1995 Subaru Legacy complaints

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING RECALL 01V-216 FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND WOULD NOT BE READY TO INSTALL FOR OVER A MONTH. *YH

SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED IT HAS BEEN INTO VARIOUS DEALERSHIPS REGARDING A WATER LEAK INTO THE MAIN CABIN. EACH DEALERSHIP HAS CLAIMED THE CAR WAS REPAIRED ONLY TO HAVE IT LEAK AGAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE CAR ONLY LEAKS DURING A HEAVY RAIN AND WHILE SITTING IN A PARKED POSITION. I HAVE BECOME QUITE CONCERNED WITH THIS PROBLEM. A CONCERN IS IF THE WATER IS GOING INTO THE CABIN WHERE ELSE IS IT POSSIBLY GOING AND AFFECTING. IS WIRING BEING AFFECTED? THE LAST DEALERSHIP TO TRY AND TACKLE THIS ISSUE HAS CLAIMED THAT THE CAR'S DRAIN HOLES WERE PLUGGED AND WATER WAS BACKING UP INTO THE CABIN. DEALERSHIP SUPPOSEDLY BLEW OUT THE DRAIN HOLES YET THE CAR CONTINUED TO LEAK AFTER THE NEXT BIG RAIN. ANOTHER CONCERN OF MINE REGARDS THE DRAIN HOLES. IF THESE HOLES LIKE THEY SAY BECOME PLUGGED, ISN'T THAT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN ITSELF? WASN'T THE CAR DESIGNED WITH THAT IN MIND? I HAVE GONE AROUND AND AROUND WITH SUBARU ON THIS PROBLEM ONLY TO END UP FRUSTRATED. THEY, TO THEIR CREDIT, HAVE NOT CHARGED ME YET FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT YET THE PROBLEM REMAINS. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU. *AK

THE FAILURE OF THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS A COMPLETE CIRCULAR FRACTURE AROUND THE STRUT RETAINING NUT.

FIRESTONE AFTERMARKET TIRES, MODEL FR440, P185/70R14 , DOT#: VPRV4FBT127. TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN. SHE PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WAS BUMPED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. BUT PASSENGER'S AIRBAG BROKE WINDSHIELD. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, AND MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN GAS GUAGE WAS 1/2 FULL, SUDDENLY DROPPED TO SHOW EMPTY TANK, WILL READ EMPTY FOR MANY MILES (100+)

I WAS ADVISED BY THE SUBARU REPAIR MANAGER THAT THIS CLUTCH IS NOT GOOD. HE RECOMMENDED I INSTALL A HIGHER PRICED FORRESTER CLUTCH BECAUSE IT WILL LAST LONGER. HE SAID FAILURE OF THIS CLUTCH IS COMMON. I ALSO UNDERSTAND PREVIOUS YEARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT TO RIGHT SIDE IN JANUARY 2000. AIRBAGS DID NOT EMPLOY. ON MAY 12, 2000 WHILE DRIVING ON A ROUTE #32 IN THE TOWN OF WESTMINSTER, MD., THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. LAWRENCE SUBARU IN HANOVER PA WAS NOTIFIED AND SUBARU SENT AN EMPLOYEE TO HANOVER TO INSPECT THE CAR. AT NO TIME DID SUBARU STATE THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE #98V315000. NO NOTIFICATION OF RECALL WAS EVER RECEIVED PREVIOUS TO DEPLOYMENT. ON THE DAY OF THE INSPECTION, SUBARU DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECT. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND POINTED TO THE PREVIOUS RIGHT SIDE DAMAGE AND DAMAGE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAID THE BAGS DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE CAR HIT SOMETHING. THERE IS NOT NOW AND WAS NOT AT THE TIME, ANY EVIDENCE OF FRONT IMPACT DAMAGE. SUBARU CUST REL. RICK POZNIAK, JUDY YORK, PETER BORTNER, AND DAN DALTON NEVER STATED IN ANY CONVERSATIONS THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL. THEY NEVER ADVISED TO REMOVE THE TOW HOOKS, WHICH WERE ON THE VEHICLE, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WE FOUND THE RECALL ON THE INTERNET, AND IT WAS ONLY THEN THEY ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THEY ADMITTED IT TOOK FRONT END DAMAGE AND/OR TOW HOOKS HITTING AN OBJECT TO DEPLOY, BUT REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS OR ADMIT TO LIABILITY. THEY HAVE FOUGHT US FROM DAY ONE, WITHHELD INFORMATION, AND WERE TOTALLY UNCOOPERATIVE. WHEN ASKED SPECIFICALLY IF THIS WAS A PROBEM WITH OTHER SUBARUS, THEY SAID NO UNTIL

WHEN BRAKING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURS IN FRONT END DUE TO EXCESSIVE WARPING OF ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS. *AK *ML

MY CAR WAS STOPPED,SECOND IN LINE, AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP OF I-91 IN NORTHAMPTON ,MA (VERY SLIGHT DOWNHILL GRADE). THE FIRST CAR BEGAN TO PULL OUT. I REMOVED FOOT FROM BRAKE, DID NOT PLACE FOOT ON GAS AND EASED OUT CLUTCH TO CAUSE CAR TO CREEP FORWARD. I LOOKED LEFT, SAW TRAFFIC COMING FAST AND REFLEXIVELY HIT BRAKE HARD. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, SMASHING WINDSHIELD. I WAS NOT HIT BECAUSE THE SEAT WAS FULLY BACK (I'M 6'1") AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THROW ME FORWARD. FIRST CAR WAS 3' IN FRONT OF MINE. DRIVER CONFIRMED I DID NOT HIT HER. MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE TROOPER, ROBERT PLANT, RESPONDED. HE ASKED FIRST CAR DRIVER IF SHE HAD BEEN HIT (RESPONSE "NO"), THEN LEFT SCENE WITHOUT FILING ACCIDENT REPORT (THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, ONLY A BREAKDOWN). I REPORTED INCIDENT TO SUBARU. THEY INSPECTED CAR, CLAIM SCRATCHES ON BUMPER (PRE-EXISTING) INDICATE IMPACT OCCURED AND THAT AIRBAGS RESPONDED CORRECTLY. THERE WAS DEFINITELY NO IMPACT, NOT EVEN CONTACT!!!*AK

BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT, ACCIDENT WAS LESS THAN 5 MPH WITH NO DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLES, THE DEPLOYMENT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE. YH

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT, AND CONSUMER HIT THE VEHICLE BROADSIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BURNING CONSUMER'S RIGHT ARM. *AK *ML

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T CLEAR WELL ENOUGH FOR DRIVER TO SEE THE ROAD, THEY SMEAR. SUBARU IS DOING NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *AK *ML

HOOD POPS UP TO SAFETY LATCH & VIBRATES. MULTIPLE TIMES IN PAST 3 YRS. REPORTED TO DEALER = "NO PROBLEM FOUND".*AK

CHANGING LANES, SAND ON ROAD, CAR BEGAN FISHTAILING WILDLY, WENT OFF ROAD, CRASHED. HAPPENED BEFORE ON SNOW AT SAME SPEED. BOTH TIMES WITH SAME BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK SNOW TIRES. CAR HAS ALL WHEEL DRIVE. DRIVER DID NOT OVER-CORRECT STEERING OR APPLY THE BRAKES. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING FAILURES OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS (STARTER,(2)BATTERY,ALTERNATOR,(2)RADIO,KNOCK SENSOR,CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND FUEL SENDING UNITS ON 2 OCCASIONS). POSSIBLE SHORT WITHIN THE SYSTEM CAUSING CONTINUAL FAILURES. YH

WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A YIELD SIGN DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER, SUBARU NOT ACCEPTING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. *AK *ML

FUEL GAGUE READS 3/4 FULL OR TOTALLY EMPTY AND VARIES EVERWHERE IN BETWEEN. *AK

FUEL SENSORS ARE BAD. THE VEHICLE HOLDS A LOWER AMOUNT OF FUEL THAN SPECIFIED, CAUSING THE GAUGE TO MISREAD THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

FUEL GAUGE FAILED, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, FUEL GAUGE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BOUNCE . DEALER REPLACED FUEL GAUGE. *AK

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDLESSLY ENGAGES AT MODERATE SPEED AND LIGHT BRAKING, DRASTICALLY INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE, ON WASHBOARD SURFACED ROADS (DIRT OR GRAVEL OR SNOW). LOOSE MATERIAL MAY OR MAY NOT BE PRESENT. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. A DIFFERENT NON-ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLE STOPS IN A MUCH SHORTER DISTANCE IN IDENTICAL CONDITIONS, WITH BRAKING MODERATE ENOUGH TO AVOID LOCK-UPS OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

DRIVESHAFT AND CASE ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSEQUENTLY DESTROYING CLUTCH, HAD TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, FAILED AGAIN AFTER ONE WEEK. *AK

TRANSMISSION GEAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK. OWNER HAS TO PLAY WITH THE GEAR SHIFT FOR AWHILE IN ORDER TO SHIFT GEARS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE TWICE BEFORE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

PLASTIC END PIECE OF HAND LEVER BROKE, ALLOWING SPRING TO BE EJECTED. RATCHETING MECHANISM NO LONGER WORKS. IN A CRASH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT FUNCTION AS EXPECTED. ON HAND WOULD HAVE TO BE LEFT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP IT APPLIED, INSTEAD OF APPLYING THE BRAKE AND RETURNING BOTH HANDS TO THE STEERING WHEEL FOR CRASH AVOIDANCE.

THE INHIBITER SWITCH WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING PUT INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING DEPRESSED GETS STUCK AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO BE PUT INTO GEAR. THE CONSOLE MUST BE TAKEN OFF. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FROM 9/95-1/96 JUST AFTER I PURCHASED IT. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL I LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM FOR 3 DAYS. THEY REPLACED A CONTROL UNIT, WHICH DID NO GOOD. THEY REPLACED THE INHIBITOR SWITCH AND IT WAS FIXED. NOW, 3 YEARS LATER I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN.

POOR DESIGN OF HORN BUTTONS ARE DIFFICULT TO LOCATE EVEN WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN NEUTRAL POSITION AND IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCATE WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES WITHOUT TAKING EYES OFF THE ROAD. NLM

FUEL GUAGE DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT LEVEL OF FUEL,CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VOLTAGE REGULATOR IN ALTERNATOR FAILED, ALLOWING HIGH VOLTAGE SURGE THROUGH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. FUSIBLE LINK BURNED OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, WHEN FUSIBLE LINK BURNED, IT PARTIALLY MELTED UNDERSIDE OF PLASTIC FUSE COVER IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SHOULD BE EXPECTED AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE SURGE.

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED TWICE, AT 20000 AND 36000 MILES. DEALER RESURFACED ROTORS AT 20855 MILES, ROTORS HAVE WARPED AGAIN WITHIN 17000 MILES, NO UNUSUAL DRIVER BRAKE APPLICATIONS HAVE HEATED ROTORS, VEHICLE SHUDDERS HEAVILY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. SUSPECT DEFECTIVE/INFERIOR ROTOR METALS.

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN ICY CONDITIONS THE PEDAL BECOMES HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

RECALL REPAIR (98V-315) IN RELATION TO THE TOW HOOKS BEING REMOVED STATES THAT DAMAGE CAN OCCUR AT A LATER TIME IF VEHICLE IS TOWED, HOWEVER DOES NOT STATE VEHICLE WILL BE COVERED UNDER RECALL REPAIR IF DAMAGES OCCUR. MJS

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE MAKE. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. RECALL 98V135000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURB, DIP, SPEEDBUMP ANF OTHER ROAD HAZARDS. CONSUMERS FEEL REMOVAL OF THE TOW HOOK IS AN UNACCEPTABLE REPAIR FOR POSSIBLE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT RECALL (98V-315). NLM

GAS GUAGE INACCURATELY READS THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OVER A DIP AT LOW SPEED, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. HOWEVER, THE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED AND THE DASHBOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO VIOLENT/FALSE DEPLOYMENT WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY. *YC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

POOR DESIGN OF HORN IS MAKING IT DIFFCULT TO LOCATE HORN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. HORN HAS 2 THUMB SIZE BUTTONS ON EACH SIDE OF STERRING WHEEL ONLY. *AK

EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DUE TO REAR BRAKE ROTORS CORRODING. DEALER SAID ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TIRES ARE NOT THE SAME SIZE, RESULTING IN NOISE, CAUSING FAILURE. *YC

WINDOW OF RIGHT REAR DOOR SHATTERED ONTO ROAD AND REAR SEAT(UNOCCUPIED). NO CAUSE SUCH AS PROJECTILE FOUND. TEMPERATURE 68, ALL WINDOWS UP. *AK

EA97010, OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT: WHILE PULLING INTO A GAS STATION, DRIVING 5 MPH, DRIVER RAN OVER A CURB AND THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVERS' DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE STRAP IS TOO LONG FOR ANY OF THE INFANT SEATS WE WERE ABLE TO FIND. THE BUCKLE LAYS RIGHT WHERE THE STRAP NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE HOOK IN THE INFANT SEAT, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A TIGHT FIT. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT WE USE A ROLLED TOWEL TO BOOST THE SEAT UP AND MAKE IT TIGHT, BUT WE ARE UNSURE OF HOW SAFE THAT WOULD BE. IS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM? WOULD OUR BABY BE AS SAFE IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE ROLLED-TOWEL METHOD AS IF THE BELT ITSELF WERE A SHORTER LENGTH?

THE HORN CONSISTS OF TWO THUMB-SIZED BUTTONS NEAR THE PERIMETER OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AT ABOUT THE 3 AND 9 O'CLOCK POSITIONS. THESE BUTTONS ARE HARD TO FIND, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS, FLAWED DESIGN. THE HORN IS NOT EASY TO LOCATE AUTOMATICALLY, AND YOU DO NOT WANT TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN A SITUATION THAT REQUIRES ITS USE.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH UP A HILL AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN PUTTING FUEL INTO THE TANK, THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY TAKE ABOUT 1 OR 2 GALLONS OF GAS AND THE FUEL TANK WON'T TAKE ANYMORE GAS. THE GUAGE ISN'T WORKING RIGHT. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY PUT MORE GAS INTO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *AK

IF CENTER REAR SEAT BELT IS MOVED SIDEWAYS, THER EIS A LOOSENING OF SEAT BELT.

THERE IS A GAS SMELL WHEN ENGINE IS COLD.

THERE IS A SMELL OF GAS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD.

DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE.

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND SPLIT IN HALF, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK