NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
114 reportsMileage unknown · Dec 13, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS REGISTERING HOT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK......IT WAS NECESSARY TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE AND REPLACE ALL THE GASKE…
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CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS REGISTERING HOT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK......IT WAS NECESSARY TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE AND REPLACE ALL THE GASKETS/HOSES/RADIATOR/WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT, AS WELL AS THE COOLANT AND OIL. FROM JANUARY 2004 TO SEPTEMBER 2004, SUBARU REPLACED 13 HEAD GASKETS ON OUTBACKS, AND VINTAGES FROM 1996-1998, AND A MILEAGE FROM 60,000 MILES-90,000 MILES. THIS REPRESENTED A SERIOUS MANUFACTING DEFECT, IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH A RECALL NOTICE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10103692
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10099441
37,546 miles · Aug 16, 2004
Electrical SystemSteering
CONSUMER REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL REPAIRS EXPENSES FOR 1998 SUBARU LEGACY.*MR DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT HE VEHICLE'S STEERING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 38,000 M…
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CONSUMER REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL REPAIRS EXPENSES FOR 1998 SUBARU LEGACY.*MR DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT HE VEHICLE'S STEERING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES THE CONSUMER FEELS SUBARU SHOULD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10089113
72,580 miles · Aug 9, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BLOW OUT. *AK UPDATED 02/24/06
NHTSA ODI #10087521
89,000 miles · Aug 4, 2004
Power Train
TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR A WHILE LOWER GEARS IN TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. WHEN VEHICLE COOLED OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE VEHICLE RAN WELL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN THERE WAS…
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TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR A WHILE LOWER GEARS IN TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. WHEN VEHICLE COOLED OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE VEHICLE RAN WELL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AFTER CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN , WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HOT, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. ALREADY, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10087206
70,000 miles · Jul 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
OIL LEAKING FROM OIL PUMP. THE LEAKING OIL COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE HEADER AND BURNS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10079131
105,000 miles · May 13, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANT FREEZE, WHICH WAS SPLASHING ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS RESULTED IN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READING HOT. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND WAS REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10073575
108,000 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE GASKET HEAD/GAS, AND HOLES. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #10061225
149,000 miles · Mar 6, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKETS, AS PART OF THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM. ORIGINAL SERVICE COMPLAINT WAS THE " CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON". AFTER THREE DAYS AT DEALER SERVICE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED REPLACEMENT FOR THE COST OF $ 2,700.00. BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED TO ACCESS THE GASKET…
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VEHICLE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKETS, AS PART OF THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM. ORIGINAL SERVICE COMPLAINT WAS THE " CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON". AFTER THREE DAYS AT DEALER SERVICE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED REPLACEMENT FOR THE COST OF $ 2,700.00. BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED TO ACCESS THE GASKETS. LABOR WILL INVOLVE 3 DAYS. THE DEALER HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU AND MODELS FROM 1999 WILL BE COVERED. I FEEL THE COST IS EXCESSIVE BECAUSE OF A DESIGN DEFECT. I AM WILL TO PAY BUT NOT $ 2,700.00. I WAS EXPECTING $ 400-$500 DOLLARS. FOR A $ 20.00 DOLLAR SEAL! WHILE NOT A SAFETY DEFECT; IT CERTAINLY IS A DESIGN DEFECT! *JB
NHTSA ODI #10060570
108,096 miles · Feb 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10060040
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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