1996 Subaru Legacy

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INSPECTED AND ADVISED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED DUE TO THE VEHICLE BECOMING OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 255,000.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 96 SUBARU LEGACY THE OTHER DAY TO THE STORE WHEN SHE WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT HER CAR WAS ON FIRE. LUCKILY THEY HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT. BEECHMONT SUBARU SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY EVER SAW A REAR DIFFERENTIAL CATCH ON FIRE. I WANTED TO MAKE SUBARU AWARE AND MAYBE GET SOME HELP ON THIS REPAIR. MAKING SURE IT DONE CORRECTLY. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING PHONE CALL FROM MY DAUGHTER. THIS WEB SITE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO ENTER THE VIN. [XXX]. I WILL EDIT THE VIN TILL THE SITE ACCEPTS MY COMPLAINT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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 PRODUCT. PLEASE ADVISE.*AK

WHEN THE REAR CLUTCH PACK FAILS THE REAR OF CAR BINDS AND ON SLIPPERY ROADS THE CAR'S BACK END WILL LOCK UP UPON LETTING OFF THE GAS. THE REAR END SWINGS AROUND AND CAUSES THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS DONE AT 35000 MILES THE SAME PIECE HAS FAILED AGAIN AT 67000 MILES. EACH TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO BIND AT VIRTUALLY THE SAME MILEAGE. SUBARU REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE. SUBARU CLAIMS TIRE ROTATION CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE WORK PERFORMED BY SUBARU PER THEIR SERVICE GUIDELINES.

AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE BINDING IN SLOW SPEED TURNS. AT TIMES, THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHILE TURNING. THE PROBLEM, AS DESCRIBED BY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, IS THAT A BEARING OR SEAL WEARS A GROOVE IN THE ALUMINUM EXTENSION HOUSING. THIS GROOVE CAUSES A PRESSURE IMBALANCE WITHIN THE TRANSFER CLUTCH AND, AS A RESULT, CAUSES THE BINDING PROBLEM. THE RESOLUTION IS ADDRESSED IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (I CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A COPY OF THE BULLETIN AT MY CURRENT LOCATION) AND BASICALLY SAYS TO CHECK THE DUTY C SOLENOID, TRANSFER CLUTCH AND REPLACE THE ALUMINUM EXTENSION HOUSING WITH A STEEL REINFORCED REPLACEMENT PART. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA ON 10/2/01 AND RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING REPLY ON 10/8/01: THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT E-MAIL TO SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO CONTACT US. WE ARE SORRY TO LEARN OF THE DIFFICULTIES YOU ARE EXPERIENCING WITH YOUR 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK. OUR RECORDS DO NOT INDICATE THAT THERE ARE ANY SERVICE PROGRAMS OR RECALLS REGARDING THIS CONCERN. SERVICE BULLETINS ARE PROVIDED TO DEALERS IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THE OPERATION OF A CERTAIN COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE OR TO PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK AS TO TESTS OR REPAIRS TO PERFORM ON A VEHICLE IF IT COMES IN WITH A CERTAIN CONCERN. THEY ARE SOLELY FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND THEY ARE NOT AN INDICATION OF AN UPCOMING RECALL OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, OR SHOULD YOU NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US AT SUBARU CUSTOMER/DEALER SERVICES AT 1-800-SUBARU3 (800-782-2783) AND REFER TO CASE NUMBER XXXXXX. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OF SERVICE.*AK