NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
114 reportsMileage unknown · Jan 13, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP, AT LOW ENGINE RPM AND LOW THROTTLE OPENING, THE CAR HESITATES. IF YOU GIVE IT MORE THROTTLE, IT GIVES A SUDDEN BUT UNPREDICTABLE BURST OF ACCELERATION. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IF SOMEONE HAPPENS TO BE HEADED TOWARD YOU. IT IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL STA…
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WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP, AT LOW ENGINE RPM AND LOW THROTTLE OPENING, THE CAR HESITATES. IF YOU GIVE IT MORE THROTTLE, IT GIVES A SUDDEN BUT UNPREDICTABLE BURST OF ACCELERATION. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IF SOMEONE HAPPENS TO BE HEADED TOWARD YOU. IT IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL START TO ACCERLERATE NORMALLY. IT IS A JERKY TYPE OF ACTION THAT DOES NOT COINCIDE WITH THE SMOOTH APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
NHTSA ODI #702198
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 1999
Seats
VEHICLE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED WHEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #543352
Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING AT 70MPH. IT WAS A FRONTAL AND SIDE COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #829916
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1998
Power TrainStructure
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 DESIG…
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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 · Oct 26, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN APPLIED.DEALER HAS REPLACED LININGS ,FRONT CALIPER,MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER.PROBLEM STILL OCCURED.LUCKY ALL OCCURANCES WERE AT SPEEDS BELOW 25 MPH AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. SPEEDOMETER FAILED INTERNALY AND ODOMETER STARTED TO OPERATE BACKWARD. ACTUAL MILAGE ON CAR IS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #700093
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE WARMING THE VEHICLE UP THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD COMPARTMENT, AND WHENEVER STOPPING IN TRAFFIC THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG. THE SMELL IS LIKE GASOLINE, CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOURCE OF THE PROMBLEM IS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #828824
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 · Aug 19, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control
WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE CATCHING OR MOVING. TOOK TO DEALER & PROBLEM WAS CONFIRMED. MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #826982
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 21, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
OIL LEAK FROM OIL FILTER SEAM, CAUSING FIRE. (QCAW)
NHTSA ODI #538015
Official recalls
4Jun 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.
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.
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.
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 ↗
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