Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports2 fire reports11 injury reports

Power Train complaints

14 reports

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Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1998

Power TrainStructure

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CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVEN WHEN IN ALIGNMENT. RIDE IS VERY ROUGH LIKE SOMETHING IS OUT OF KILTER; THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T OPERATE SMOOTHLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR... LIKE HESITATION, AND ACTS LIKE THERE COULD BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE GAS LINES OR PARTS CONTROLLING THE FUEL TO CAR; CUP HOLDER IS DESIGNED SO THAT EVERYTHING WANTS TO TIP OUT!! IT IS NOT DEEP ENOUGH WHICH COULD BE A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZZARD IF SOMETHING HOT TIPS OUT ONTO PASSENGER. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1993 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON THAT ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT!! AND THE TRANSMISSION (STANDARD) WAS SOOOOO POORLY GEARED IN 1ST AND SND THAT IT ATE TIRES CONTINUALLY, WOULD NOT MOVE ON SNOWY OR INCLINED SURFACES, AND POSED A MAJOR SAFETY HAZZARD IN WET OR SNOWY CONDITIONS,,, THIS WAS A STANDARD, NON-AWD MODEL... AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THIS VEHICLE AT 93,000 MILES AND SUBARU WOUDL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS!!! THAT VEHICLE WAS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AS THIS ONE IS,,, AND NONE OF THE CORRECTIONS THEY (THE DEALERSHIP) HAS MADE HAVE CORRECTED OR HELD SO FAR! AS FOR THE GEARING .. THEY SAY IT IS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST!! AS IS THE PULLING,,, I THINK I HAVE ANOTHER SUBARU LEMON,,, AND I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS OR WORSE THAT I HAD BEFORE!!!

NHTSA ODI #700246

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 1998

Power Train

BOUGHT MY SUBARU LEGACY 2.5 GT LAST MONTH, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE FIRST SERVICING COMPLAINING OF CLUTCH, AND TRANSMISSION DIFFICULTY. WHEN CAR GOES OVER BUMPS, TRANSMISSION TWISTS AND LURCHES. 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THIRD GEAR IS DIFFICULT TO ENTER, REVERSE GRINDS.

NHTSA ODI #540198

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1998

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

SUNROOF DRAINLINES WERE REPAIRED TWICE, DUE TO LEAKAGE, DEALER BELIEVES THAT THE WINDSHIELD INSTALLER CAUSED THEM TO BE DISCONNECTED. CV JOINT LEAKING DUE TO FREEZE PLUG IN THE CV JOINTS, REPLACE BUT LEAKS WORSE. INSTALLED A BATTERY HOLD DOWN, TOP DEFROSTER LINE REPAIRED TWICE, SMELL OF BURNING OIL.

NHTSA ODI #539095

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1998

Power TrainSuspensionWheels

DEFECT WITHIN VEHICLE IS CAUSING THE FRONT OF VEHICLE TO SHAKE, INCLUDING STEERING WHEEL WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT LEAST 58-68 MPH. ALSO PULLS TO RIGHT. DEALER ALSO CHANGED TRANSMISSION BRACKET AND ANGLE OF DRIVESHAFT, AND PUT IN NEW WHEELS AND RIMS. VEHICLE IS STILL SHAKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825026

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.

99V040000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Mar 3, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

98V127000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Jun 8, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.

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).

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.