1999 Subaru LEGACY: complaints, problems and recalls

THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO. THE DEALER SAYS THE SPEEDOMETER WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $330+ (PARTS AND LABOR). THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. SEVERAL OTHER CONSUMERS SUBMITTED IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 58,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014132 at NHTSA ↗

MY HUSBAND AND I JUST RETURNED FROM A CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTION. WE HAVE A 1999 SUBARU LEGACY. WE HAD MANY PROBLEMS TRYING TO FIT OUR CENTURY 1000 STE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT INTO THE BACK SEAT, AND DECIDED TO TRY THE "PROFESSIONALS." THE ONLY WAY OUR CERTIFIED CAR SEAT INSPECTORS COULD ENSURE A TIGHT FITTING POSITION FOR THE CAR SEAT WAS ON THE SIDE (NOT CENTER, AS RECOMMENDED) AND WITH THE SEAT BELT TWISTED 6 (YES, I SAID 6) TIMES! OF COURSE, THE OWNER'S MANUAL OF THE CAR SAYS DO NOT TWIST THE SEAT BELT. THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL ON HAND FO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014306 at NHTSA ↗

VIBRATION, FROM INITIAL ACCELERATION TO HIGH SPEED DRIVING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022985 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING IN 5TH GEAR, TRANSMISSION WILL "DROP" OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. *AK THE 5TH GEAR WAS REPAIRED ON THE AND THERE WAS A PACKING NUT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PEENED ON THE GEAR SHAFT TO KEEP IT FROM BACKING OFF. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROPERLY PEEN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW 5TH SLIDER NUT, RETIGHTENED, AND PEENED CORRECTLY. ALSO IN CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE VEHICLE DROPPED OUT OF THE 5TH GEAR, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RACE. (OUTBACK) *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024108 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1999 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON WITH 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES AND 15 INCH WHEELS. EVERY TIME THE FRONT DISK PADS ARE REPLACED, THE MECHANIC GETS THE PADS FOR 15 INCH WHEELS THE ARE INSTALLED AND THE CAR WILL NOT STOP. WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED IS THAT THE FRONT TAKE THE DISK PADS FOR 14 INCH WHEELS AND THE REAR TAKE THE DISK PADS FOR 15 INCH WHEELS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026024 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S CLUTCH.*MR CLUTCH WAS REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS DUE TO FAULTY VEHICLE. *CB

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033921 at NHTSA ↗

COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER THAT CAR HAD NO POWER, POOR GAS MILEAGE, HESITATION UPON STARTING OUT, MOTOR FELL APART AT 66,000 MILES ON INTERSTATE. CAR, ALTHOUGH A NEW MOTOR, CONTINUES TO HAVE NO POWER, POOR GAS MILEAGE, HESITATION UPON STARTING OUT. WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP THE MOTOR FROM BLOWING UP AGAIN, AND MAYBE WE BE KILLED. O2 AND PT SENSORS CONTINUES TO BLOW. SUNROOF WILL NOT OPEN;ADVISED A NEW ONE WOULD BE $975. SUNROOF COMPLAINT AT 13,680 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039507 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH LEFT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. SIZE#19060R15 YEAR 1999 PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047979 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: 1998-06-08 (June 8, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.

Consequence: THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.

Reported: 1999-03-03 (March 3, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.