1997 Subaru Legacy complaints

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HOOD UNLATCHED AND BLEWOUT, OPEN BREAKING MY WINDSHEILD AND DENTING MY HOOD AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH MY WINDSHEILD, BUT WAS STILL ABLE TO SAFELY BRING MY VEHICLE TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE HOOD LATCH FAILED OR EVEN WAS OPEN AS I HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING UNDER THE HOOD IN A LONG TIME. *AK

INTERMITTENT SEVERE HESITATION - HAS BECOME SAFETY ISSUE WHEN SUDDEN POWER LOSS OCCURS IN TRAFFIC UNDER ACCELERATION. *AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN, I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AND THE CAR STARTED MOVING IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE COMPLETELY LOSING POWER. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR AGAIN, AND GOT THE SAME RESULT, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. I HAVE SINCE BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM BY PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR FROM A STOP.*AK

7) ALL 4 RIMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COLLECT ROAD SILT AND WATER INSIDE. THIS IMBALANCES THE CAR AND MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PERHAPS AIRFLOW UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. 8) LEFT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT GO UP ALL THE WAY ANY LONGER. 84,000 MILES. 9) PADS AND SPRINGS LOCATED ON FRAME WHERE THE REAR GATE CLOSES AGAINST THE BODY ARE RUSTED TIGHT. 10) DASH LIGHTS FOR HVAC HAVE FAILED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. 11) GAS GAUGE DOES NOT DESCEND ACCURATLY.

1) ALL 4 RIMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COLLECT ROAD SILT AND WATER INSIDE. THIS IMBALANCES THE CAR AND MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PERHAPS AIRFLOW UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. 2) PADS AND SPRINGS LOCATED ON FRAME WHERE THE REAR GATE CLOSES AGAINST THE BODY ARE RUSTED TIGHT. 3) DASH LIGHTS FOR HVAC HAVE FAILED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. 4) GAS GAUGE DOES NOT DESCEND ACCURATLY.

ENGINE WAS KNOCKING AND MAKING A TICKING NOISE, BRAKES WERE MAKING A SQUEAK/ LOUD NOISE, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES, ALSO RIM WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING BENT. *YD

FRONT CRANK SEAL IS LEAKING OIL ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FORNT CRACK SEAL WHERE THE OIL PUMP MEETS THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILS AT REGULAR INTERVALS, WHEN THIS SEAL LEAKS OIL DRIPS ONTO THE EXHAUST AND SMOKES.*SLC

RECALL 01V216000, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN SEPTEMBER, HAS BEEN TOLD BY SUBARU THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. *AK *YH

CRANK SEAL LEAK IS A FIRE RISK. OIL DRIPS ALONG OIL PAN AND ONTO Y SECTION OF EXHAUST WHERE IT BURNS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARUS WITH 50K MILES. ALTHOUGH TORQUE CONVERTER BIND IS NOT DIRECTLY A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS TOO COMMON AMONG SUBARUS WITH > 50K MILES.

CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE, AND IT WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND A PINCHED WIRE IN WIRING HARNESS. WIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 2200.00 . CONSUMER FELT SUBARU WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. *AK

SPONTANEOUSLY TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AT 19,000 58,000 AND AT 65,000 MILES, BUT IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE DEFECT, AND REFUSES TO FIX DEFECT.*AK

IN APRIL 2001 WHILE SITTING AT A RED SIGNAL WITH VEHICLE IN DRIVE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE ENGINE REVVED UP TO VERY HIGH RPM'S CAUSING ME TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING FOREWARD EVEN WITH EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE PEDALS. I MOVED THE LEVER INTO NUETRAL AND IT CONTINUED AT HIGHER REVOLUTION, I RETURNED THE SHIFTER TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE KEPT CREPPING INTO THE CROSS TRAFFIC. I COULD NOT HOLD IT. I SHIFTED AGAIN NUETRAL AND BACK AND IT QUIT JUST AS SUDDENLY AS IT STARTED. I COULD NOT KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION EVEN WITH AS MUCH PRESSURE AS I COULD APPLY TO THE BRAKES. I ENDED UP PART WAY INTO THE # 3 LANE BEFORE IT STOPPED.I WAS CERTAINLY CONCERNED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL SUBARAU DEALER IN VENTURA AS THE ONE I BOUGHT FROM WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 4/25/2001 TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECKUP. I HAVE ALSO HAD A VERY LOW MILAGE SINCE ACQUIRING THIS VEHICLE AND RETURNED TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES COMPLAINING. ON AVERAGE I HAVE RECIEVED BETWEEN 120 TO 130 MILES PER EACH FILLUP (FULL TANK) AND THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG AFTER MANY CHECKS AND TESTS.(AT LEAST 4) THANK YOU VERY MUCH ROBERT A. HOULE. *AK

BRAKES DID NOT WORK WHEN DRIVER BRAKED TO AVOID ACCIDENT ON ROAD AHEAD. DRIVER HAD TO SWERVE OFF ROAD INTO DITCH, SLIDING DOWN SLOPE AND IMPACTING CULVERT AND CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CAR. CAR TOWED AWAY. CAR REPAIRED AT SPRINGFIELD VA SUBARU DEALER, AND COMPLETELY CHECKED OUT. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, CAR BROUGHT IN TO DEALER TO ADDRESS BRAKE CONCERNS (SHUDDERING, NOISE), DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE OK. CAR BROUGHT IN AGAIN FOR CONTINUING BRAKE CONCERNS, DEALER THEN SAID ALL 4 BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT COST OF ABOUT $800. WE CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE REGARDING THIS, THEY REFUSED TO COMMUNICATE A REPLY TO US UNTIL ONLY AFTER REPEATED CALLING. THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD REFUSE TO PROVIDE ANY REFUND ON THE BRAKE WORK (WE THOUGHT THE REPAIR EXCESSIVE IN COST). MY CONCERN IS THERE IS A BRAKE FLAW WITH THE SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK THAT IS NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY SUBARU. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHEN STOPPED AT IDLE AT STOPLIGHT, REQUIRING STRONG BRAKE FORCE TO RESTRAIN THE CAR FROM MOVING.*AK

SECOND MASTER CYLINDER WAS PURCHASED FROM SUBARU SERVICE CENTER, BUT FAILED IN LESS THAN A YEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE MECHANIC NOTICED CRANKCASE LEAK. WENT TO DEALER WHO TOLD CONSUMER ALL 3 OF THEIR VEHICLES DO THAT, SEEMED LIKE A DESIGN FLAW. *AK A CRANKCASE SEAL FAILED CAUSING CRANKCASE LEAK. *YH

I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A WATER PUMP LEAKING PROBLEM. SO THEY CHANGED IT ABOUT 5000 MILS LATER I HAVE AN OVER HEATING PROBLEM. NOW THEY TELL ME I MIGHT HAVE A CRACKED HEAD OR A CRACKED HEAD GASKET.BUT THEY CANT TELL EVAN AFTER THE TEST.NOW THEY WANT TO GO IN. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS WOULD BE PULSATING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHCLE WOULD START TO SHAKE. BRAKES WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP LIKE IT SHOULD WHEN BRAKES WERE IN USE. WOULD NEED TO DRIVE SLOWLY (40MPH) INSTEAD OF 60MPH TO STOP VEHICLE FROM SHAKING. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK.*AK

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATED SEATS (LIGHT WHICH ILLUMINATES SWITCH HASN'T WORKED IN MONTHS, AND SEATS APPEAR TO REMAIN ON EVEN WHEN SWITCHED OFF), CONSOLE LIGHTS (CLIMATE CONTROL LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED AT NIGHT) & FUEL GAGE (STOPPED WORKING, HAD TO RESART THE VEHICLE TO GET IT FUNCTIONING AGAIN).

ALTERNATORS ON 1995 & 1996 MODELS WERE RECALLED, 1997 MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY NO RECALL?

REAR SEAT, CENTER SEATBELT LATCHING MECHANISM FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SECURE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE SEATBELT LATCH MECHANISM IS HELD TOGETHER WITH TWO PLASTIC RIVETS. THESE RIVETS PULLED THROUGH THE PLASTIC SEATBELT LATCH HOUSING, AND THE LATCH FELL APART INTO 5 PIECES !!!

THE TIRES SHOWED NO OBVIOUS DEFECTS, THEY WERE BALANCED ABOUT A MONTH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY CAME APART. IT WAS NOT A BLOW OUT OR PUNCTURE. THE INSIDE TIRE TREAD DELAMINATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING. ONCE I PULLED OVER I NOTICED THE SAME WEAR WAS ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ALSO. THE SAME EXACT MODEL TIRES WERE PUT ON BY THE DEALER ON JULY 17TH. ARE THESE SAFE TIRES?*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BOLT ON THE IDLER ARM SNAPPED, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO DROP, AND RESULTING IN A BENT ENGINE VALVE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

LIFTGATE DOES NOT REMAIN IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RECEIVE INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE SCRATCH ON THE GLASS IS ON BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD IT IS FROM THE INNER DOOR METAL RUBBING AGAINST THE GLASS WHEN WINDOWS GO UP AND OR DOWN. THE MARK ON THE GLASS IS ABOUT AND INCH WIDE AND DEEP ENOUGH THAT IT WILL NOT COME OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE LOT. THE CAUSE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER WAS THAT THE CAM BELT SLIPPED OFF BY ONE TOOTH. THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO ABNORMAL WEAR AND CONSIDERING THE LOW 53,000 MILES - THIS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE DONE. CAR WHEN COLD IDLES ROUGH, HEAT SHEILD RATTLES, DASH LIGHTS IN CENTER CONSOLE NOT WORKING, EXTREAM CORROSION UNDER CAR EFFECTING SUSPENSION AND MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT.

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND UPON ATTEMTING TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP ON WET PAVEMENT OR IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER WA SUNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON - CAR DROVE WITHOUT INCIDENT - LIGHT WENT OUT- LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN, AND CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND MAKE KNOCKING SOUNDS. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND WIRING DEFECTIVE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 TO 65MPH VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT END HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN INJURIES. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

THE INFANT CAR SEAT PUT IN THE REAR CENTER SEAT, SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS SNAPPED AND FELL APART, DID NOT SECURE CAR SEAT. YH

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER HIT BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEELS LOCKED UP/VEHICLE SKIDDED. CONTACT DEALER,WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AND SOME WHAT SLIPPERY SURFACE, SUCH AS SNOW, THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ON SLIDING DOWN THE HILL. REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS, FRONT BRAKES ONLY, AND TIRES STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

BATTERY EXPLODED AND DAMAGED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. MJS

REPLACED PADS & ROTORS 3 TIMES; 15000, 22000, 36000 MILES, PATHETIC DESIGN

THIS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HYDROPLANED IN VERY HEAVY RAIN, ENBEKNOWNST TO MY WIFE, UNTIL THE CAR DRIFTED TOWARD THE MEDIAN OF THE DIVIDED 4-LANE. TRACTION WAS REGAINED AND SHE WAS PROPELLED ACROSS AND DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. THANKFULLY, NO CARS WERE COMING -- PLUS, THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GOT HER BACK UP THE EMBANKMENT AND HOME. SHOULDN'T A LIGHT OR SENSOR BE REQUIRED SO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAR OWNERS KNOW WHEN HYDROPLANING OCCURS? HOW ELSE IS THERE TO KNOW?!? THANKS SO MUCH.

NO SUMMARY

BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING VEHICLE. IT HAS TO BE STOPPED BY TAKING THE BRAKES OFF THE ABS SYSTEM.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO INCIDENTS. HOWEVER, ON ONE INCIDENT VEHICLE SURGED AND HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE BACK TAIL LIGHT AND BACK PASSENGER SIDE, CAUSING DAMAGE. *YC

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN SEVERAL MINOR COLLISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NHTSA DATED 4/13/99 INDICATING THAT I HAD BEEN GRANTED APPROVAL FOR AN AIR BAG SWITCH, BUT IT HAD NOT YET BEEN INSTALLED. ACTUALLY, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUCH A LETTER, THEREFORE, THE SWITCH HAS NOT BEE INSTALLED. UPON CONTACTING SUBARU, THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A SWITCH KIT. CLEARLY, THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OWNERS, DEALERS AND THE NHTSA. I HAVE TRIED, IN VAIN, TO CONTACT YOU BY TELEPHONE. HOWEVER, THE ONLY THING I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT IS THE AUTOMATED ATTENDANT, AND WHEN I REQUEST A "HUMAN" TO TALK TO, I GET DISCONNECTED. I'D APPRECIATE A RESPONSE BY A HUMAN. INFORMATION REQUEST, NO SAFETY DEFECT INCLUDED. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH MAY DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN A CRASH. DEALER SAID NEEDS TO REPLACE AIRBAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

THE SEATBELT BUCKLE ON THE CENTER REAR SEATBELT "FELL APART" IN MY HAND AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TIGHTEN THE SEATBELT HOLDING MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S CARSEAT. HER CARSEAT HAD BEEN SECURED IN THE REAR CENTER POSITION BY THAT SEATBELT FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS.

CAR WILL NOT TRAVEL STRAIGHT. IT PULLS SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT . IT IS DANGEROUS.

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE ALL POWER. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. MANUFACTURER DENIES PROBLEM. *AK *ML

CONTROL ARM CREASED AT CENTER DURING TURN AT LOW SPEED. DAMAGE APPEARS SIMILAR TO PLASTIC STRAW PLACED UNDER PRESSURE AT BOTH ENDS UNTIL STRESS CAUSES TO CREASE. TOW OPERATOR, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, STATED HE SAW NO SCRATCH OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF IMPACT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CREASE TO OCCUR, STRONGLY SUGGESTING THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS THE PRODUCT OF LONG TERM STRESS RELATED FAILURE. DEALER, HOWEVER, DISAGREES WITH THIS ANALYSIS, AND STATES IMPACT MUST HAVE OCCURRED TO CAUSE DAMAGE. IN ANY EVENT, SUCH A CONDITION COULD EASILY BE LIFE THREATENING UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE ARM EITHER BE STRENGTHEND OR PROTECTED TO MITIGATE SUCH A POSSIBILITY.

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, STANDARD TRANSMISSION DROPS OUT FIRST GEAR,SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL.

REAR SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO LATCH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE RUNNING VERY ROUGH. VEHICLE STALLS OUT AFTER GOING 20MPH. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALER 9 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE COMES ON & ONLY WARNING GIVEN. *AK

EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE UNDER FULL BRAKING PRESSURE -- CAUSED REAR-END COLLISION

VEHICLE LOT BALANCE CONTROL DURING SWIFT STEERING RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER (FOREARM AND FACIAL).

ENGINE PROBLEM 1. AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE, ENGINE SHOWS SEVERE HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION AT RPM'S BELOW 2500 (FEELS LIKE LATE IGNITION TIMING), WHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER - DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. WHEN RPM'S REACH 2500, THE POWER RETURNS TO NORMAL, AND THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING MUCH FASTER, CREATING A POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING INTO A CAR IN FRONT. THIS BEHAVIOR GRADUALLY DISAPPEARS OVER THE NEXT 1500 MILES AND REAPPEARS AGAIN AFTER THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. SUBARU DEALERS DO NOT ADMIT ANY PROBLEM. ENGINE PROBLEM 2. WHEN CRUISING IN NEUTRAL (STANDARD 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION), THE RPM STAY AROUND 1200 - 1500 IN MOST CASES (~95%). THEY FALL TO NORMAL 800 ONLY AFTER FULL STOP. IN OTHER 5% OF SITUATIONS THEY FALL TO NORMAL AS YOU WOULD EXPECT THEM TO. AGAIN, SUBARU DEALERS DO NOT ADMIT ANY PROBLEM.