1996 Subaru LEGACY: complaints, problems and recalls

CAR WAS PARKED, WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND IN GEAR ON A HILL. OWNER HEARD A SHARP METALLIC NOISE AFTER CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 10 MIN. AND SAW CAR BEGIN ROLLING DOWNHILL FROM THE PARKED POSITION, PICKED UP SPEED AND CRASHED. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN THE CRASH WAS OVER IT WAS FOUND WITH E-BRAKE DISENGAGED AND STILL IN GEAR. *TS *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**764464

Owner-reported narrative. 158,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009393 at NHTSA ↗

SUBARU 1996 ENGINE DEFECT IN WHICH EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES PREMATURELY FAIL AROUND 70-90000 MILES, FALLING INTO THE ENGINE AREA AND CAUSING MISFIRING AND OTHER ENGINE DAMAGE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 83 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018781 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD AND STATED THAT IT WAS RECALLED FOR LEGACY MODELS BUT NOT GT LEGACY MODELS. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019330 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER A PROLONGED PERIOD OF SMELLING BURNING OIL, A MECHANIC FOUND DEFECTIVE SEALS ON THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND ELSEWHERE. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE DETAILS ARE ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL TO THOSE DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT ODI ID#855347. IN TWO CASES, THIS HAS RESULTED IN FOULED TIMING BELTS, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN THE LAST CASE -- MARCH '03 AT 90,000 MILES -- THE VALVE COVER GASKETS FAILED AS WELL. PLAINLY THE SEALS, THEIR DESIGN, OR THE GEOMETRY OF THE ENGINE FITTING ITSELF IS DEFECTIVE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021202 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE LURCHES FOWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.**AK

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024987 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 MPH THROUGH THE SNOW VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW. VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, BUT DIDN'T PERFORM LIKE IT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025015 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY L WITH AN INTERMITTENT ENGINE MISS WITH A P0304 (MISS IN CYLINDER 4) CODE. MOST OF THE TIME IT RUNS FINE BUT WHEN IT MISSES, IT IS VERY VIOLENT. IT SEEMS TO RESONATE. CHANGING SPEED USUALLY MAKES IT GO AWAY. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, IT ONLY OCCURRED ONCE A MONTH. OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND AFTER SEVERAL MECHANICS VISITS, IT NOW OCCURS NEARLY EVERY TRIP.I HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS (YES NGK), SPARK PLUG WIRES (SUBARU ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT), GAS FILTER, AIR FILTER, COIL, PCV VALVE, KNOCK SENSOR, CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025205 at NHTSA ↗

1996 SUBARU LEGACY - AUTO TRANS. CAR BINDS ON SLOW TURNS. SUBARU TECH. STATES THAT VEHICLE NEEDS ABOUT $1000 IN REPAIR TO THE AWD SYSTEM, THIS INCLUDES TRANSFER CLUTCHES, HOUSING, ETC. ONLY 44,000 MILES ON VEHICLE! TECH STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT ASSIST IN REPAIRS. I PURCHASD THE VEHICLE TO HAVE AWD AND THIS IS THE SYSTEM THAT IS FAILING! SINCE AWD IS THE BENCHMARK OF SUBARU, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR P…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025556 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-06-25 (June 25, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.

Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. 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.

Reported: 1998-05-04 (May 4, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.

Consequence: SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.

Reported: 1998-12-11 (December 11, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.

Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOW HOOKS.