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1999 Subaru Legacy Recalls & Complaints

3

open safety recalls on record

Critical

119 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 1.00 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical98V127000

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.

Serious99V040000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder

THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.

Moderate01V216000

Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs

DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Complaint volume

119 this model-year 7 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

28Crashes
1Fires
15Injuries
0Deaths

Across 119 complaints. Severity Index 1.00.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Vehicle Speed Control12 · 10%Power Train · Automatic T…11 · 9%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…10 · 8%Air Bags · Frontal7 · 6%Suspension6 · 5%Engine And Engine Cooling…5 · 4%Air Bags4 · 3%Engine And Engine Cooling…4 · 3%
  1. Vehicle Speed Control — 12 reports
  2. Power Train:Automatic Transmission — 11 reports
  3. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 10 reports
  4. Air Bags:Frontal — 7 reports
  5. Suspension — 6 reports
  6. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline — 5 reports
  7. Air Bags — 4 reports
  8. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — 4 reports
  9. Unknown Or Other — 4 reports
  10. Power Train — 4 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (2) · 1996 (4) · 1997 (6) · 1998 (5) · 1999 · 2000 (4) · 2001 (8) · 2002 (5) · 2003 (15) · 2004 (11) · 2005 (9) · 2006 (7) · 2007 (9) · 2008 (9) · 2009 (13) · 2010 (18) · 2011 (16) · 2012 (16) · 2013 (12) · 2014 (10) · 2015 (3) · 2016 (3) · 2017 (2) · 2018 (3) · 2019 (3) · 2020 (6) · 2021 (3) · 2022 (2) · 2023 (2) · 2024 · 2025

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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