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1997 Subaru Legacy

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Subaru Legacy do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 23 of 139 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

10 reports
Clear category filter
80,000 miles · Aug 15, 2008
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH MEANS THAT SHE COULD EXPERIENCE SPORADIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT OR IMPROPER DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH MEANS THAT SHE COULD EXPERIENCE SPORADIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT OR IMPROPER DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10238404

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2003
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID A CRASH WHILE TRAVELING 68-70 MPH. IN THE PROCESS, THE CONSUMER RAN THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, RUNNING HEAD ON INTO A TREE. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10049965

49,882 miles · Jan 14, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY 1997 SUBARU LEGACY WAS TOTALLED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT 30-35 MPH, MY 97 LEGACY'S ENGINE WAS DESTROYED IN THIS COLLISION, AND I WAS CRUNCHED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED INTERNAL INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. BOTH AI…

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MY 1997 SUBARU LEGACY WAS TOTALLED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT 30-35 MPH, MY 97 LEGACY'S ENGINE WAS DESTROYED IN THIS COLLISION, AND I WAS CRUNCHED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED INTERNAL INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. BOTH AIRBAGS IN MY 97 LEGACY FAILED. THE LEGACY WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10002691

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2002
Air Bags

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ON. AFTER 2 YEARS, DEALER FOUND PASSENGER AIR BAG NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #786014

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 60 TO 65MPH VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT END HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN INJURIES. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852980

Mileage unknown · May 19, 1999
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH MAY DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN A CRASH. DEALER SAID NEEDS TO REPLACE AIRBAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #838163

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1998
Air BagsSuspensionCrashInjury

VEHICLE LOT BALANCE CONTROL DURING SWIFT STEERING RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER (FOREARM AND FACIAL).

NHTSA ODI #542567

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 50 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR FACIAL INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819943

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1997
Air BagsCrash

DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT/REAR END COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES/ 5 CAR COLLISION. SPEED 50 TO 60 MPH., VEHICLE TOTALED, VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816577

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1997
Air BagsCrash

UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH AT APPROX. 30MPH, 10:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT, DID NOT INFLATE, DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810402

Official recalls

5

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.

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.

98V035000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Feb 20, 1998

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

98V042000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Feb 20, 1998

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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).

97V210000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

Nov 13, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE WITHIN THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH HOUSING CAN CAUSE A BINDING BETWEEN THE ACTUATING BUTTON AND THE HOUSING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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

1

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.