD JUST THINK THIS WAS DUE TO A ROCK CHIP, HOWEVER I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE VEHICLES (SAME YEAR/MODEL) WITH THE EXACT SAME CRACK.*AK

THE ELECTRICAL IN MY CAR SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES NOT WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS FOR NOTIFICATION OF BRAKE OR ANS GO OFF AND ON. MY HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY BLINK TOO.

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN "DRIVE" AND YOU ARE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN,FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE RPM'S INCREASE BY 200 TO 330 RPM'S AND THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD. THIS IS A CONSTANT ON-GOING PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO VERY CAREFUL WHEN PULLING INTO MY GARAGE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T RUN THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS "NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION". THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER DETERMINES WHAT THE RPM'S SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO THE ELECTRICAL DEMAND. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE EXPLANATION. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO LUNGE FORWARD. *JB

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL STUDS BREAK OFF OVER THE YEARS AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE STUDS ON MY 2003 SUBARU LEGACY LAST SUMMER. THE LAST EVENT OCCURRED LAST SUMMER 2013. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT MY 400 MILE DESTINATION, I HAD ONLY ONE STUD HOLDING MY TIRE ON. EITHER THIS IS A HUGE METAL DEFECT WITH THE STUDS OR A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL EVENT AGAINST OUR FAMILY. I HAVE KEPT ALL RECORDS FROM VARIOUS GARAGES WHICH HAVE REPLACED THE STUDS OVER THE YEARS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. LAST YEAR THE CONTACT HAD THREE STUDS BREAK OFF ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND NOW THEY HAVE THREE THAT BROKE OFF ON THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE STUDS BREAKING OFF FROM THE WHEEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,009 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,407.

Dealer has reported rear subframe if broken. I googled this and found recall 03v153000 which seems applicable but subaru says it does not apply to my car. Problem description seems identical.

The contact's daughter owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made squeaking sounds. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear lateral link had detached from the rear subframe, and that the rear strut was leaning against the rear driver's side tire. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the rear subframe was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V153000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

DRIVING S.IN RT LANE AT 60 MPH ON I-26, LSR EXIT, ON OVERPASS, CAR STARTED TO VEER LEFT. WHEN I CORRECTED TO RIGHT, CAR OVERCORRECTED WAY TOO MUCH, TRIED CORRECTING TO LEFT AND CAR OVERCORRECTED WAY TO MUCH AGAIN. IT STARTED GOING RIGHT AND LEFT AND SPUN IN CIRCLES (AS IF IT WERE ON ICE-IT WAS A WARM, SUNNY DAY) AND HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER ON THE LEFT..I BEGGED THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO LOOK UNDERNEATH BUT THE CAR WAS SO SMASHED DOWN IN FRONT THAT SHE COULDN'T GET UNDERNEATH TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. I CALLED AND AGAIN REQUESTED HER TO DO THIS WHEN THEY HAD IT ON A LIFT AT THE JUNKYARD, BUT I DOUBT THAT IT WAS DONE. IT WAS DEFINITELY MECHANICAL FAILURE. IT HAD NEW FRONT BRAKES RECENTLY INSTALLED BY THE DEALER AND A DRIVE SHAFT INSTALLED BY CUSTOM BRAKES A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AN OIL CHANGE AND SERVICE WAS DONE THE WEEK BEFORE. I HAD PRIOR TO THIS NO NOTICE OF IMPENDING FAILURE OF ANY KIND. FROM THE LOOKS OF THE CAR, IT WAS AMAZING THAT I WALKED AWAY. I HAVE PHOTOS. *TR

2003 SUBARU OUTBACK DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE VEHICLE LUNGED WHILE IN MOTION WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING APPLIED, THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING, LACK OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION, AND ON OCCASION AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING, BRAKING, OR DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. *SC THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED.*JB

THE ELECTRICAL IN MY CAR SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES NOT WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS FOR NOTIFICATION OF BRAKE OR ANS GO OFF AND ON. MY HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY BLINK TOO.