IllustrationTHE SEATBELT BUCKLE ON THE CENTER REAR SEATBELT "FELL APART" IN MY HAND AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TIGHTEN THE SEATBELT HOLDING MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S CARSEAT. HER CARSEAT HAD BEEN SECURED IN THE REAR CENTER POSITION BY THAT SEATBELT FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS.
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
What owners actually said
139 reportsCAR WILL NOT TRAVEL STRAIGHT. IT PULLS SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT . IT IS DANGEROUS.
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE ALL POWER. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. MANUFACTURER DENIES PROBLEM. *AK *ML
CONTROL ARM CREASED AT CENTER DURING TURN AT LOW SPEED. DAMAGE APPEARS SIMILAR TO PLASTIC STRAW PLACED UNDER PRESSURE AT BOTH ENDS UNTIL STRESS CAUSES TO CREASE. TOW OPERATOR, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, STATED HE SAW NO SCRATCH OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF IMPACT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CREASE TO OCCUR, STRONGLY SUGGESTING THAT THIS INCIDENT…
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CONTROL ARM CREASED AT CENTER DURING TURN AT LOW SPEED. DAMAGE APPEARS SIMILAR TO PLASTIC STRAW PLACED UNDER PRESSURE AT BOTH ENDS UNTIL STRESS CAUSES TO CREASE. TOW OPERATOR, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, STATED HE SAW NO SCRATCH OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF IMPACT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CREASE TO OCCUR, STRONGLY SUGGESTING THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS THE PRODUCT OF LONG TERM STRESS RELATED FAILURE. DEALER, HOWEVER, DISAGREES WITH THIS ANALYSIS, AND STATES IMPACT MUST HAVE OCCURRED TO CAUSE DAMAGE. IN ANY EVENT, SUCH A CONDITION COULD EASILY BE LIFE THREATENING UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE ARM EITHER BE STRENGTHEND OR PROTECTED TO MITIGATE SUCH A POSSIBILITY.
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, STANDARD TRANSMISSION DROPS OUT FIRST GEAR,SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL.
REAR SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO LATCH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ENGINE RUNNING VERY ROUGH. VEHICLE STALLS OUT AFTER GOING 20MPH. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALER 9 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE COMES ON & ONLY WARNING GIVEN. *AK
EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE UNDER FULL BRAKING PRESSURE -- CAUSED REAR-END COLLISION
VEHICLE LOT BALANCE CONTROL DURING SWIFT STEERING RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER (FOREARM AND FACIAL).
ENGINE PROBLEM 1. AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE, ENGINE SHOWS SEVERE HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION AT RPM'S BELOW 2500 (FEELS LIKE LATE IGNITION TIMING), WHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER - DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. WHEN RPM'S REACH 2500, THE POWER RETURNS TO NORMAL, AND THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING MUCH FASTER, CREATING A POSS…
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ENGINE PROBLEM 1. AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE, ENGINE SHOWS SEVERE HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION AT RPM'S BELOW 2500 (FEELS LIKE LATE IGNITION TIMING), WHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER - DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. WHEN RPM'S REACH 2500, THE POWER RETURNS TO NORMAL, AND THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING MUCH FASTER, CREATING A POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING INTO A CAR IN FRONT. THIS BEHAVIOR GRADUALLY DISAPPEARS OVER THE NEXT 1500 MILES AND REAPPEARS AGAIN AFTER THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. SUBARU DEALERS DO NOT ADMIT ANY PROBLEM. ENGINE PROBLEM 2. WHEN CRUISING IN NEUTRAL (STANDARD 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION), THE RPM STAY AROUND 1200 - 1500 IN MOST CASES (~95%). THEY FALL TO NORMAL 800 ONLY AFTER FULL STOP. IN OTHER 5% OF SITUATIONS THEY FALL TO NORMAL AS YOU WOULD EXPECT THEM TO. AGAIN, SUBARU DEALERS DO NOT ADMIT ANY PROBLEM.
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.