Subaru Legacy Complaints (1999)

94 consumer complaints on file.

#730543September 6, 2000
TIRES
TIRE #1 IMPLODED, NEXT TIRE COLLAPSED, TIRE 3 NO LEAKS BUT AIR GOES( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/55/R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#553212July 26, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY. *MJS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#725777July 21, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
FRONT BUMPER SKIRT CATCHES ON PARKING SPACE BLOCKS AT THE HEAD OF PARKING SPACES. THIS HAS PULLED THE BUMPER OFF AND TWISTED IT. I WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY AWARE OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS OR FOREWARNED ABOUT IT BY THE SALESMAN OR MANUFACTURER. I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAD I KNOWN. PARKING THE CAR SAFELY IN MY PARKING LOT (OR ANY LOT) IS MADE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BY THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725612July 18, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH. FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#865574July 18, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMEN OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS. THERE WAS A VERY GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATON.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#863410June 12, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKES WERE NOT OPERABLE. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC PUT IN A NEW MASTER CYLINDER, AND THE CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723384May 31, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH CAUSES IT TO ABRUPTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SHIFT DOWN WHILE DESCENDING A LONG GRADE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN TWO INSTANCES OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN ICY/SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION, IT WILL MATERIALLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION. FURTHERMORE, IT HAS SCARED PASSENGERS ON NUMEROUS OCCAIONS DUE TO THE JERKING OF THE CAR WHICH RESULTS FROM THIS DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHICH SENT ME TO THE DEALER. NO RELIEF. I ASKED FOR THE ZONE REPRESENTATIVE TO CALL ME AND IT HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INDICATED ON THE PHONE THAT THIS IS 'NORMAL BEHAVIOR' . I AM TOLD THAT THIS DESIGN DEFECT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM YEAR 2000 LEGACY OUTBACKS. IF TRUE, THAT WOULD BE TACIT ADMISSION THAT THE DESIGN WAS FLAWED AS IT WAS NOT IMPLENTED IN ANY YEAR BUT 1999. I HAVE ASKED THE MANUFACTURER TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSIONCONTROLUNIT WHICH ELIMINATES THIS DESIGN FLAW, SINCE IT WOULD BE A RELATIVELY SIMPLE SOFTWARE MODIFICATION. THEY HAVE INDICATED THEIR RELUCTANCE TO DO SO. WHILE THE ASPECT OF THE JERKINESS OF THE CAR AND THE SHORTENED LIFESPAN OF THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE CHALKED UP TO 'TOUGH KAKA', THE LOSS OF CONTROL (ALBIET OF A VERY TEMPORARY NATURE SO FAR) RESULTING FROM AN ABRUPT GEAR CHANGE DOWN IN ICY CONDITIONS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT A SHIFT WOULD BE OF NO CONCERN, TO WHICH I SUGGESTED THEY ASK MIKI HAAKINNEN, A RACE DRIVER WHO LOST A RACE DUE TO THE WRONG GEAR BEING SELECTED....ONE BELOW THE ONE HE EXPECTED, WHICH SPUN HIM OUT OF THE RACE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR YAW FROM THE ABRUPT GEAR CHANGE. THANKFULLY FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF, I, TOO, HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH RACECARS.....IF NOT FOR PRACTICED REFLEXES DURING THE ICY-CONDITION DOWNSHIFTS REFERENCED, I AM QUITE CONFIDENT THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE ENDED UP OFF THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#552290May 18, 2000
POWER TRAIN
CONSUMER TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP SKIDDING INTO A DITCH, DUE TO DESIGN OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION, POOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TURNS WHICH ALLOWED FOR LOSS OF CONTROL. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#856663February 10, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN LETTING OFF OR STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO JERK DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN FRONT AXLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#550156December 29, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AND VEHICLE ON SNOW PACKED HIGHWAYS CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND SWERVE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#549817December 6, 1999
STEERING, SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED STEERING AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS CAUSING DIFFICULTY HANDLING. MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#852366November 23, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE WHILE APPLYING FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, LURCHING FORWARD ABOUT 3 FEET WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715148November 22, 1999
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
I WAS TEST DRIVING THE CAR. I MADE A LEFT TURN ON A GRAVEL ROAD. I EXPECTED THE FRONT WHEELS TO PULL ME THROUGH THE TURN, BUT THE REAR WHEELS PUSHED ME AT A 300 ANGLE INTO A GUARDRAIL OFF THE ROAD. THE FRONT WHEELS SLID SIDEWAYS. ONCE THIS HAPPENED IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP. THE DEALER ACCUSED ME OF NEGLIGENCE, THOUGH THE SALESMAN INSTRUCTED ME TO DRIVE ON THIS ROAD. I AM NOW INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853089November 18, 1999
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD EXPERIENCES A PROBLEM WITH A UNKNOWN COASTING, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DEFOGGER ISUSED, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851504October 22, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFT AND ACCELERATES AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER / WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE'S CAUSING FAILURE. *YC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#847023October 20, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM. THERE IS A NOISE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED THE ABS SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#712565September 30, 1999
TIRES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR HAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT SINCE PURCHASE. PURCHASED VEHICLE LATE SEPT., 1998. AC DID NOT WORK VERY WELL, BUT WEATHER WAS COOL AND IT WAS NOT A PRESSING ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING SPRING/SUMMER, TOOK IN FOR REPAIRS TO DEALER IN EVANSVILLE. AC STILL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ACCIDENT 5/19/99 WHERE I REAR-ENDED A VAN AT APPROX. 20 MPH., AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AC STILL ONLY WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ON 9/17/99, AFTER DRIVING THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES AT 65 MPH, I NOTICED THE TEMP GAUGE WAS ABOVE THE "H" AND PULLED OVER. THE CAR DIED AND NEVER RESTARTED. OVERHEATED TO THE EXTENT THAT AFTER ENGINE DIED, SMOKE BILLOWED OUT THE EXHAUST/TAIL PIPE AND OVER 3 HOURS AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF, RADIATOR FLUID STILL BOILED OVER WHEN ADDED. DEALER UNABLE TO PROVIDE EXPLANATION FOR OVERHEATING OR AC PROBLEMS. SUBARU REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE HAS REFUSED TO RETURN MY CALLS FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REPAIRS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#711014September 7, 1999
AIR BAGS
THE SPEED AND DAMAGE COSTS ARE GUESSES ONLY. THE PROBLEM WAS THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT A DECENT RATE OF SPEED. AFTER THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR SEES THE CAR I'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE A MORE DETAILED REPORT. PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#710639August 28, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
REPEATED COLD ENGINE HESITATION; HAZARDOUS WHEN TURNING ONTO BUSY STREET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#844787August 10, 1999
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH DRIVE STOPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT HITTING A CAR THAT WAS TURNING LEFT. WHILE GOING AROUND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, WENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE AND THROUGH GRAVEL, WHEEL FELL OFF DUE TO NUTS: BOLTS SHEARING OFF,AND VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER .*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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