2000 Subaru Legacy

Defect. Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full.

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Airtex will notify owners, and will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Recall is expected to begin on January 2, 2014. Customers may contact Airtex at 1-800-880-3056. The recall is expected to begin during January 2014. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.

Defect. THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.

Risk. IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. 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.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT-SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE ARM WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE LEFT SIDE TIE-ROD END CASTLE NUT AND INSTALL A NEW COTTER PIN.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN L MODEL PASSENGER VEHICLES. ANTI-RUST COATING WAS INCORRECTLY APPLIED TO THE TRANSVERSE LINK MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE BODY. OVER TIME THE COATING SHRINKS, CAUSING A TORQUE DECREASE OF THE BOLT THAT SECURES THE TRANSVERSE LINK BRACKET TO THE VEHICLE BODY.

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN LOOSENING OF THE BRACKET AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE TRANSVERSE LINK FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REMOVE THE ANTI-RUST COATING UNDER THE MOUNTING LOCATION OF THE LEFT TRANSVERVE LINK MOUNTING BRACKET BOLT AND RETORQUE THE MOUNTING BOLT TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A STATE INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SHOWED SEVERE RUST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION) BY PATRIOT SUBARU OF SACO (LOCATED AT 769 PORTLAND RD, SACO, ME 04072, (207) 284-7900). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE TWO SUB SECTIONS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,159. *BF CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALLS THAT WERE PERFORMED WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH UNDERCOATING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. *DL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURE, THE CONTACT DETECTED AN ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING IN COLD WEATHER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A CONTINENTAL EXTREME CONTACT TIRE, SIZE: 205/55R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE SUSTAINED A BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED A BLISTER ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS 155. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,904.

CAR SLID ON BLACK ICE OFF THE ROAD, DOWN A VERY STEEP EMBANKMENT, INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, AND TOTALED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

DRIVING TO WORK CAR RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MIN. THE WINDOW CONTROL SWITCH INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SMOKED AND QUICKLY CAUGHT FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE CARD. I OPENED THE DOOR AND STEPPED OUT. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE PANEL ON THE CAR DOOR ALSO CAUGHT FIRE AND STARTING MELTING. I HAD BEACH TOWEL IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, AND TRIED TO SMOTHER THE FIRE WITH THE TOWEL, BUT QUICKLY DECIDED THE FIRE WAS TOO LARGE, GROWING TOO QUICKLY AND WAS ACTUALLY INSIDE THE DOOR. I GAVE UP ON THE TOWEL, AND IN LAST DITCH EFFORT TO THE SAVE THE CAR I GRABBED, AND TORE OFF THE PLASTIC DOOR PANEL AND THREW IT TO GROUND. SOME OF THE MELTED PLASTIC FROM THE DOOR PANEL DID GET ON MY HANDS, AND I RECEIVED SEVERAL BURNS TO MY FINGERS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. I WAS THEN ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE REMAINING FIRE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR APPEARS TO BE LIMITED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. *TR

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A VERY POWERFUL FUEL SMELL EMITTING FROM THE AREAS OF THE ENGINE. WHEN I POP THE HOOD THE SMELL IS THE STRONGEST. THE SMELL IS OF RAW GASOLINE (NOT EXHAUST OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT) AND PERMEATES INTO THE CABIN AND ALL AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR EMERGES ONLY ON COLD DAYS, SPECIFICALLY TEMPERATURES THAT DROP BELOW 39 F. THE ODOR GROWS MORE POTENT AS THE CAR RUNS AND IF I ACTIVATE THE HEAT BLOWERS YOU AND SMELL IT EVEN MORE. THE ODOR EVEN LAST LONG AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF, EXISTING AROUND THE ENGINE FOR HOURS AFTER SHUT DOWN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 181,000. *TR

REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED AND BROKEN A PART - DEALER DEEMED CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V153000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT PREVENT THE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SUB FRAME DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 72,204.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY GT AWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

I HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE FREEWAY. PURCHASED REPLACEMENT TIRE AND DROVE 313 MILES ON THIS BRAND NEW TIRE AND IT DEVELOPED A BUBBLE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE RADIO STOPPED FUNCTIONING ON ITS OWN AND THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE CHANGING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE GAUGES THEN STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT WAS THEN UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP OR DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 111,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SPORADICALLY AND ONCE IT DID, THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DECELERATE WITHOUT THE CONTACT HANGING THE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

CHRONIC, AND DOCUMENTED, FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS BY SUBARU. CAUSING A LARGE LEAK OF OIL THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND/OR ACCIDENT.

I BOUGHT A USED CAR THIS PAST SUMMER. NOW THAT IT IS COLD WHENEVER WE GET IN THE CAR WHEN IT'S REALLY COLD AND THERE IS A STRONG GAS ODOR IN THE CAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT ALLOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS MODEL VARIOUS YEARS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD THINK THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU L WAGON. WHILE DRIVING THE ATF WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWN-SHIFT. THE COMPUTER, TRANSMISSION COMPUTER, SPARK PLUG, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COIL PACK HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 11/12/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON MOST OF THE TIME. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT WORKS ONLY ON SUBARU'S HAD NOT IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS NEEDED. UPDATED 11/16/09

COOLANT LEAK FROM DRIVERS SIDE HEAD GASKET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN SWERVING ACROSS THE LANES. SHE EXITED THE FREEWAY AND DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE UNIBAR FRAME ABOVE THE FRONT TIRES WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND ONLY THE TRANSMISSION BRACKETS WERE HOLDING THE VEHICLE TOGETHER. THE MECHANIC WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD PAY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DECLARE THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.