Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports4 fire reports14 injury reports

Suspension complaints

8 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2005

Electrical SystemExterior LightingSuspension

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT REGARDING THE REPAIR OF THE 1996 SUBARU LEGACY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING.*MR DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING ON THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. WHEN THE ORIGINAL SPRING FAILED THE FIRST TIME, IT CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE TIRE AND THE …

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NHTSA ODI #10130211

144,000 miles · Jun 17, 2005

Suspension

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TODAY, 06/17/05, DURING A ROUTINE NYS SAFETY INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT OF MY 1996 SUBARU LEGACY FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. IN 1999 THE ORIGINAL SPRING SNAPPED CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE TIRE AND THE SPARE. AT THAT TIME THE SPRING WAS REPALCED.I CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THIS UNUSUAL FAILURE BUT THEY DID NOTHING. IN 2001 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM SUBARU BECAUSE OF SPRING FAILURES. AS INSTRUCTED, I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE WAS FITTED WITH SAFETY DEVICES TO PREVENT ANOTHER FAILURE. I ASSUMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AND THE CAR WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE. EVENTUALLY I WAS REIMBURSED FOR MY REPAIR EXPENSES. TODAY I CONTACTED SUBARU CONSUMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEN I LEARNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT SUBARU HAD MET ITS RECALL OBLIGATIONS AND WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE FRONT END REPLACEMENT SPRING. SUBARU HAS NOT SOLVED MY PROBLEM AND I WILL BE REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR A SECOND TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10125650

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2003

Suspension

CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO FOR RECALL 01V216000 REPAIRS REGARDING FRONT COIL SPRINGS. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 7/11/2003, AND THE DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FURTHER ASSIST THEM. *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10027091

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2001

Suspension

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V216 AND HAD RECALL WORK DONE AND IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #563735

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2001

Suspension

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN REAR END FALL DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #882436

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000

Suspension

CAR FISHTAILED OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857999

Mileage unknown · May 2, 1997

Suspension

VEHICLE FISHTAILED/LOSS CONTROL IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #516899

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1996

Suspension

VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 67 MPH.

NHTSA ODI #508479

Official recalls

01V216000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Jun 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 & remedy

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.

98V315000 · Air Bags

Dec 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 & remedy

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOW HOOKS.

98V091000 · Suspension:front:springs:leaf Spring Assembly:hanger,bracket

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE99067 · Electrical System

Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed May 31, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ODI HAS RECEIVED 5,820 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING.OUR COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMPAINTS ARE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART.BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPOMSE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THE OWNER NORTIFICATION PROGRAM CITED ABOVE, INCLUDING QUARTERLY NOTIFICATIONS TO ODI.THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OWNERS TO GET THEIR ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR FREE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS MATTER CLOSELY, AND THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE MODELS IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

EA97010 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment

Opened Apr 30, 1997 · Closed Dec 23, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

IN ITS LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 1998, SUBARU STATED THAT THE VEHICLES IDENTIFIED ABOVE WILL BE RECALLED.SUBARU DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOWING/TIE-DOWN HOOKS.REFER TO NHTSA RECALL NO. 98V-315 FOR DETAILS.

PE96075 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment

Opened Dec 18, 1996 · Closed Apr 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

ODI HAS REVIEWED 33 COMPLAINTS OF OVERSENSITIVE' AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT (I.E., ANY NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT) RECEIVED BY ODI AND SUBARU INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 1995 SUBARU IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES AND ALL OTHER IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAG SYSTEMS IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE 1995 IMPREZA & LEGACY; THEY ARE LATE 1994-1996 IMPREZA AND ALL1995 & 1996 LEGACY (33 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 165,385 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT CERTAIN IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES - - LATE 1994 & EARLY 1995 IMPREZA AND ALL 1995 & EARLY 1996 LEGACY (29 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 95,678 VEHICLES) -- HAVE MUCH HIGHER COMPLAINT RATE THAN THE REMAINING VEHICLES WHICH ARE DIFFERENT IN VEHICLE STRUCTURE OR EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT AIR BAG SENSING SYSTEM.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS (26 OF THE 29) INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE'S DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM AN UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACT WITH A CURB, BUMP, DIP, POTHOLE, ETC.IN THE REMAINING 3 COMPLAINTS, THE DRIVER ALLEGED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY OR WITHOUT ANY IMPACT.IN 13 OF THE 29 CASES, ONLY THE VEHICLE'S FRONT TOW HOOKS REPORTEDLY WERE FOUND DAMAGED OR SHOWED EVIDENCE OF IMPACT, AND IN 6 OTHER CASES BOTH TOW HOOKS AND OTHER UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS WERE REPORTEDLY DAMAGED OR IMPACTED; NO DETAILS WERE GIVEN IN THE 10 REMAINING CASES.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO EA97-010