1997 Subaru Legacy

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

• NHTSA recall #01V216000June 25, 2001180,000 vehicles affected

  suspension: front: springs: coil springs

  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.

  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.

• NHTSA recall #98V091000May 4, 199829,442 vehicles affected

  suspension: front: springs: leaf spring assembly: hanger,bracket

  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.

  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.

• NHTSA recall #98V035000February 20, 199861,115 vehicles affected

  vehicle speed control

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The throttle shaft ball bearing on the sensor side of the throttle body assembly was not installed in certain throttle bodies.

  Operation of a vehicle with a missing throttle shaft bearing Can eventuallly lead to an incomplete return of the throttle valve resulting in a high idling condition.

  Remedy

  Dealers will inspect the throttle body and replace the throttle assembly if the bearing is missing.

• NHTSA recall #98V042000February 20, 199819,386 vehicles affected

  power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Due to poor welds, ignition keys Can stick, shift levers/linkages Can break and shift levers Can move.

  This condition Can cause unexpected movement of the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash or property damage.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the automatic transmission shift lever assemblies (except the handle grip).

• NHTSA recall #97V210000November 13, 199719,730 vehicles affected

  exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Insufficient clearance within the hazard warning light switch housing Can cause a binding between the actuating button and the housing.

  The switch could stick in an intermediate position when deactivating, resulting in the turn signals becoming inoperable.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install a modified hazard warning switch.

Other model years

• 1990 81
• 1991 78
• 1992 55
• 1993 77
• 1994 60
• 1995 182
• 1996 123
• 1997
• 1998 114
• 1999 94
• 2000 94
• 2001 77
• 2002 54
• 2003 60
• 2004 49
• 2005 184
• 2006 87
• 2007 33
• 2008 65
• 2009 65
• 2010 150
• 2011 167
• 2012 90
• 2013 66
• 2014 53
• 2015 160
• 2016 147
• 2017 119
• 2018 117
• 2019 123
• 2020 121
• 2021 31
• 2022 34