IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY, THE HOOD LATCHE FAILED AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB
1997 Subaru Legacy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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
Limited mileage data: 23 of 139 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 17 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 reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
Latches/locks/linkages complaints
6 reportsAPRROX. 3 MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN MY HOOD POPPED UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED IN MANY PLACES AND THE HOOD WAS BENT AND PAINT CHIPPED. I CONTACTED SUBARU THE FOLLOWING DAY BECAUSE MY HOOD HAD NOT BEEN OPENED FOR APPROX 2MTHS PRIOR THIS AND WAS CONCERNED OF …
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APRROX. 3 MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN MY HOOD POPPED UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED IN MANY PLACES AND THE HOOD WAS BENT AND PAINT CHIPPED. I CONTACTED SUBARU THE FOLLOWING DAY BECAUSE MY HOOD HAD NOT BEEN OPENED FOR APPROX 2MTHS PRIOR THIS AND WAS CONCERNED OF A DEFECT IN PART. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NONE AND SOMETIMES IT JUST HAPPENS. I PAID FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD (I BELEIVE ABOUT 235) AND HAVE YET TO REPLACE HOOD. TODAY I WAS INFORMED BY A TECHNICIAN THAT REPLACES WINDSHIELDS (CONTACT WAS UNRELATED TO MY CAR) THAT HE REPLACES MORE WINDSHIELDS ON SUBARUS THAN ANY OTHER CAR BECAUSE THE FIRST HOOD LATCH FAILS AND THE SECOND LETS GO WHEN HIGH WAY SPEED IS REACHED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PART MALFUNCTION THAT POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO DRIVERS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. IF I HAVE CONTACTED THE WRONG DEPARTMENT OR COMPANY PLEASE DIRECT ME IN RIGHT DIRECTION. I AM UNSURE BUT COULD FIND OUT OF THE EXACT INCIDENT DATE.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD UNLATCHED, FLEW BACK, AND CONTACTED THE WINDSHIELD AND FORWARD ROOF. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DASH AND BOTTOM OF THE HOOD AND MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE MEDIAN. THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD W…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD UNLATCHED, FLEW BACK, AND CONTACTED THE WINDSHIELD AND FORWARD ROOF. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DASH AND BOTTOM OF THE HOOD AND MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE MEDIAN. THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD WERE RUINED, AND THE ROOF SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS HOOD LATCH CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE HOOD TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE CAUSING ME TO PULL OF TO THE SHOULDER AND CLOSE HOOD. HOOD DID NOT UNLATCH ALL THE WAY PUT IF I CONTINUED WITHOUT STOPPING HOOD WOULD OF POPPED FULLY AT SOME POINT.*AK
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HOOD UNLATCHED AND BLEWOUT, OPEN BREAKING MY WINDSHEILD AND DENTING MY HOOD AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH MY WINDSHEILD, BUT WAS STILL ABLE TO SAFELY BRING MY VEHICLE TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE HOOD LATCH FAILED OR EVEN WAS OPEN AS I HAD…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HOOD UNLATCHED AND BLEWOUT, OPEN BREAKING MY WINDSHEILD AND DENTING MY HOOD AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH MY WINDSHEILD, BUT WAS STILL ABLE TO SAFELY BRING MY VEHICLE TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE HOOD LATCH FAILED OR EVEN WAS OPEN AS I HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING UNDER THE HOOD IN A LONG TIME. *AK
LIFTGATE DOES NOT REMAIN IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RECEIVE INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
501V216000 · 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.
98V091000 · Suspension:front:springs:leaf Spring Assembly:hanger,bracket
May 4, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.
98V035000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 20, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THROTTLE SHAFT BALL BEARING ON THE SENSOR SIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS NOT INSTALLED IN CERTAIN THROTTLE BODIES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH A MISSING THROTTLE SHAFT BEARING CAN EVENTUALLLY LEAD TO AN INCOMPLETE RETURN OF THE THROTTLE VALVE RESULTING IN A HIGH IDLING CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY IF THE BEARING IS MISSING.
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).
97V210000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch
Nov 13, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE WITHIN THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH HOUSING CAN CAUSE A BINDING BETWEEN THE ACTUATING BUTTON AND THE HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SWITCH COULD STICK IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION WHEN DEACTIVATING, RESULTING IN THE TURN SIGNALS BECOMING INOPERABLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED HAZARD WARNING SWITCH.
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
1PE99067 · Electrical System
Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed May 31, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ODI HAS RECEIVED 5,820 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING.OUR COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMPAINTS ARE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART.BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPOMSE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THE OWNER NORTIFICATION PROGRAM CITED ABOVE, INCLUDING QUARTERLY NOTIFICATIONS TO ODI.THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OWNERS TO GET THEIR ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR FREE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS MATTER CLOSELY, AND THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE MODELS IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.