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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

THE SCRATCH ON THE GLASS IS ON BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD IT IS FROM THE INNER DOOR METAL RUBBING AGAINST THE GLASS WHEN WINDOWS GO UP AND OR DOWN. THE MARK ON THE GLASS IS ABOUT AND INCH WIDE AND DEEP ENOUGH THAT IT WILL NOT COME OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE LOT. TH…

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THE SCRATCH ON THE GLASS IS ON BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD IT IS FROM THE INNER DOOR METAL RUBBING AGAINST THE GLASS WHEN WINDOWS GO UP AND OR DOWN. THE MARK ON THE GLASS IS ABOUT AND INCH WIDE AND DEEP ENOUGH THAT IT WILL NOT COME OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE LOT. THE CAUSE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER WAS THAT THE CAM BELT SLIPPED OFF BY ONE TOOTH. THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO ABNORMAL WEAR AND CONSIDERING THE LOW 53,000 MILES - THIS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE DONE. CAR WHEN COLD IDLES ROUGH, HEAT SHEILD RATTLES, DASH LIGHTS IN CENTER CONSOLE NOT WORKING, EXTREAM CORROSION UNDER CAR EFFECTING SUSPENSION AND MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT.

NHTSA ODI #718161

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2000
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON - CAR DROVE WITHOUT INCIDENT - LIGHT WENT OUT- LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN, AND CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND MAKE KNOCKING SOUNDS. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND WIRING DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716964

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #711692

Mileage unknown · May 27, 1999
Unknown Or Other

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NHTSA DATED 4/13/99 INDICATING THAT I HAD BEEN GRANTED APPROVAL FOR AN AIR BAG SWITCH, BUT IT HAD NOT YET BEEN INSTALLED. ACTUALLY, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUCH A LETTER, THEREFORE, THE SWITCH HAS NOT BEE INSTALLED. UPON CONTACTING SUBARU, THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A SWITCH KIT. CLEARLY, THERE IS A LACK …

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I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NHTSA DATED 4/13/99 INDICATING THAT I HAD BEEN GRANTED APPROVAL FOR AN AIR BAG SWITCH, BUT IT HAD NOT YET BEEN INSTALLED. ACTUALLY, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUCH A LETTER, THEREFORE, THE SWITCH HAS NOT BEE INSTALLED. UPON CONTACTING SUBARU, THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A SWITCH KIT. CLEARLY, THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OWNERS, DEALERS AND THE NHTSA. I HAVE TRIED, IN VAIN, TO CONTACT YOU BY TELEPHONE. HOWEVER, THE ONLY THING I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT IS THE AUTOMATED ATTENDANT, AND WHEN I REQUEST A "HUMAN" TO TALK TO, I GET DISCONNECTED. I'D APPRECIATE A RESPONSE BY A HUMAN. INFORMATION REQUEST, NO SAFETY DEFECT INCLUDED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #706922

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE RUNNING VERY ROUGH. VEHICLE STALLS OUT AFTER GOING 20MPH. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALER 9 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE COMES ON & ONLY WARNING GIVEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832423

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.