1999 Subaru Legacy complaints

CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES.

THERE IS HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING - TSB#115398 - TSB#115899. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE 5, THE TRAFFIC SLOWED DUE TO AN ACCIDENT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FWY., UPON NOTICING THE TRAFFIC SLOWING I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR THE TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES APPLYING THEM ALL THE WAY. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP THE CAR IN ORDER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. UNFORTUNATELY THE CARS BRAKES DIDN'T STOP THE CAR, AND THE CAR STOPPED WHEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY EITHER. I HAD THE SAME TYPE OF ACCIDENT IN MARCH OF 2000. I JUST FELT MAYBE IT WAS MY FAULT AND DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT MUCH. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT THIS TIME EITHER, AND I FELT IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS GOING SLOW, AND THE IMPACT WASN'T ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM COME OUT. UPON HAVING MY BRAKES CHECKED THIS PAST SUMMER THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE ACTUAL PADS ON THE BRAKES WERE SMALLER THAN THE PADS THAT CAME UP WHEN LOOKED UP IN THE PARTS BOOK. THE PADS ON MY CAR WERE FOR A 13 INCH TIRE AND MY CAR HAS 15 INCH TIRES. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T STOP MY CAR VERY ACCURATELY. UPON LEARNING THIS I CHECKED FOR A RECALL AND FOUND OUT THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER ON MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL. AT THIS TIME I WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY LOOKED THE RECALL UP AND GAVE ME A PRINT OUT THAT STATED THE RECALL WAS INDEED COMPLETED. THE PROBLEM IS THE CAR DOESN'T STOP PROPERLY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH TWO CHILDREN, AND I "TAXI" THEM TO NUMEROUS ACTIVITIES. MY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY

WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 60 MPH ON A WARM DRY DAY CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE AND BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, VEHICLE NOT STOPPING. CONSUMER HAD NO WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.*AK

PARK LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED WHEN VEHICLE IS SHUTS OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN DRIVING PRESSED ON BRAKES AND VERY ABRUPTLY ENGINE DOWNSHIFTED. ALSO, WHEN STOPPING ABRUPTLY CONSUMER LURCHED FORWARD IN SEAT. CONTACT DEALER DEALER STATED IT WAS COMMON IN 1999 VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

VEHICLE LEAKS OIL, AND THE OIL FLAWS ALL OVER ENGINE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE SON WAS DRIVING TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY BRAKES SO AS TO NEGOTIATE A 90 DEGREE TURN, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND FAILED TO ENGAGE BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT INTO A CONCRETE WALL . DRIVER AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *STATE FARM INSURANCE WAS INVESTIGATING THIS CASE. *AK

CAR IS ONE YEAR OLD, 22,000 MILES AND THE SECOND FRONT BRIDGESTONE TIRE FAILED. ONE HAD A LARGE SIDE BUBBLE, ONE BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH.*AK (DOT NUMBER: OBT 2 PFB TIRESIZE: P205/55P16)

I WAS ON AN ENTRY RAMP TO INTERSTATE 95 AND FOUND MYSELF A BIT OUT OF LINE IN THE ROAD AFTER I HAD TURNED TO CHECK ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO CORRECT, AND LOST STEERING CONTROL. CAR WENT INTO FISHTAIL FROM WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER, AND EVENTUALLY SPUN OUT INTO ONCOMING INTERSTATE TRAFFIC, WHERE I WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR-TRAILER. ROADWAY WAS DAMP, WEATHER MISTY, TEMP MID-FORTIES, AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS SAND ON RAMP LEFT OVER FROM PREVIOUS SNOW/ICE TREATMENT. I MUST SAY OCCUPANT PROTECTION WORKED WELL. I HAVE CRACKED STERNUM (PROBABLY FROM AIRBAG; I AM A VERY SHORT DRIVER AND SIT WAY FORWARD) AND A KNOT ON MY FOREHEAD, 2 BLAKC EYES AND LOTS OF BRUISES, BUT WAS IN GOOD ENOUGH SHAPE TO BE TREATED AND RELEASED FROM ER. I DON'T KNOW IF STEERING OR SUSPENSION FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT WANTED YOU TO HAVE THE DATA POINT IN CASE YOU CAN DISCOVER A PATTERN.

TIRE #1 IMPLODED, NEXT TIRE COLLAPSED, TIRE 3 NO LEAKS BUT AIR GOES( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/55/R16 )

NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY. *MJS

FRONT BUMPER SKIRT CATCHES ON PARKING SPACE BLOCKS AT THE HEAD OF PARKING SPACES. THIS HAS PULLED THE BUMPER OFF AND TWISTED IT. I WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY AWARE OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS OR FOREWARNED ABOUT IT BY THE SALESMAN OR MANUFACTURER. I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAD I KNOWN. PARKING THE CAR SAFELY IN MY PARKING LOT (OR ANY LOT) IS MADE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BY THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMEN OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS. THERE WAS A VERY GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATON.*AK

NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH. FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN. *AK

BRAKES WERE NOT OPERABLE. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC PUT IN A NEW MASTER CYLINDER, AND THE CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK *ML

THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH CAUSES IT TO ABRUPTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SHIFT DOWN WHILE DESCENDING A LONG GRADE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN TWO INSTANCES OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN ICY/SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION, IT WILL MATERIALLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION. FURTHERMORE, IT HAS SCARED PASSENGERS ON NUMEROUS OCCAIONS DUE TO THE JERKING OF THE CAR WHICH RESULTS FROM THIS DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHICH SENT ME TO THE DEALER. NO RELIEF. I ASKED FOR THE ZONE REPRESENTATIVE TO CALL ME AND IT HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INDICATED ON THE PHONE THAT THIS IS 'NORMAL BEHAVIOR' . I AM TOLD THAT THIS DESIGN DEFECT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM YEAR 2000 LEGACY OUTBACKS. IF TRUE, THAT WOULD BE TACIT ADMISSION THAT THE DESIGN WAS FLAWED AS IT WAS NOT IMPLENTED IN ANY YEAR BUT 1999. I HAVE ASKED THE MANUFACTURER TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSIONCONTROLUNIT WHICH ELIMINATES THIS DESIGN FLAW, SINCE IT WOULD BE A RELATIVELY SIMPLE SOFTWARE MODIFICATION. THEY HAVE INDICATED THEIR RELUCTANCE TO DO SO. WHILE THE ASPECT OF THE JERKINESS OF THE CAR AND THE SHORTENED LIFESPAN OF THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE CHALKED UP TO 'TOUGH KAKA', THE LOSS OF CONTROL (ALBIET OF A VERY TEMPORARY NATURE SO FAR) RESULTING FROM AN ABRUPT GEAR CHANGE DOWN IN ICY CONDITIONS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT A SHIFT WOULD BE OF NO CONCERN, TO WHICH I SUGGESTED THEY ASK MIKI HAAKINNEN, A RACE DRIVER WHO LOST A RACE DUE TO

CONSUMER TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP SKIDDING INTO A DITCH, DUE TO DESIGN OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION, POOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TURNS WHICH ALLOWED FOR LOSS OF CONTROL. *MJS

WHEN LETTING OFF OR STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO JERK DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN FRONT AXLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AND VEHICLE ON SNOW PACKED HIGHWAYS CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND SWERVE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. YH

VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED STEERING AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS CAUSING DIFFICULTY HANDLING. MJS

CONSUMER SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE WHILE APPLYING FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, LURCHING FORWARD ABOUT 3 FEET WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. *AK

I WAS TEST DRIVING THE CAR. I MADE A LEFT TURN ON A GRAVEL ROAD. I EXPECTED THE FRONT WHEELS TO PULL ME THROUGH THE TURN, BUT THE REAR WHEELS PUSHED ME AT A 300 ANGLE INTO A GUARDRAIL OFF THE ROAD. THE FRONT WHEELS SLID SIDEWAYS. ONCE THIS HAPPENED IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP. THE DEALER ACCUSED ME OF NEGLIGENCE, THOUGH THE SALESMAN INSTRUCTED ME TO DRIVE ON THIS ROAD. I AM NOW INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE.

WINDSHIELD EXPERIENCES A PROBLEM WITH A UNKNOWN COASTING, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DEFOGGER ISUSED, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFT AND ACCELERATES AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER / WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE'S CAUSING FAILURE. *YC

THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM. THERE IS A NOISE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED THE ABS SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CAR HAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT SINCE PURCHASE. PURCHASED VEHICLE LATE SEPT., 1998. AC DID NOT WORK VERY WELL, BUT WEATHER WAS COOL AND IT WAS NOT A PRESSING ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING SPRING/SUMMER, TOOK IN FOR REPAIRS TO DEALER IN EVANSVILLE. AC STILL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ACCIDENT 5/19/99 WHERE I REAR-ENDED A VAN AT APPROX. 20 MPH., AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AC STILL ONLY WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ON 9/17/99, AFTER DRIVING THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES AT 65 MPH, I NOTICED THE TEMP GAUGE WAS ABOVE THE "H" AND PULLED OVER. THE CAR DIED AND NEVER RESTARTED. OVERHEATED TO THE EXTENT THAT AFTER ENGINE DIED, SMOKE BILLOWED OUT THE EXHAUST/TAIL PIPE AND OVER 3 HOURS AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF, RADIATOR FLUID STILL BOILED OVER WHEN ADDED. DEALER UNABLE TO PROVIDE EXPLANATION FOR OVERHEATING OR AC PROBLEMS. SUBARU REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE HAS REFUSED TO RETURN MY CALLS FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REPAIRS.

THE SPEED AND DAMAGE COSTS ARE GUESSES ONLY. THE PROBLEM WAS THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT A DECENT RATE OF SPEED. AFTER THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR SEES THE CAR I'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE A MORE DETAILED REPORT. PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

REPEATED COLD ENGINE HESITATION; HAZARDOUS WHEN TURNING ONTO BUSY STREET.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH DRIVE STOPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT HITTING A CAR THAT WAS TURNING LEFT. WHILE GOING AROUND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, WENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE AND THROUGH GRAVEL, WHEEL FELL OFF DUE TO NUTS: BOLTS SHEARING OFF,AND VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER .*AK

TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, JUST AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHCILE REQUIRED MORE STOPPING DISTANCE. DRIVER USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO START VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE CHECKED BY A DEALER. *AK

WHEN I'M GOING DOWN A DECLINE AT AROUND 40MPH AND THE TRANSM. IS IN 4TH GEAR AND I AM COASTING AND BEGIN TO APPLY THE BRAKE THE CARE WILL SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AND REV THE ENGINE TO AROUND 3500-4000 RPM. I FEEL THIS SUDDEN UNEXPECTED TRANSMISSION SHIFT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF TRACTION ON SLIPPERY ROADS WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF MY BUYING AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON - IT THEREFORE GIVES WARNING FOR WHICH NO DETECTABLE CAUSE CAN BE FOUND. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE CAUSE OF A DEFECT WHICH PREVENTS ITS ENGINE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FROM FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND IS UNWILLING TO COMMIT TO FIXING IT

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN ACCIDENT NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION. NLM

WHILE SLOWING VEHICLE ON HILLS, THERE IS A JERKING MOTION WHICH CAN NOT BE RECTIFIED, IT IS ENGAGING INTO GEAR. MJS

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN A PANIC STOP, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE ABS SYSTEM PRIOR. WHEN ABS FAILS THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO FAILS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY AND COLD CONDITIONS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AT LOW SPEED, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR AND HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY. THIS RESULTED IN A CRASH. THERE IS RECALL #99V040000, DEALING WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. RECALL 99V040, BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION*AK

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED #2 PISTON; CROSS MEMBER WAS MIS-MANUFACTURED-CAMBER COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED TO SPEC.

WE HAVE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AND TESTED TWICE. SUBARU SAYS THEY FIND NO DEFECT WITH THE BRAKES. WE HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SUPPORT. THEY PROMISED THAT OUR AREA'S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CONTACT US, BUT HAS NOT DONE SO. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE FAILURES WITH US. THEY ARE WILLING TO REPORT THE EXPERIENCE. *AK

I WAS ALMOST AT A DEAD STOP WHEN THE CAR JUST SURGED FOWARD ONCE AND BEFORE I COULD PUT THE BRAKE ON, IT SURGED FOWARD AGAIN AND SENT ME THROUGH A PLATE GLASS WINDOW AT DUNCUN DONUTS WE HIT A POLE BETWEEN THE TWO WINDOWS VERY HARD AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

ON 3/12/99 @ 0330 SAID VEHICLE WAS EASTBOUND ON I-70 AND 3RD IN TOPEKA, KANSAS. THE VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AND SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL IMPACTING THE K-RAIL DIVIDER WALL ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT @ 55 MPH. THE INERTIA GENERATED BY THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT THEN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLINGSHOT BACK ACROSS THE INTERSTATE AND IMPACT W/ THE OVERPASS WALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT @ 45 MPH. THE SRS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD SEVERAL TIMES AT THE DEALEARSHIP THAT BOTH OF THE AIRBAG SENSORS IN THE FRONT BUMPER MUST BE TRIGGERED AT THE SAME TIME IN ORDER TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. BOTH SENSORS WERE TRIGGERED, JUST NOT AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. I FEEL THAT THE SENSORS SHOULD OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER AND EACH SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRIGGER THE AIRBAGS. MY WIFE AND I FEEL THAT THIS CONSTITUTES A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING KILLED IN A CRASH AND THE AIRBAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS AT FIGGS IMPORTS, INC. IN TOPEKA, KANSAS. THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS 785-267-2390. WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE A QUICK RESPONSE TO THIS REPORT. THANK YOU.

THE DESIGN OF THE REAR, CENTER SEATBELT CONFLICTS WITH THE PROPER INSTALLATION OF MANY CARSEAT DESIGNS. TO DATE, WE HAVE TRIED CENTURY ENCORE, CENTURY HORIZON, CENTURY SMARTMOVE, EVENFLO ON MY WAY (WITHOUT BASE). WITH ALL OF THESE CARSEATS, IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO SECURE THE CARSEAT TIGHT ENOUGH TO PREVENT MOVEMENT. THE USE OF A LOCKING CLIP DID NOT HELP. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BOTH BEEN CONTACTED. PER THE DEALER, THE SUGGESTION WAS TO READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL. WHEN INFORMED THAT HAS BEEN DONE, THE DEALER RESPONDED THAT THE CAR SEAT SHOULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE CENTER. WHEN I THEN READ TO THE DEALER FROM THE OWNER'S MANUAL THE PROPER INSTALLATION IN THE CENTER SEAT, DEALER RESPONDED WITH 'IT'S NEW TO ME.' THE MANUFACTURER TOOK VAGUE INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPLAINT. I HAD TO VOLUNTEER MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION SUCH AS THE VIN. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. QUESTION, HOW CAN THE MANUFACTURER OF A STATION WAGON WHICH TOUTS SAFETY, DESIGN A BELT WHICH IS NOT SAFE?

SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT OFF AND CAN NOT BE RECTIFIED CAUSING VEHICLE HANDLING PROBLEMS, PULLING.

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS A CRACK ON ONE SIDE, AND CLIP IS BROKEN ON CLIP HOUSING ,WIRE TIE IS HOLDING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TOGETHER. THIS DEFECT IS CAUSING BRAKE LIGHT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE,AND SHIFT TO LOCK UP. *AK