1999 Subaru Legacy

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST; THE CODE WAS P133 FLOW AIR METER. THERE IS NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # WWG90, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM AIR FLOW METER SENSOR. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

DT: CONSUMER HAS A 1999 SUBARU LEGACY AND COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT INTO DRIVE IT IDLED AND THEN WENT INTO DRIVE. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A MODE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REV THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD KICK IN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAL AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS TOO SOON TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 61,000. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS AGO. *AK

RECENTLY ACQUIRED A 1999 SUBURU LEGACY BRIGHTON IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. WAS INFORMED BY SELLER THAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL WAS NEVER PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I NEED TO KNOW THE PROPER METHOD FOR SECURING MY CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THIS CAR. IN ORDER TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF FILE (JUST THE PART ABOUT THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTRUCTIONS - NOT THE WHOLE MANUAL) FROM THE SUBARU WEBSITE, I AM REQUIRED TO BUY A "SUBSCRIPTION" TO THEIR WEBSITE. WHILE IT IS FAIR FOR MANUFACTURERS TO RECOUP THE COST OF ARCHIVING AND KEEPING AVAILABLE OWNERS MANUALS FOR OLDER CARS, INFORMATION SUCH AS PROPER SECURING OF CHILD SEATS IS INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE. GREED HAS TO BE CHECKED SOMEWHERE. *JB

DOWNSHIFTING ON INCLINES: PURCHASED A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK LEGACY WAGON NEW ON NOV. 11/11/98, AT FUCILLO IMPORTS, WATERTOWN, NY. THE DOWNSHIFTING PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN GOING DOWN LARGE HILLS AROUND 60 MPH, GENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, LETTING OFF THE BRAKES, AND THE DOWNSHIFT JERKS YOU FORWARD. WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE WAS BRAND NEW, THE ABRUPT JERK WOULD PUT MY HEAD INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE SALESPERSON TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE WAY I DROVE THE CAR. ODOMETER FAILURE DURING AUGUST, 2002, THE VEHICLE STARTED INTERMITTENT ODOMETER FAILURES. THE ODOMETER WOULD DROP FROM ?? TO 0 FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN GRADUALLY RESUME. AFTER 6 MO. THE DEALERSHIP DID REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND I HAD TO HAVE THE ODOMETER REPLACED FOR APPROXIMATELY $200. TRANSMISSION HESITATION AND ABRUPT ENGAGEMENT IN AUGUST 2002 (ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE INTERMITTENT ODOMETER FAILURE, AND THE CRANK SEAL LEAK / REPLACEMENT) THE CAR DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH A HESITATION WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE. ON A COLD INCLINE START, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS SEVERAL FEET BEFORE ENGAGING IN DRIVE. AFTER REVERSING, THE HESITATION WILL LEAVE ME WITHOUT ANY DRIVE POWER, BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP SAW THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2002 (AT 65,179 MILES) AND DOCUMENTED (BUT NOT DUPLICATED) THE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION CONDITIONER TREATMENTS HAVED EASED THE JERKING. NOW, 2 YEARS LATER, A SERVICE MANAGER FINALLY DUPLICATED THE HESITATION AND ROLL BACK. AND SUGGESTED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT FOR $2,500. TODAY, THE CAR IS OVER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY AT 93,418 MILES. I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED, AND ARE DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. *AK