IllustrationTOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, JUST AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHCILE REQUIRED MORE STOPPING DISTANCE. DRIVER USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO START VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE CHECKED BY A DEALER. *AK
1999 Subaru Legacy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Subaru Legacy do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Legacy years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
325–50K
450–75K
675–100K
9100–150K
6150K+
29 reports with mileage · 65 unknown
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.
- Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 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 reports1 fire reports11 injury reports
What owners actually said
94 reportsWHEN I'M GOING DOWN A DECLINE AT AROUND 40MPH AND THE TRANSM. IS IN 4TH GEAR AND I AM COASTING AND BEGIN TO APPLY THE BRAKE THE CARE WILL SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AND REV THE ENGINE TO AROUND 3500-4000 RPM. I FEEL THIS SUDDEN UNEXPECTED TRANSMISSION SHIFT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF TRACTION ON SLIPPERY ROADS WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF MY BU…
Read full complaint
WHEN I'M GOING DOWN A DECLINE AT AROUND 40MPH AND THE TRANSM. IS IN 4TH GEAR AND I AM COASTING AND BEGIN TO APPLY THE BRAKE THE CARE WILL SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AND REV THE ENGINE TO AROUND 3500-4000 RPM. I FEEL THIS SUDDEN UNEXPECTED TRANSMISSION SHIFT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF TRACTION ON SLIPPERY ROADS WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF MY BUYING AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON - IT THEREFORE GIVES WARNING FOR WHICH NO DETECTABLE CAUSE CAN BE FOUND. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE CAUSE OF A DEFECT WHICH PREVENTS ITS ENGINE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FROM FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND IS UNWILLING TO COMMIT TO FIXING IT
BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN ACCIDENT NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION. NLM
WHILE SLOWING VEHICLE ON HILLS, THERE IS A JERKING MOTION WHICH CAN NOT BE RECTIFIED, IT IS ENGAGING INTO GEAR. MJS
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN A PANIC STOP, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE ABS SYSTEM PRIOR. WHEN ABS FAILS THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO FAILS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY AND COLD CONDITIONS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AT LOW SPEED, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR AND HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY. THIS RESULTED IN A CRASH. THERE IS RECALL #99V040000, DEALING WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. RECALL 99V040, BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY AND COLD CONDITIONS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AT LOW SPEED, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR AND HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY. THIS RESULTED IN A CRASH. THERE IS RECALL #99V040000, DEALING WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. RECALL 99V040, BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION*AK
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED #2 PISTON; CROSS MEMBER WAS MIS-MANUFACTURED-CAMBER COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED TO SPEC.
WE HAVE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AND TESTED TWICE. SUBARU SAYS THEY FIND NO DEFECT WITH THE BRAKES. WE HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SUPPORT. THEY PROMISED THAT OUR AREA'S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CONTACT US, BUT HAS NOT DONE SO. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. TWO …
Read full complaint
WE HAVE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AND TESTED TWICE. SUBARU SAYS THEY FIND NO DEFECT WITH THE BRAKES. WE HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SUPPORT. THEY PROMISED THAT OUR AREA'S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CONTACT US, BUT HAS NOT DONE SO. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE FAILURES WITH US. THEY ARE WILLING TO REPORT THE EXPERIENCE. *AK
I WAS ALMOST AT A DEAD STOP WHEN THE CAR JUST SURGED FOWARD ONCE AND BEFORE I COULD PUT THE BRAKE ON, IT SURGED FOWARD AGAIN AND SENT ME THROUGH A PLATE GLASS WINDOW AT DUNCUN DONUTS WE HIT A POLE BETWEEN THE TWO WINDOWS VERY HARD AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
Official recalls
301V216000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.