1997 Subaru Legacy Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace if necessary the front suspension support brackets.

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the throttle body and replace the throttle assembly if the bearing is missing.

Problem: 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.

Risk: This condition can cause unexpected movement of the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash or property damage.

Fix: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission shift lever assemblies (except the handle grip).

Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Insufficient clearance within the hazard warning light switch housing can cause a binding between the actuating button and the housing.

Risk: The switch could stick in an intermediate position when deactivating, resulting in the turn signals becoming inoperable.

Fix: Dealers will install a modified hazard warning switch.