1997 SUBARU LEGACY — Owner-Reported Problems

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

• Campaign 98V042000 was reported 206 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 00I002000 was reported 1,286 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 01V216000 was reported 1,057 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

Safety Recalls (6)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

1. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 00I002000

   Report date

   May 15, 2000

   Component:

   ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

   Consequence:

   IF THE ALTERNATOR FAILS, THE ALTERNATOR WARNING TELLTALE WILL ALERT THE DRIVER TO THE PROBLEM, GIVING AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK REPAIR BEFORE A LOSS OF BATTERY POWER, WHICH, IF THE WARNING WERE IGNORED, COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER (ENGINE STALL).

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR WITH A MODIFIED ALTERNATOR. OWNERS WILL ALSO BE CAUTIONED THAT, SHOULD THE ALTERNATOR TELLTALE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATE, THEY MUST SEEK IMMEDIATE REPAIR TO AVOID THE EVENTUAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

2. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 01V216000

   Report date

   Jun 25, 2001

   Component:

   SUSPENSION

   Consequence:

   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.

   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.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

3. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 97V210000

   Report date

   Nov 13, 1997

   Component:

   EXTERIOR LIGHTING

   Consequence:

   THE SWITCH COULD STICK IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION WHEN DEACTIVATING, RESULTING IN THE TURN SIGNALS BECOMING INOPERABLE.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED HAZARD WARNING SWITCH.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

4. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 98V035000

   Report date

   Feb 20, 1998

   Component:

   Not available in the source record

   Consequence:

   OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH A MISSING THROTTLE SHAFT BEARING CAN EVENTUALLLY LEAD TO AN INCOMPLETE RETURN OF THE THROTTLE VALVE RESULTING IN A HIGH IDLING CONDITION.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY IF THE BEARING IS MISSING.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

5. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 98V042000

   Report date

   Feb 20, 1998

   Component:

   POWER TRAIN

   Consequence:

   THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

6. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 98V091000

   Report date

   May 4, 1998

   Component:

   SUSPENSION

   Consequence:

   SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →