Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Subaru Legacy, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling31
- Service brakes, hydraulic27
- Power train17
- Electrical system17
- Air bags10
- Suspension9
- Vehicle speed control9
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Steering7
- Latches/locks/linkages6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 9 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 16 1997 Legacy vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 14 people died inside them, and 6 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Subaru Legacy failed the safety check 2.35% of the time — 47% more often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 146,499 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
32 first registered in 1997 are on Dutch roads; 25% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld17
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde16
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen13
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af9
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse7
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af7
- Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname6
- Onderdeel reminrichting ondeugdelijk bevestigd5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
25 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 147 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
14 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 302,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
348 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 82% arrived as used imports, 13% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 8 variants: combined 10.2–11.6 L/100 km (about 20–23 mpg US), CO₂ 235–267 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy 4X4 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 8.6 | 10.2 |
| Legacy 4X4 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.7 | 10.4 |
| Legacy 4X4 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.8 | 10.5 |
| Legacy 4X4 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.8 | 10.5 |
| Legacy 4X4 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.6 | 11.5 |
| Legacy/Outback 4X4 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.6 | 11.5 |
| Legacy 4X4 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.8 | 11.6 |
| Legacy/Outback 4X4 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.8 | 11.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Subaru Legacy.
| 2001183 3 Jul 2001 | Other Certain passenger vehicles equipped with front coil springs.The front coil springs were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corr… |
| 2000069 17 Mar 2000 | Other Certain vehicle do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. Compliance label was not expressed in both official languages in regard to vehicle c… |
| 1998107 25 May 1998 | Suspension A WELD FRACTURE MAY OCCUR ON THE HANGER BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINKS. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET WITH SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LOW… |
| 1998029 19 Feb 1998 | Engine THE THROTTLE SHAFT BALL BEARING ON THE SENSOR SIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO I… |
| 1998030 19 Feb 1998 | Powertrain THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES ON THESE VEHICLES MAY FAIL DUE TO POOR WELDS WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY. THIS CAN RESULT IN STUCK IGNITION KEYS, BRO… |
| 1997200 18 Nov 1997 | Lights And Instruments THE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER BUTTON CAN BIND IN THE HOUSING CAUSING CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS, OR THEIR BEING TURNED OFF BUT THE TURN SIGNAL… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE WITHIN THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH HOUSING CAN CAUSE A BINDING BETWEEN THE ACTUATING BUTTON AND THE HOUSING.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Subaru told its dealers about the 1997 Subaru Legacy: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 631078 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHIFTER RATTLE. *JG |
| 627826 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT SPRING GUARD BULLETIN UPDATE. *YD |
| 626926 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BELT LATCH SLIDES TO THE LOWER SEAT BELT ANCHOR. *YH UPDATED *EH |
| 625877 | SUBJECT ON REGARDING STEERING KNOCKING/RATTLE NOISE WHEN TURNING. *ET |
| 618425 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF ALTERNATOR CHARGING DUE TO A BROKEN BRUSH WIRE. *TT |
| 608198 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY EXHIBIT FIRST GEAR POPPING OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 605778 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTOR . *TT |
| 604953 | SERVICE MANUAL SUPPLEMENT VOLUME 7 FOR THE ABS 5.3I SYSTEM. *TT |
| 604484 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF A SLIGHT ENGINE HESITATION ON VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS 2.5L AND 2.2L ENGINES. TT |
| 603348 | 1997 AND LATER LEGACY EXHIBITING BODY DRIVELINE VIBRATION AT HIGH SPEEDS. *YC |
| 602763 | PROCEDURES ON TRANSVERSE LINK ASSEMBLIES. *YC |
| 602130 | SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN THE HEADLIGHTS. *YC |
| 601879 | SUBJECT ON TRANSVERSE LINK ASSEMBLIES. *YC |
| 53575 | SUBJECT ON TRANSFER CLUTCH BINDING AND/OR BUCKING ON TURNS. *YC |
| 52271 | REAR DEFOGGER TIMER. *JD |
| 51255 | 1995-97 LEGACY REAR WHEEL BEARING/SEAL NOISE. *JD |
| 51253 | CHECK TO SEE WHERE THE RADIO FADER CONTROL KNOB IS POSITIONED AFTER INSTALLATION. *JD |
| 51250 | CREAKING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE RIGHT REAR ROCKER PANEL AREA ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES- COMING FROM THE AREA JUST IN FRONT OF THE DOG LEG AREA AT THE ROCKER SILL. *JD |
| 51248 | CLUNK NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING OVER A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE- NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING GEAR BOX. *JD |
| 51247 | HIGH PITCHED NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLES- THE CAUSE MAY BE REAR AXLE OIL SEAL NUMBER 2 COMING LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING (PLACE VEHICLE ON LIFT AND ROTATING THE TIRE ON THE SIDE SUSPECTED OF NOISE). *JD |
| 10240110 | This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering vehicles with long time exposure to pollen on painted surfaces on vehicles imported from Japan. This bulletin does not apply to SIA built vehicles. |
| 10219492 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models. |
| 10219491 | This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. |
| 10209915 | This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment). |
| 10198758 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation