MY SUBARU LEGACY 2002 WAS RECALLED FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN 2003. THIS WAS REPAIRED IN FEB 2003 BY THE CA DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. IN JUNE OF 2003 WE WERE TRANSFERRED BY THE US COAST GUARD TO VIRGINIA. ON MAY 12, 2004 I NOTICED A STRANGE WHEEL NOISE AND TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER IN THE AREA FOR DIAGNOSIS A…
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MY SUBARU LEGACY 2002 WAS RECALLED FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN 2003. THIS WAS REPAIRED IN FEB 2003 BY THE CA DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. IN JUNE OF 2003 WE WERE TRANSFERRED BY THE US COAST GUARD TO VIRGINIA. ON MAY 12, 2004 I NOTICED A STRANGE WHEEL NOISE AND TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER IN THE AREA FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. I WAS TOLD LATER THAT THE BRAKES WERE ONLY 50% WORN AND THAT ALL OF THE FLUIDS WERE OK. I WAS TOLD TO PICK UP MY CAR THAT NIGHT AS EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE PAPER WORK GIVEN TO ME WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR STATED " CHECKED FRONT AND REAR BRAKES; 50% LEFT; HEARD SOME FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NOISE; CHECKED FLUIDS; CHECKED OK." BY MAY 20TH THE NOISE WAS EXTREME AND I MET WITH THE MECHANIC THE NEXT MORNING. HE INSTANTLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE DIFFERENTIAL. I WAS TOLD THAT A PART WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AND I INFORMED HIM THAT THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. ON MAY 24TH I WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST OF THE REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $3500 AS A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AND THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER UNLESS I PRODUCE ALL OF MY SERVICE RECORDS. WE AUTHORIZED THE WORK TO BE DONE AS THIS CAR IS OUR ONLY TRANSPORTATION. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2002 LEGACY MODEL. I HAVE ALSO HEARD OF A WOMAN WHO HAD RECALL TRANSMISSION WORK DONE AND THEN DROVE TO NEW ENGLAND. WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT HER DESTINATION HER CAR HAD PROBLEMS. WHAT WAS UNCOVERED WAS THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN REPAIRED WITH USED PARTS AND HAD FAILED! IS THIS A COMMON PRACTICE WITH SUBARU? WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH SUBARU AMERICA AT THEIR 800 NUMBER AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY UNLESS THE SERVICE RECORDS SHOWED THAT ALL SERVICES HAD BEEN PERFORMED APPROPRIATELY. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOCATING THESE RECORDS BUT ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH SUBARU'S ATTITUDE REGARDING A CAR THAT IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND IS IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10073152
19,374 miles · May 24, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
1) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT;2) HESITATION AT DANGEROUS TIMES, ESPECIALLY THROUGH TURNS, OCCASIONAL BACKFIRING;3) THREE TIMES IN SHOP FOR WARRANTY WORK, REPLACING AIR/FUEL RATIO SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMING ECM/ECU/PCM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10073078
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2004
Power Train
I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU LEGACY GT, 5-SPEED MANUAL. MOST OF THE TIME THE CLUTCH IS STIFF, BUT ONCE IN A WHILE THE CLUTCH BECOMES EXTREMELY EASY TO PUSH DOWN, (YOU CAN USE ONE FINGER TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH). DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND SAID CLUTCH WAS NORMAL. YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10055163
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2003
Power Train
I HAVE A 2002 LEGACY GT WITH MANUAL 5-SPD TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY STALLS OR HESITATES IN FIRST GEAR. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER OF MANUAL-TRANSMISSION VEHICLES, AND OTHER DRIVERS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR IS EASILY STALLED IN FIRST GEAR. I HAVE HEARD OTHER SUBARU DRIVERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS DEFECT, PARTICULARLY…
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I HAVE A 2002 LEGACY GT WITH MANUAL 5-SPD TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY STALLS OR HESITATES IN FIRST GEAR. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER OF MANUAL-TRANSMISSION VEHICLES, AND OTHER DRIVERS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR IS EASILY STALLED IN FIRST GEAR. I HAVE HEARD OTHER SUBARU DRIVERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS DEFECT, PARTICULARLY ON NPR'S "CAR TALK" PROGRAM. THIS ISSUE POSES A REAL SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ACCELERATING INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10030679
21,000 miles · Dec 17, 2002
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train
THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SENSOR, FUEL TRAIN , AND CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T ACCELERATE, AND STALLED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS SCC
NHTSA ODI #10001050
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2002
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train
VEHICLE SHUDDERS, STALLS, STUMBLES ON ACCELERATION. DT
NHTSA ODI #770415
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2001
Power TrainCrash
WHILE IDLING IN PARK VEHICLE JUMPED INTO DRIVE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER SEDANS, WAGONS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE COULD COME OUT OF ITS TRACK ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER AND LODGE ON THE CONTROL LEVER TAB WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION AND WILL REMAIN IN AN OPEN POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER TAB ON THE THROTTLE SHAFT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FROM COMING OUT OF ITS TRACK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. 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.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. 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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AT THESE TEMPERATURES, THE BRAKES MAY NOT RELEASE AFTER BEING APPLIED, EVEN WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS NO LONGER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAN OCCUR WITHOUR PRIOR WARNING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 21, 2002. 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.
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
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