1997 Subaru Legacy

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/29/1998· SEAT BELTS

  REAR SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO LATCH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE MECHANIC NOTICED CRANKCASE LEAK. WENT TO DEALER WHO TOLD CONSUMER ALL 3 OF THEIR VEHICLES DO THAT, SEEMED LIKE A DESIGN FLAW. *AK A CRANKCASE SEAL FAILED CAUSING CRANKCASE LEAK. *YH

• 12/19/2001· EQUIPMENT

  AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FROZE UP, THIS CAUSED BELT TO SHRED, PART OF THE BELT THAT SHREDDED WAS OVER IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HAD NO WARNING EXCEPT AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING PROPERLY, CONTACTED DEALER, AND WROTE LETTER TO SUBARU MANUFACTURER. *AK *SLC

• 12/17/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  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

• 12/16/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 60 TO 65MPH VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT END HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN INJURIES. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/15/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE UNDER FULL BRAKING PRESSURE -- CAUSED REAR-END COLLISION

• 12/14/2001· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  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

• 12/12/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 50 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR FACIAL INJURIES. *AK

• 12/12/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITOR FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

• 12/10/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INTERMITTENT SEVERE HESITATION - HAS BECOME SAFETY ISSUE WHEN SUDDEN POWER LOSS OCCURS IN TRAFFIC UNDER ACCELERATION. *AK

• 12/08/2014· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  1997 SUBARU LEGACY GT 2.5L ENGINE, APPROX. 92K MILES, ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING. CAR WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITIES AND DIAGNOSED AS BLOWN HEAD GASKET AFTER PRESSURE TEST, BLOCK TEST, NO SIGNS OF LEAKING. CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FAITHFULLY BY ORIGINAL OWNER AT SUBARU DEALERSHIPS SINCE PURCHASE. I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM REPAIR FACILITIES WITH THIS MODEL AND ENGINE BUT WHEN QUESTIONED SUBARU DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AS HEAD GASKET AND COOLING SYSTEM ARE NOT RELATED (?) AND PROBLEM WAS A CRACKED BLOCK OR CYLINDER. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET $2450-. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE ENGINE $5700-. I HAD ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE THAT CONNECTS TO THE GAS TANK FROM WHERE YOU PUR THE GASOLINE IN FROM THE PUMP HAD RUSTED AWAY AND LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. I HAD THAT REPLACED AT APPROX. COST OF $400-. AGAIN SUBARU DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH IN SIX MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. *TR

• 12/04/2001· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN, I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AND THE CAR STARTED MOVING IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE COMPLETELY LOSING POWER. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR AGAIN, AND GOT THE SAME RESULT, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. I HAVE SINCE BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM BY PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR FROM A STOP.*AK

• 12/03/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BLOWING HEAD GASKETS.*MR WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE TAIL PIPE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. COOLANT AND OIL SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND IGNITED A SMALL FIRE ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, BUT IT EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO HER LOCAL DEALER. SHE OBTAINED TWO OPINIONS AND THEY BOTH SAID THE SAME THING. EXTREME COOLANT LOSS BUT NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK. IT APPEARED WITHOUT TAKING THE ENGINE APART TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. IT'S EITHER A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET, CASTING FLAW IN THE METAL OR A HEAD THAT WASN'T TORQUED PROPERLY. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SUBARU TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST A OF A ENGINE (INCLUDING LABOR), REIMBURSEMENT FOR AIR FLOW AND FILTER REPLACEMENT, REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOWING, COST OF A RENTAL CAR, AND MECHANIC'S VEHICLE CHECK FOR A TOTAL OF $1976.16 DOLLARS. *PH

• 12/03/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID A CRASH WHILE TRAVELING 68-70 MPH. IN THE PROCESS, THE CONSUMER RAN THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, RUNNING HEAD ON INTO A TREE. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

• 12/03/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A WATER PUMP LEAKING PROBLEM. SO THEY CHANGED IT ABOUT 5000 MILS LATER I HAVE AN OVER HEATING PROBLEM. NOW THEY TELL ME I MIGHT HAVE A CRACKED HEAD OR A CRACKED HEAD GASKET.BUT THEY CANT TELL EVAN AFTER THE TEST.NOW THEY WANT TO GO IN. *AK

• 12/02/2003· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHT EQUIPMENT STARTING TO CLOUD.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD LIGHT LENS HAS NOT BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AS OF NOW, BUT MAY BECOME AN ISSUE IN THE FUTURE. *JB *NM

• 12/01/1997· STEERINGCrash

  STEERING ASSEMBLY FAILED. UPON STEERING VEHICLE INTO RIGHT LANE, VEHICLE STEERED BACK INTO LEFT LANE. LOST CONTROL AND HIT GUARDRAIL, BOUNCED OFF AND HIT LEFT MEDIAN DIVIDER. *AK

• 11/24/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1997 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5 L ENGINE. 118,000 MILES. CHRONIC OVERHEATING. MANY DOLLARS SPENT ONLY TO FIND THAT THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BLOWING HEAD GASKETS. SURE ENOUGH, THAT'S THE TROUBLE. *TR

• 11/21/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY APPROACHED AN AREA WHERE HAD TO SLOW DOWN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, TAPPED BRAKES AND IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A SKID, BRAKES LOCKED UP. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK

• 11/21/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING ON A ROCKY SURFACE THE ABS BRAKES DID NOT LOCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

• 11/17/2020· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  CAR WAS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO START, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD STALL/HESITATE WHEN IN MOTION ON CITY STREET. DISCOVERED TO BE CAUSED BY AGED/WORN FUEL PUMP CAUSING OVERCURRENT DRAW THAT FAILS TO BLOW FUSE CAUSING MELTDOWN IN WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WHERE PIGTAIL FROM PUMP CONNECTS TO THE CHASSIS SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. HEAT/SPARK POTENTIAL IS CREATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO FUEL TANK THAT HAS MANY REPORTED CASES OF FUEL FILLER NECK RUSTING OFF AND LEAKING FUEL. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALS THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, WITH PHOTOS, HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE. PHOTO PROVIDED IS FROM INTERNET BUT THE RESULT IS THE SAME.

• 11/14/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

  7) ALL 4 RIMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COLLECT ROAD SILT AND WATER INSIDE. THIS IMBALANCES THE CAR AND MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PERHAPS AIRFLOW UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. 8) LEFT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT GO UP ALL THE WAY ANY LONGER. 84,000 MILES. 9) PADS AND SPRINGS LOCATED ON FRAME WHERE THE REAR GATE CLOSES AGAINST THE BODY ARE RUSTED TIGHT. 10) DASH LIGHTS FOR HVAC HAVE FAILED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. 11) GAS GAUGE DOES NOT DESCEND ACCURATLY.

• 11/14/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,STRUCTURE

  1) ALL 4 RIMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COLLECT ROAD SILT AND WATER INSIDE. THIS IMBALANCES THE CAR AND MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PERHAPS AIRFLOW UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. 2) PADS AND SPRINGS LOCATED ON FRAME WHERE THE REAR GATE CLOSES AGAINST THE BODY ARE RUSTED TIGHT. 3) DASH LIGHTS FOR HVAC HAVE FAILED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. 4) GAS GAUGE DOES NOT DESCEND ACCURATLY.

• 11/13/2001· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,WHEELS

  ENGINE WAS KNOCKING AND MAKING A TICKING NOISE, BRAKES WERE MAKING A SQUEAK/ LOUD NOISE, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES, ALSO RIM WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING BENT. *YD

• 11/13/1998· SUSPENSION,AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE LOT BALANCE CONTROL DURING SWIFT STEERING RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER (FOREARM AND FACIAL).

• 11/08/2013· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED ABOVE HALF A TANK, FUEL LEAKS ONTO THE GROUND IN LARGE AMOUNTS NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE A SPARK OR CIGARETTE WOULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION. *TR

• 11/07/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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.

• 11/06/2001· SUSPENSION

  RECALL 01V216000, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN SEPTEMBER, HAS BEEN TOLD BY SUBARU THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. *AK *YH

• 11/06/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FRONT CRANK SEAL IS LEAKING OIL ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FORNT CRACK SEAL WHERE THE OIL PUMP MEETS THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILS AT REGULAR INTERVALS, WHEN THIS SEAL LEAKS OIL DRIPS ONTO THE EXHAUST AND SMOKES.*SLC

• 11/06/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITER FAILED, CAUSING UNBURNED GASOLINE TO FLOW INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK

• 11/05/2003· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN THE PARK POSITION, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS IN ANY DIRECTION. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. *AK THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO POOR GROUND TO THE SHIFTER SOLENOID. THIS WOULD NOT ACUATE TO ALLOW THE SHIFTER IN GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MAKE/MODEL. *SCC *JB

• 11/05/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  CRANK SEAL LEAK IS A FIRE RISK. OIL DRIPS ALONG OIL PAN AND ONTO Y SECTION OF EXHAUST WHERE IT BURNS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARUS WITH 50K MILES. ALTHOUGH TORQUE CONVERTER BIND IS NOT DIRECTLY A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS TOO COMMON AMONG SUBARUS WITH > 50K MILES.

• 11/05/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  INTERMITTENTLY WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL START TO IDLE UP TO 90MPH WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. NEEDS TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP THE IDLING. BEEN TO DEALER, CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

• 11/04/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I WAS OUT DRIVING ON A SUNNY SUNDAY WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS TO SEE THE FALL COLOR, AND WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR OVERHEATED. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND HE SAID IT WAS A "BLOWN HEAD GASKET". I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIRS DONE YET BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE OR JUST REPAIR THE OLD ONE. THE COST IS GOING TO BE IN EXCESS OF $1500 DOLLARS EITHER OPTION AND AFTER DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE WEBSITES OUT THERE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO EFFECT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEAR MODELS AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SUBARU DO SOMETHING TO HELP ALERT THOSE WHO WILL POTENTIALLY BE BUYING THESE VEHICLES WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THEY ARE BUYING INTO. *TR

• 11/03/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  THE GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK. I FILL THE CAR UP AND THE GAUGE GOES UP THEN FALLS BACK TO EMPTY. WHILE DRIVING IT FLOATS UP AND DOWN BETWEEN HALF AND THEN SITS ON EMPTY. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT.*AK

• 10/29/1999· SEAT BELTS

  THE INFANT CAR SEAT PUT IN THE REAR CENTER SEAT, SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS SNAPPED AND FELL APART, DID NOT SECURE CAR SEAT. YH

• 10/26/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER HIT BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEELS LOCKED UP/VEHICLE SKIDDED. CONTACT DEALER,WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AND SOME WHAT SLIPPERY SURFACE, SUCH AS SNOW, THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ON SLIDING DOWN THE HILL. REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS, FRONT BRAKES ONLY, AND TIRES STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

• 10/21/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BATTERY EXPLODED AND DAMAGED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. MJS

• 10/19/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  REPLACED PADS & ROTORS 3 TIMES; 15000, 22000, 36000 MILES, PATHETIC DESIGN

• 10/18/1999· SUSPENSION

  THIS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HYDROPLANED IN VERY HEAVY RAIN, ENBEKNOWNST TO MY WIFE, UNTIL THE CAR DRIFTED TOWARD THE MEDIAN OF THE DIVIDED 4-LANE. TRACTION WAS REGAINED AND SHE WAS PROPELLED ACROSS AND DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. THANKFULLY, NO CARS WERE COMING -- PLUS, THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GOT HER BACK UP THE EMBANKMENT AND HOME. SHOULDN'T A LIGHT OR SENSOR BE REQUIRED SO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAR OWNERS KNOW WHEN HYDROPLANING OCCURS? HOW ELSE IS THERE TO KNOW?!? THANKS SO MUCH.

• 10/14/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAIL CONTINUOUSLY, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY LOCK UP.

• 10/12/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  AFTER A GAS FILL-UP, I NOTED A LARGE WET SPOT UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE IT SMELLS LIKE GAS, I TOOK IT TO MY AUTHORIZED SUBARU MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FILLER NECK WAS LOOSE. IN ORDER TO FIX THE MANUFACTURER DEFLECTIVE, HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE REAR AXLE. SINCE THE CAR IS 11 YEARS OLD WITH OVER 83K MILES, THE CAR IS OF COURSE OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IN MY OPTION, MY 1997 SUBARU LEGACY GT SEDAN IS NOW CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNDER ANY SPEED. I RECOMMENDED THAT SUBARU TAKES THE INITIATE BY ISSUING A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES AS RESULT OF THIS MANUFACTURER DEFLECTIVE. *TR

• 10/12/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE REAR SEPARATOR PLATE AND OIL PUMP SEAL. *AK THIS CAUSED COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF SMOKE TO BILLOW OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND OUT THE FRONT WHEEL WELLS WHEN STOPPED AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES. TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES FOR THE SMOKE TO SUBSIDE. CONSUMER QUESTIONED WHETHER THERE WERE ANY FINES FOR THIS FAILURE. HE HEARD SUBARU MADE CHANGES TO THE NEWER MODEL LEGACY. CONSUMER LEARNED OF TWO OTHER SUBARU OWNER'S THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME DEFECT. *PH *NLM

• 10/12/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE ROTORS WOULD BE PULSATING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHCLE WOULD START TO SHAKE. BRAKES WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP LIKE IT SHOULD WHEN BRAKES WERE IN USE. WOULD NEED TO DRIVE SLOWLY (40MPH) INSTEAD OF 60MPH TO STOP VEHICLE FROM SHAKING. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK.*AK

• 10/07/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD, AND NOTICED COOLANT AND OIL SPRAYED OVER ENGINE. ALSO A COUPLE OF FLAMES WERE PRESENT. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.*AK

• 09/30/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REOCCURING ALTERNATOR FAILURES, AS A RESULT OF THE ALTERNATOR FAILING THE HARNESS WIRES HAVE MELTED AND BURNED, ALSO THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACE.*NLM

• 09/30/1998· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALTERNATOR BELT SNAPPED, CAUSING BATTERY AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON AND HARD TO STEER.

• 09/30/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE RACES AT HIGH RPM'S WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR.

• 09/29/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SUDDEN OVERHEATING OCCURRING MOSTLY ABOVE 60 KM/H SYMPTOMS INCLUDED LARGE POCKETS OF AIR IN COOLING SYSTEM AS WELL AS SMALL BUBBLES. FIRST THOUGHT BY MECHANIC WAS HEAD GASKET, HOWEVER TESTS ON COOLANT SHOWED OTHERWISE. SMALL LEAK FOUND IN WATER PUMP GASKET, REPLACED ENTIRE PUMP AND GASKET, AS WELL AS THERMOSTAT, BELTS, HOSES, ETC. CURRENT RESEARCH HAS PROVEN THAT YEARS 1997 THROUGH 2002 ALL DO THIS AS A RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. *JB

• 09/28/2013· SUSPENSION,EQUIPMENT

  I INSTALLED MEVOTECH STRUT MOUNTS (MP903987 & MP903986) ON OUR 1997 SUBARU LEGACY POSTAL WHEN INSTALLING NEW REAR SHOCK ABSORBER/STRUTS. THE RIGHT SIDE FAILED ON THE FIRST DAY AFTER AROUND 60 MILES. I REPLACED IT WITH THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PART THAT HAD LASTED 420,000 MILES. THE LEFT SIDE FAILED THE NEXT DAY AFTER BEING IN SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES TOTAL. I RETURNED THE OTHER ORIGINAL PART TO SERVICE. THE FAILURES ALLOWED THE STRUT TO PUSH THROUGH THE MOUNT AND HIT ON THE THIN RETAINING PLATE. IT ALLOWED THE REAR SUSPENSION TO BECOME EXTREMELY LOUD AND LOOSE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I REPORTED IT TO THE SELLER, ROCKAUTO, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT I SHOULD DO MORE RESEARCH ON PART QUALITY. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POOR QUALITY AND DANGEROUS DEFECT. I HAVE THE FAULTY MEVOTECH PARTS IN THEIR ORIGINAL BOXES. *TR