SUBARU LEGACY · model year

1997 SUBARU LEGACY

179 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997SUBARULEGACY carries 179 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 22 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 LEGACY is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 14 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (10) and engine and engine cooling:engine (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1997 LEGACY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

179
Complaints
22
Crashes
2
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

179 filings

Crashes Reported

22 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE10
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8
SUSPENSION7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC5
AIR BAGS5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
STEERING4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR4

Recent Complaints

20201117ELECTRICAL 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.

Mileage: 97,255

20201117FUEL/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.

Mileage: 97,255

20170806STEERING

1997 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. CAME OUT TO MY PARKED VEHICLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FLAT DUE TO PART OF THE SUSPENSION SPRING BEING SNAPPED AND STICKING INTO INSIDE OF THE TIRE. SPRING WAS INTACT WHEN I PARKED IT. FRIGHTENING TO THINK IF THAT HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OF WHICH I WAS THE DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.

Mileage: 225,812

20170806SUSPENSION

1997 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. CAME OUT TO MY PARKED VEHICLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FLAT DUE TO PART OF THE SUSPENSION SPRING BEING SNAPPED AND STICKING INTO INSIDE OF THE TIRE. SPRING WAS INTACT WHEN I PARKED IT. FRIGHTENING TO THINK IF THAT HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OF WHICH I WAS THE DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.

Mileage: 225,812

20170806WHEELS

1997 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. CAME OUT TO MY PARKED VEHICLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FLAT DUE TO PART OF THE SUSPENSION SPRING BEING SNAPPED AND STICKING INTO INSIDE OF THE TIRE. SPRING WAS INTACT WHEN I PARKED IT. FRIGHTENING TO THINK IF THAT HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OF WHICH I WAS THE DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.

Mileage: 225,812

20141208ENGINE

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 EA

Mileage: 92,000

20141208FUEL/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 EA

Mileage: 92,000

20140402POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN PARK. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO LUBRICATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE THE SHIFT LOCK MODULE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000. UPDATED 06/10/14 MA THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/23/14

Mileage: 75,000

20131108FUEL 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

Mileage: 199,932

20130928SUSPENSION

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

20120222FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY FUEL FILLER RUSTED OFF @ THE FUEL TANK CAUSING IT TO LEAK ON THE GROUND WHEN THE TANK IS NEARLY FULL.I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.IT'S A BIG JOB FOR A DIY.YOU NEED TO DROP THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL , DRIVE SHAFT , MUFFLER , ETC..IS THIS SOMETHING SUBARU COVERS COST WISE? *TR

20120207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY WAS JUMP STARTED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY TERMINAL DUE TO SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 02/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BATTERY CORROSION DESTROYED THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL. UPDATED 03/08/12

Mileage: 75,000

20120207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY WAS JUMP STARTED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY TERMINAL DUE TO SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 02/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BATTERY CORROSION DESTROYED THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL. UPDATED 03/08/12

Mileage: 75,000

20100201STRUCTURE

GASOLINE FILLER TUBE ON SUBARU LEGACY MODELS (1994 & 1997) RUST OUT AND CAUSE VERY SERIOUS DANGER FROM POSSIBLE FIRE/EXPLOSION DUE TO LEAKING FUEL. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARU OWNERS AND COSTLY ($350+) TO REPAIR. THIS PART WAS REPLACED ON BOTH A 1994 AND A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY AND THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE DEALT WITH QUITE OFTEN. I FEEL THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

20100201FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GASOLINE FILLER TUBE ON SUBARU LEGACY MODELS (1994 & 1997) RUST OUT AND CAUSE VERY SERIOUS DANGER FROM POSSIBLE FIRE/EXPLOSION DUE TO LEAKING FUEL. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARU OWNERS AND COSTLY ($350+) TO REPAIR. THIS PART WAS REPLACED ON BOTH A 1994 AND A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY AND THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE DEALT WITH QUITE OFTEN. I FEEL THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

20091124ENGINE 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

Mileage: 118,000

20090224ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I AM SURE YOU HAVE RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2.5L ENGINE IN 1997 SUBARU LEGACY GT'S. THE HEAD GASKETS ARE VERY WEAK, WHICH WHEN THEY BLOW, CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A RUSH OF COOLANT FLOWING INTO THE SYSTEM, WHICH KILLS THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WIDESPREAD, AND SUBARU DOES NOT ADMIT ANYTHING. HOWEVER, IN CANADA, SUBARU WAS SUED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING ERRATIC FAILURE WITH THESE HEAD GASKETS, AND THERE ISN'T EVEN A TSB ON THEM. PLEASE, HELP US!

Mileage: 195,748

20090224ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I AM SURE YOU HAVE RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2.5L ENGINE IN 1997 SUBARU LEGACY GT'S. THE HEAD GASKETS ARE VERY WEAK, WHICH WHEN THEY BLOW, CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A RUSH OF COOLANT FLOWING INTO THE SYSTEM, WHICH KILLS THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WIDESPREAD, AND SUBARU DOES NOT ADMIT ANYTHING. HOWEVER, IN CANADA, SUBARU WAS SUED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING ERRATIC FAILURE WITH THESE HEAD GASKETS, AND THERE ISN'T EVEN A TSB ON THEM. PLEASE, HELP US!

Mileage: 195,748

20081104ENGINE 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

Mileage: 116,000

20081012FUEL 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

Mileage: 83,000

Compare 1997SUBARULEGACY to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 SUBARU LEGACY have?
The 1997 SUBARU LEGACY has 179 NHTSA complaints, 22 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 SUBARU LEGACY?
The most-complained component for the 1997 SUBARU LEGACY is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1997 SUBARU LEGACY safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.