1996 Subaru Legacy complaints

VEHICLE HIT DEER, MINIMUM DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. BUT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER'S AIR BAG BROKE, PASSENGER INJURED FACE. PASSENGER HAD SEATBACK ALL THE WAY, AND WAS LEANING BACK AT TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. *AK

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON 35MPH FRONT-END IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAR SUSTAINED $7000 DAMAGES, FRONT-END IS CRUSHED. *AK

SUBARU LEGACY HAS HAD A WIDELY REPORTED HISTORY OF A HESITATION OR HIGHSPEED MISS. IN THE CASE OF THIS VEHICLE, IT WAS RETURNED FOR SERVICE FIVE TIMES WITH THE #1 VALVE GUIDE REPLACED TWICE. IN 2000, SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN CATONSVILLE MD. IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM FROM COMPRESSION TEST AS A "MISCAST CYLINDER HEAD" AND REPLACED ON WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT ADDRESSED FOR FOUR YEARS, AND WE WONDER IF SUBARU KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM IN CASTING CYLINDER HEADS AND HAS NOT CONDUCTED A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THE CARGUYS ON PBS HAVE HAD FOUR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OVER THE LAST YEAR REGARDING SUBARU LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES WHICH SOUND SIMILAR IN COMPLAINT TO THIS VEHICLE. THE SYMPTOMS ARE A HIGH SPEED MISFIRE ON A CYLINDER (60 MPH) AND SUBSEQUENT SETTING OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER INFORMED US THAT SUBARUS ARE KNOWN FOR "BAD VALVES". IF THERE IS A KNOWN CASTING PROBLEM IN THE CYLINDER HEADS, THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

MY WIFE HAD RIGHTT FRONT TIRE BLOWOUT @ 65 MILES AN HR. I HAD THESE TIRES REPACED YESTERDAY 9-13-2000 . I WAS AFRAID FOR HER TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THESE TIRES ON IT . THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED PER THE MANUFACTURES SPECS. THE LT REAR TIRE HAS A BROKEN BELT AND ITS A SHAME I SPENT MY GOOD MONEY FOR SUCH POOR TIRES WITH SUCH A RICH PRICE TAG,THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN THE BEST ON THE MARKET .*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185-70-14 )

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL TURNED VEHICLE INTO A SPIN, CAUSING A COLLISION. *AK

CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME TO PREVENT CRASH. RAINING. CAR IN FRONT STOPPED. OUR CAR GOING ABOUT 25MPH. BRAKED AT ABOUT 25 YARDS FROM OTHER VEHICLE; CRASH OCCURED. IS THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT A VEHICLE STOPPED WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE AT A GIVEN SPEED IF PROPERLY BRAKED? THANK YOU. JONAS MORRIS

THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER FAILED SOMETIME IN MAY 2000 (5/15/2000 & 82,200 MILES ARE ESTIMATES). THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CONDENSER HAS FAILED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE ORIGINAL REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS IDENTIFIED THE SPOT OF FAILURE AS MATCHING THAT IDENTIFIED BY MY MECHANIC (NOT A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC). NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR SUBARU OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE CONSIDERS THIS A DEFECTIVE PART AND HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE OR EVEN PROVIDE ME THE PART UNLESS I PAY FOR IT SINCE THE PREVIOUS CONDENSER REPLACEMENT WAS MORE THAN 1 YEAR AGO. I CONTEND THAT THE CONDENSER IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME. HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THEIR POSITION ON THE MATTER, I WILL HAVE IT REPLACED AND WILL ATTEMPT TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT UNLESS I AM CONTACTED BY JUNE 28, 2000 BY SUBARU INDICATING THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE CONDENSER OR AT LEAST JUST PROVIDE THE PART AT NO COST TO ME. *AK

A FUSE HAD BLOWN OUT FIVE TIMES, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL . ALSO, AFFECTING WINDOWS AND FAN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED HOOD FLEW UP, BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW. DEALER AND SUBBARU HAS BEEN NOTIVIED. *AK .*ET

DRIVER EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. YH

CAR FISHTAILED OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

WHEN CHANGING LANE, CAR MALFUNCTIONED. CAR LURCHED TO RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN FISHTAILED ACROSS 3 LANES OF SUPERHIGHWAY. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. CAR UNRESPONSIVE TO DRIVER'S COMMANDS. FISHTAILED ACROSS 3 LANES. ABS BRAKES APPLIED APPROPRIATELY ... CAR SKIDDED DIAGONALLY. CAR SKIDDED INTO BACK OF AN SUV THEN INTO AXLE OF 18-WHEELER. CAR TOTALLED. DESTRUCTION OF LEFT FRONT END, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL, WINDSHIELD, DRIVERS WINDOW, DASH, STEERING COLUMN. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MIRROR FLEW INTO DRIVER'S HEAD. SEAT PUSHED BACK AND BENT.*AK

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP ABOUT 5 MPH, CONSUMER BUMPED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

SMELLING OIL FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE IN 6 WEEKS AGO FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE & DISCOVERED OIL LEAKS. WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC LEAKS CAMEFROM CRANKSHAFT OR CAMSHAFT GASKET AND CYLINDERS. CONTACTED DEALER REPLACED CRANKSHAFT GASKETS/WATER PUMP. ANOTHER LEAK IN THE BACK OF ENGINE CAUSED BY SEPARATOR COVER GASKET. *AK

ABS DOES NOT SEEM TO SLOW OR STOP VEHICLE QUICK ENOUGH, IN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *ET

PE99067, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED BLINKING, THERE WAS A HUGE POPPING NOISE, AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. AFTER PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER, DRIVER OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND AN ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN FUSES AND WIRES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

PE99067, INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS INOPERATIVE AND VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. OCCUPANT IS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS OPERATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

4 INCIDENTS ENGINE FAILURE. FIRST TIME I PUSHED ACCELATOR AND THERE WAS NO POWER. CONTINUED TO APPLY GAS PEDAL AND NO POWER, IT WAS AS IF I WAS NOT APPLYING THE GAS AT ALL. CHECH ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, AND AS SOON AS CHECK ENGINE STOPPED BLINKING AND LIGHT REMAINED ON, THE CAR RAN SMOOTHLY. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE FIRST. THE THIRD INCIDENT THE CAR DID THE SAME EXACT THING BUT THIS TIME IT STALLED OUT AS WELL. 4TH TIME WAS VERY MUCH LIKE THE FIRST TWO. HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

REPEATED EPISODES W/OUT RESOLUTION. CAR WILL STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITH NO WARNING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS AND CAR WILL LOOSE POWER OR COMPLETELY STALL. NO WARNING, NO BRAKES, NO REASON AFTER REPEATED VISITS TO DEALER. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN .

CONSUMER NOTICED RUST ON THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ANDTOLD CONSUMER TO LOOK OVER THE RUST. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BECOME MUSHY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. DEALERSHIP KNOWS ABOUT PROBLEM & HAD ORDERED PARTS FROM JAPAN. *AK

GAS GAUGE IS INOPERATIVE, CANNOT INDICATE HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE WHICH MAY CAUSE STALLING. DEALER NEEDS TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDER UNIT. *AK

I CONTACT SUBURU THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM

ALTERNATOR FAILED. YH

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

FIRST INSTANCE WAS IN DEC 98, 2ND 6-21-99 CRUISE CONTROL STAYS ON, CANNOT CANCEL OR TURN OFF, BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT WHAT SO EVER, HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF CRUISE AND GET THE BRAKES BACK (THIS IS A LITTLE SCARRY WHEN YOU HAVE POWER STEERING). THIS WAS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION IN TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON AN APPROACH TO A SEVERE TURN ON A EXIT RAMP. *AK

VEHICLE HIT A POLE HEAD-ON AT 30 TO 35MPH AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *YC

AFTER CAR IS WARM AND YOU HAVE DRIVEN A WHILE, WHEN YOU STOP, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, SAY TO GET GAS, WHEN YOU START UP AGAIN THE ENGINE RUNS BETWEEN 1500 AND 2000 RPMS. IF YOU DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE IDLE COMES DOWN, YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE SLOWING DOWN WITHOUT USING THE BRAKE. EVEN IF YOU SHIFT DOWN, YOU WILL BE IDLING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 -35 MPH AND YOU EXPECT TO BE SLOWING DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE VERY START. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THOMASON AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE CAR DO WHAT WE SAID IT WAS DOING AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. ALL THEY SAID WAS IT WAS TO NEW AND IT SHOULD BE ALRIGHT AFTER A FEW MILES. WE TOOK IT BACK BEFORE THE 30,000 MILE WARRANTY WAS UP AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THE SAME THING. THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. WE THEN TO THE CAR TO CARR CHEVROLET IN BEAVERTON, OR. THEY DID A LOT OF CHECKING ON THE CAR AND SAID THEY WOULD LIKE A FACTORY REP. TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A FACTORY REP. AND HE DROVE THE CAR AND SAID THAT IT WAS DOING JUST WHAT WE HAD SAID AND THAT HE HAD HEARD OF A COUPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME TYPE. HE WAS GOING TO CHECK AND GET BACK TO US. HE NEVER DID, SO WE CONTACTED CHRIS, WHO WAS OUT CONTACT AT CARR, AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AT THIS TIME. THAT THE CAR WAS PERFORMING AS IT WAS MADE TO DO. WE ARE CURRENTLY WAITING FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE FACTORY REP. TO HAVE HIM DRIVE IT AGAIN AND DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A SA

WAS RETURNING FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE AND THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS WORKED ON FOR 3 1/2 WEEKS. THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED, SO THEY TOLD SUBARU OF AMERICA THAT IT WAS AN "OUTSIDE SOURCE" (WHATEVER THAT IS) THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO INSINUATED THAT I HAD DONE SOMETHING AND HAD NEGLECTED TO TELL THEM. THEY WERE VERY RUDE, AND NOT AT ALL HELPFUL. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT FROM A CERTIFIED SUBARU MECHANIC THAT THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATORS IN SOME OF THE SUBARU'S WHICH CAUSED THE MAIN FUSE TO BLOW. INTERESTING THAT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR, BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CONNECTION. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, AND DEAL WITH THE RUDENESS OF THE DEALER AS WELL AS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE FOLKS AT SUBARU OF AMERICA. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED SOMEONE ALONG THE WAY TO HAVE HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS, AND I WOULD ALSO HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE BEEN TREATED A LITTLE BETTER AS A PAYING CUSTOMER WHO SIMPLY WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THEIR CAR. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A BETTER ANSWER TO MY QUESTIONS THAN THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY AN "OUTSIDE SOURCE". WHEN THERE ARE EQUIPMENT OR PARTS PROBLEMS, PEOPLE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. MINIMALLY, THE SUBARU MECHANICS SHOULD BE AWARE OF PROBLEMS. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT IT HAS BEEN TO OWN A SUBARU.

NO SUMMARY

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND ANOTHER CAR HIT HIM, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

ENGINE FAILED , LOUD KNOCKING AT ENGINE STARTUP. SUBARU REPLACED ENTIRE ENGINE SHORT-BLOCK AT 18K MILES. REPLACEMENT ENGINE FAILED AT 19K MILES OPERATION WITH SAME PROBLEM (OR 37K MILES ON CAR). SUBARU CLAIMS IT IS A PISTON RELATED PROBLEM. AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS TO SUBARU, THEY HAVE AGREED TO REPAIR IT. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER GETTING NEW: PISTONS, PINS, RODS AND BEARINGS AS NEEDED. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THAT SUBARU IS NOW TELLING DEALERS AND OWNERS "IT IS A NORMAL OPERATING NOISE IF THE NOISE GOES AWAY AFTER 5 MINUTES OF OPERATION". IT IS NOT NORMAL ! AND IN MY OPINION WILL ONLY GET WORSE IF NOT REPAIRED. I PLAN TO SELL MY CAR AFTER REPAIRED. *AK

WHEN CAR STARTED AFTER HAVING STOPPED FOR 3 HOURS, BATTERY WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CHECKED BRAKES/FLUID AND ALTERNATOR BELT - NO PROBLEM FOUND. CONTINUED DRIVING; VARIOUS LIGHTS, INCLUDING "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CONTINUED TO GO ON AND OFF. CAR FINALLY STALLED ON HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. ALTERNATOR REPLACED. *AK

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S AIR BAG RESULTING IN A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND INJURY. (QCAW)

DURING FRONT IMPACT AT LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON, CAUSING PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN BURNS TO THE SKIN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. 838195 DUP OF 824824; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO CARPORT WHEN SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE DUE TO FLOOR CARPET INTERFERING WITH BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT THE BRICK WALL OF CARPORT WHICH WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

BOTH AIRBAG'S DEPLOYED DURING FRONT END COLLISON. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, BROKE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FREE OF IT'S MOUNTING BRACKET, AND SENT GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE.534534 DUP OF 540917; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING FRONT END COLLISION. DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD/BROKE REARVIEW MIRROR, AND SENT GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE.

HAD ABS BRAKING FAILURE DURING EXTREME ADVERSE CONDITIONS, IT WAS RAINY/SNOWY WEATHER.. THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO WORK, BUT CAN FEEL PULSATION. STOPPING DISTANCE IS FURTHER THAN NORMAL. *AK

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH , BEGAN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, OR SLOW DOWN, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION, AIRBAGS ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

COMPUTER SENSOR CONTROL UNIT FAILED.

LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.

ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED DUE TO PINCHED WIRE IN DRIVER'S DOOR.

BRAKE FAILURE.

THE ABS BRAKES DO NOT PERFORM WELL IN SNOW AND ICE. WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN THESE ROAD CONDITONS, VEHCILE WILL NOT STOP. DEALER NOTED THAT VEHICLE IS OPERATING TO SPECS. *AK