1996 SUBARU LEGACY Complaints

SUBARU LEGACY HAS HAD A WIDELY REPORTED HISTORY OF A HESITATION OR HIGHSPEED MISS. IN THE CASE OF THIS VEHICLE, IT WAS RETURNED FOR SERVICE FIVE TIMES WITH THE #1 VALVE GUIDE REPLACED TWICE. IN 2000, SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN CATONSVILLE MD. IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM FROM COMPRESSION TEST AS A "MISCAST CYLINDER HEAD" AND REPLACED ON WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT ADDRESSED FOR FOUR YEARS, AND WE WONDER IF SUBARU KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM IN CASTING CYLINDER HEADS AND HAS NOT CONDUCTED A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THE CARGUYS ON PBS HAVE HAD FOUR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OVER THE LAST YEAR REGARDING SUBARU LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES WHICH SOUND SIMILAR IN COMPLAINT TO THIS VEHICLE. THE SYMPTOMS ARE A HIGH SPEED MISFIRE ON A CYLINDER (60 MPH) AND SUBSEQUENT SETTING OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER INFORMED US THAT SUBARUS ARE KNOWN FOR "BAD VALVES". IF THERE IS A KNOWN CASTING PROBLEM IN THE CYLINDER HEADS, THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

MY WIFE HAD RIGHTT FRONT TIRE BLOWOUT @ 65 MILES AN HR. I HAD THESE TIRES REPACED YESTERDAY 9-13-2000 . I WAS AFRAID FOR HER TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THESE TIRES ON IT . THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED PER THE MANUFACTURES SPECS. THE LT REAR TIRE HAS A BROKEN BELT AND ITS A SHAME I SPENT MY GOOD MONEY FOR SUCH POOR TIRES WITH SUCH A RICH PRICE TAG,THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN THE BEST ON THE MARKET .*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185-70-14 )

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL TURNED VEHICLE INTO A SPIN, CAUSING A COLLISION. *AK

CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME TO PREVENT CRASH. RAINING. CAR IN FRONT STOPPED. OUR CAR GOING ABOUT 25MPH. BRAKED AT ABOUT 25 YARDS FROM OTHER VEHICLE; CRASH OCCURED. IS THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT A VEHICLE STOPPED WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE AT A GIVEN SPEED IF PROPERLY BRAKED? THANK YOU. JONAS MORRIS

THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER FAILED SOMETIME IN MAY 2000 (5/15/2000 & 82,200 MILES ARE ESTIMATES). THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CONDENSER HAS FAILED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE ORIGINAL REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS IDENTIFIED THE SPOT OF FAILURE AS MATCHING THAT IDENTIFIED BY MY MECHANIC (NOT A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC). NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR SUBARU OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE CONSIDERS THIS A DEFECTIVE PART AND HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE OR EVEN PROVIDE ME THE PART UNLESS I PAY FOR IT SINCE THE PREVIOUS CONDENSER REPLACEMENT WAS MORE THAN 1 YEAR AGO. I CONTEND THAT THE CONDENSER IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME. HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THEIR POSITION ON THE MATTER, I WILL HAVE IT REPLACED AND WILL ATTEMPT TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT UNLESS I AM CONTACTED BY JUNE 28, 2000 BY SUBARU INDICATING THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE CONDENSER OR AT LEAST JUST PROVIDE THE PART AT NO COST TO ME. *AK

A FUSE HAD BLOWN OUT FIVE TIMES, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL . ALSO, AFFECTING WINDOWS AND FAN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED HOOD FLEW UP, BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW. DEALER AND SUBBARU HAS BEEN NOTIVIED. *AK .*ET

WHEN CHANGING LANE, CAR MALFUNCTIONED. CAR LURCHED TO RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN FISHTAILED ACROSS 3 LANES OF SUPERHIGHWAY. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. CAR UNRESPONSIVE TO DRIVER'S COMMANDS. FISHTAILED ACROSS 3 LANES. ABS BRAKES APPLIED APPROPRIATELY ... CAR SKIDDED DIAGONALLY. CAR SKIDDED INTO BACK OF AN SUV THEN INTO AXLE OF 18-WHEELER. CAR TOTALLED. DESTRUCTION OF LEFT FRONT END, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL, WINDSHIELD, DRIVERS WINDOW, DASH, STEERING COLUMN. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MIRROR FLEW INTO DRIVER'S HEAD. SEAT PUSHED BACK AND BENT.*AK

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP ABOUT 5 MPH, CONSUMER BUMPED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK