1998 SUBARU LEGACY Complaints

DEFECTIVE FRAME ON 1998 SUBARU LEGACY. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. AND A ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AS WELL. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A RUMBLING SOUND, AS WELL A STRONGER PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE FRONT LEFT CROSS-MEMBER WAS SEVERED IN THE CENTER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. THE DRIVER-SIDE CROSS MEMBER THAT CONNECTS THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO THE MAIN FRAME HAD CORRODED. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO MAKES A CLANGING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT RESPOND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND IT REQUIRES A TOW TRUCK TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. ALL REPAIRS WILL BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 254,000.

IN 2004 MY HOOD LATCH FAILED EMERGENCY LATCH AND HOOD FLEW UP AND CRASHED MY WINDSHIELD. SUBARU SAID THEY FIXED LATCH BUT YESTERDAY 3/3/09 FOR A SECOND TIME MY HOOD CAME UP SMASHING MY WINDSHIELD VIOLENTLY I AM INJURED AGAIN AND TRAUMATIZED AND SUBARU NORTHTOWN COLLISION NEVER TOLD ME OF THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS ALMOST KILLED. THIS IS SO VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO PEOPLE'S ATTENTION. *TR

FUEL (GASOLINE) FILLER NECK FOR THE 1998 SUBARU LEGACY SW RUSTS OUT BECAUSE THE TUBE IS BEHIND A PLASTIC MOLDING THAT ACCUMULATES DIRT, SALT, WATER, AND ROTS THE TUBING CAUSING A CHRONIC LEAK OF GASOLINE POTENTIALLY OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. RECALL AND REPAIR IS NEEDED.*TR

IT SEEMS AFTER 5 MINUTES OF INVESTIGATION THAT THERE IS THOUSANDS OF 1997 TO 2002 SUBARU OWNERS WHO ARE HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH OVER HEATING AND HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. SUBARU REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AN ISSUE OR DESIGN FLAW AND IS MAKING THE CUSTOMER BARE THE COST OF REPAIRING A FAULTY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. EVEN REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET DOES NOT INSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE DEALT WITH AND NO FURTHER TROUBLE WILL BE HAD. *TR

THE FUEL FILLER NECK ON THIS VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED (RUSTED PIPE, PLUS ASSOCIATED HOSES WERE ROTTED) AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR

POORLY DESIGNED GAS FILLER NECK/PIPE HAS CORRODED AND IS LEAKING GASOLINE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD WITH POTENTIALLY GRAVE CONSEQUENCES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DURING THE CRASH, THE CONTACT WAS FORCED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY HAD NO FINDINGS REGARDING THE CRASH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 39,000.

1 X OVERHEATED ON A HOT DAY, HEADING UP A HILL. NOTICED HIGH TEMP AND TURNED ON HEATER, WAITED FOR CAR TO COOL, ADDED H2O. 2 MONTHS LATER, DRIVING ON A HOT DAY WITH AC ON, SUDDEN CLICKING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, LOST POWER, SMOKE, STOPPED. TOWED TO GARAGE THAT SPECIALIZES IN SUBARU AND THEY FOUND HOLE IN HEAD GASKET. REPAIRS TO COST $3K AND THIS IS SOMETHING THEY SEE 2X A WEEK WITH SUBARU VEHICLES. FOUND A WEB SITE WHERE DOZENS OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ISSUE OVER THE YEARS. SUBARU APPARENTLY HAS A RECALL ON 1999-2002 VEHICLES, BUT NOT OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. SUBARU SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE PARTS ON THIS WIDESPREAD AND KNOWN ISSUE! *TR

MY 98 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK 2.5 LITER, 144K MILES WAS SPORADICALLY OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THROUGH A SNOW/RAIN STORM. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD GO UP, AND THE CABIN HEATER WOULD START PRODUCING COOL AIR. I PULLED OVER AND LET IT COOL DOWN, FILLED THE RADIATOR BACK UP WITH WATER (IT HAD OVERFLOWED) AND DROVE SLOWLY HOME. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HE SUGGESTED WHEN HEARING THE SYMPTOMS THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, AND THAT THIS SUBARU ENGINE WAS NOTORIOUS FOR THIS. HE EVEN SUGGESTED A CLASS ACTION SUIT. AFTER HE CHECKED IT OUT, IT WAS INDEED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. AFTER SOME WEB RESEARCH ON CAR FORUMS, I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. *NM