2003 Subaru Legacy Problems & Complaints

Dealer has reported rear subframe if broken. I googled this and found recall 03v153000 which seems applicable but subaru says it does not apply to my car. Problem description seems identical.

The contact's daughter owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made squeaking sounds. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear lateral link had detached from the rear subframe, and that the rear strut was leaning against the rear driver's side tire. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the rear subframe was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V153000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle began to stall and then seized. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated a police officer assisted to push the vehicle out of the roadway. The contact stated he was able to restart the vehicle and drive to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated he and his daughter continued to experience the failure while driving the vehicle. The contact then took the vehicle to Fairway Subaru (2209 Laurens Rd, Greenville, SC 29607, (864) 242-5060) and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated he continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS THE FRONT BRAKES STALLED 4 TIMES ON THE HIGH WAY. I HAD TO PULL OVER, WAIT 20 MINUTES AND THE BRAKES ARE WORKING AGAIN. THE MECHANIC'S COMPUTER DOESN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

THE ELECTRICAL IN MY CAR SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES NOT WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS FOR NOTIFICATION OF BRAKE OR ANS GO OFF AND ON. MY HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY BLINK TOO.

BRAKE LINE AT REAR WHEEL CONNECTOR RUSTED THROUGH AND LITERALLY BROKE A HOLE THROUGH THE VERY RUSTED METAL WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH, BUT LUCKILY THIS WAS ON EMPTY ROAD AND IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST EFFECTIVENESS AND THE USABILITY IS NOW DANGEROUS, SO IT IS PARKED AT HOME, WHILE MY REGISTRATION, TAX AND INSPECTION LIVES ARE ONLY HALF USED.

DEADLY DEFECTIVE PASSENGER AIRBAG! AIR BAG RECALL. REPORTED ON LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL.

I HAVE AN AIRBAG RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE TO GET IT SERVICED. WHEN CALLING MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME I'D BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST AND THAT THEY ARE BOOKED OUT THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. IN THE NOTICE IT STATES THAT THIS COULD KILL ME OR MY PASSENGERS. WAITING TILL THE END OF THE YEAR DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS GUSTMAN SUBARU OF APPLETON WISCONSIN.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUDIBURG SUBARU (210 E INTERSTATE 240 SERVICE RD, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73149, (844) 629-1630) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT TAKATA AIR BAGS; THEREFORE, THEY DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD RETURN THE VEHICLE AND WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONTACT TO TOW THE VEHICLE BACK TO HIM. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO POSSIBLY REIMBURSE THE CONTACT FOR THE TOWING COST. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HE WAS GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND WAS OUT OF A VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBURBAN SUBARU (14 HARTFORD TURNPIKE, VERNON, CT 06066, 860-406-7281) WHERE THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS INSPECTED, BUT WAS NOT REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG ILLUMINATION WAS UNRELATED TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,800.

ARE THE DEALERS REQUIRED TO TURN IN THE OLD AIR BAGS THAT THEY REPLACE ON RECALL? AFTER THE DEALER "CHECKED" MY AIRBAG SERIAL NUMBER, WHICH TOOK ALL DAY, EVEN THOUGH ALL THEY HAD TO DO IS OPEN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND LOOK, THE DEALER HAD ME SIGN TWO IDENTICAL PIECES OF PAPER WITH LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ON THEM. THE PIECE OF PAPER I RECEIVED HAD ALL ZEROS FOR THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS, SINCE THE DEALER LIED TO ME ABOUT HAVING TO REMOVE THE DASHBOARD TO CHECK THE AIRBAG, I AM SUSPICIOUS. COULD THE DEALER USE THE PAPERS I SIGNED TO CLAIM TO HAVE REPLACED THE AIRBAG, BUT NOT DONE SO??? THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM GETTING CAUGHT WOULD BE VERY LOW. I KNOW THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REMOVED BECAUSE OF COBWEBS THAT WERE NOT DISTURBED BETWEEN THE DASH AND THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AFTER THEY CHECKED THE SERIAL NUMBER.

TAKATA RECALL. I AM ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY STATIONED OVERSEAS. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SUBARU AMERICA FOR OVER A YEAR AT THIS POINT TRYING TO GET MY AIRBAG REPLACED, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DELIVER ON THIS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CAR AROUND SINCE I WAS NOTIFIED IN SEPT 2016. I HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED BACK AND FORTH MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO DO ANYTHING OR FOLLOW THROUGH ON THEIR PROMISES AS WELL AS TREATED ME DISRESPECTFULLY ON THE PHONE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR WITHIN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LEAK OF FLUID LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ODOR WAS MORE STRINGENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE DIAL FOR THE AIR/HEAT WAS FRACTURED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,192.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SUBARU OF SONORA IN SONORA, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE AND WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE IN 90 DAYS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

THIS SYSTEM SAYS MY CAR IS 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. MY CAR IS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK AND HAS BEEN RECALLED AT LEAST ONCE. THE VIN AS ENTERED IS CORRECT.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V361000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER RESPONDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE AND STILL NO NEW AIRBAG, DEALERSHIP CAN'T TELL ME WHEN IT WILL BE FIXED. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V361000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

FOR AT LEAST 3 YRS NOW, WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING VERY STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN IN COLD WEATHER ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TEMP DROPS NEAR FREEZING POINT IN THE WINTER. THE FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN HAPPENED WHEN ENGINE WAS ON AND THE CAR WAS EITHER STATIONARY, IN MOTION OF ANY SPEED IN COLD WEATHER. WE DIDN'T NOTICE THE FUEL SMELL IN THE SUMMER OR IN WARM WEATHER MONTHS. THE FUEL SMELL WAS SO BAD THAT AT TIME WE HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS IN THE WINTER TO AIR IT OUT. OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT IT MIGHT CATCH ON FIRE AND COMPROMISE OUR SAFETY. SUBARU HAS RECALL NO. WVK-21 FOR 2002-2003 SUBARU WRX MODELS, BUT NOT FOR OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND MODEL YEARS. PLEASE SEE THAT SUBARU INVESTIGATES THE PROBLEM AND MAKES THE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS. MANY THANKS, ANDREW

FUMES ACCUMULATE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN DRIVING IN TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING. DEALER STATES 'DIDN'T SMELL ANY FUMES'. REPLACING EXHAUST SYSTEM DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.

CAR WILL LEAK GAS AS TEMPERATURES GO BELOW FREEZING. LEAK IS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLDER WEATHER, GASOLINE FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL STUDS BREAK OFF OVER THE YEARS AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE STUDS ON MY 2003 SUBARU LEGACY LAST SUMMER. THE LAST EVENT OCCURRED LAST SUMMER 2013. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT MY 400 MILE DESTINATION, I HAD ONLY ONE STUD HOLDING MY TIRE ON. EITHER THIS IS A HUGE METAL DEFECT WITH THE STUDS OR A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL EVENT AGAINST OUR FAMILY. I HAVE KEPT ALL RECORDS FROM VARIOUS GARAGES WHICH HAVE REPLACED THE STUDS OVER THE YEARS. *TR

SUBSEQUENT TO FILLING GAS TANK, GASOLINE WAS OBSERVED LEAKING FROM THE REAR UNDERCARRIAGE AREA, NEAR THE REAR WHEEL DRIVER'S SIDE. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TO 1 GALLON OF GAS WAS OBSERVED TO LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. A SLOW FUEL LEAK CONTINUES IN THE SAME AREA, AND A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT PERSISTS UNTIL THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES APPROXIMATELY 3/4 FULL. AT THIS POINT, NO LEAKAGE IS OBSERVED, AND A LIGHT SMELL OF GASOLINE PERSISTS. THIS REPRESENTS A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TT

BLOWN HEADGASKETS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

DRIVING S.IN RT LANE AT 60 MPH ON I-26, LSR EXIT, ON OVERPASS, CAR STARTED TO VEER LEFT. WHEN I CORRECTED TO RIGHT, CAR OVERCORRECTED WAY TOO MUCH, TRIED CORRECTING TO LEFT AND CAR OVERCORRECTED WAY TO MUCH AGAIN. IT STARTED GOING RIGHT AND LEFT AND SPUN IN CIRCLES (AS IF IT WERE ON ICE-IT WAS A WARM, SUNNY DAY) AND HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER ON THE LEFT..I BEGGED THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO LOOK UNDERNEATH BUT THE CAR WAS SO SMASHED DOWN IN FRONT THAT SHE COULDN'T GET UNDERNEATH TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. I CALLED AND AGAIN REQUESTED HER TO DO THIS WHEN THEY HAD IT ON A LIFT AT THE JUNKYARD, BUT I DOUBT THAT IT WAS DONE. IT WAS DEFINITELY MECHANICAL FAILURE. IT HAD NEW FRONT BRAKES RECENTLY INSTALLED BY THE DEALER AND A DRIVE SHAFT INSTALLED BY CUSTOM BRAKES A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AN OIL CHANGE AND SERVICE WAS DONE THE WEEK BEFORE. I HAD PRIOR TO THIS NO NOTICE OF IMPENDING FAILURE OF ANY KIND. FROM THE LOOKS OF THE CAR, IT WAS AMAZING THAT I WALKED AWAY. I HAVE PHOTOS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY. LAST YEAR THE CONTACT HAD THREE STUDS BREAK OFF ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND NOW THEY HAVE THREE THAT BROKE OFF ON THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE STUDS BREAKING OFF FROM THE WHEEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,009 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,407.

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *TR

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN ONE CAR CRASH ON A GRADED DIRT ROAD AT NIGHT; OVERCORRECTED TO THE LEFT AFTER RIGHT PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WENT SLIGHTLY INTO SHALLOW DITCH ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. EXTENSIVE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE, CRUSH TO RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, AND DISPLACEMENT OF CONSOLE TOWARD DRIVER SEAT BELT ANCHOR. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN THE DRIVERS FOREHEAD HITTING STEERING WHEEL WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (CONCUSSION) AND POSSIBLE LINEAR SKULL FRACTURE. SEAT BELT WAS WORN. (PICTURES OF POST-CRASH VEHICLE, DRIVER AND HEAD STRIKE-ZONE AVAILABLE). UPDATED 05/12 /11 *BF

TRAVELING WEST ON I90 NEAR MENTOR OHIO I ATTEMPTED TO STOP MY 2003 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON ON A SNOW COVERED PORTION OF THE ROAD. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 45 MPH. TRAFFIC STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. ALSO, THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE. FURTHER, UPON IMPACT WITH THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NOTICED THE SMELL OF COOLANT WHEN EXITING THE CAR AFTER DRIVING. I INVESTIGATED THIS AND FOUND A SMALL COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE LEFT CYLINDER HEAD. THE CAR IS A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY GT W/ THE 2.5L ENGINE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW,AND HAD THE FIRST FEW SERVICES PERFORMED @ THE DEALER PURCHASED,AND EVEN HAD A TRANS RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED THERE AS WELL.THE CAR HAD AROUND 65000 MI. ON IT WHEN THE LEAK WAS FIRST NOTICED BY ME NOT THE DEALERSHIP,EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS TOLD BY A SERVICE REP WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM ON IT. IT TOOK SEVERAL VISITS TO GET INFO FROM THEM ON THIS BECAUSE THEY "DIDNT WANT TO REVEAL TOO MUCH INFO" TO ME,THE CONSUMER.APPARENTLY IF SUBARUS COOLANT ADDITIVE WAS ADDED BEFORE 100,000 MI. AND DOCUMENTED @ A CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER,SUBARU WOULD COVER THE BILL FOR A NEW CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, IF NOT THEN IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. MY QUESTION IS IF THE ADDITIVE WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE HEAD GASKET TO SURVIVE BEING RUN THEN WHY WASNT IT ADDED AT THE FACTORY OR DEALER BEFORE SALE,AND WHOSE JOB WAS IT TO TELL THE CONSUMERS THAT IT NEEDED TO BE ADDED.THE BILL IS AROUND 1200$ AND FROM MY RESEARCH AND OBSERVATIONS OF VEHICLES W THE SAME MOTOR (I WORK IN THE AUTO BODY REPAIR BUSINESS) THIS HAPPENS TO MOST FAIRLY EARLY IN THE ENGINES LIFE.I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU THE MANUFACTURER,AND RESULT IN A TOTAL RECALL AND REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM.THEY HAVE ALREADY LOST ME AS A CUSTOMER, AND ACTUALLY THE LAST TIME I TRIED CONTACT W THEM THEYRE RESPONSE WAS "WE WILL REMOVE YOU FROM OUR CONTACT LIST". *TR

TIRE VALVE STEM FAILURE. *TR

BROKE TAILGATE WINDOW. GLASS SHOP INDICATED DEALER-ONLY ITEM. DEALER INDICATED NO REPLACEMENT WINDOWS EXISTED IN THE UNITED STATES. DEALER ALSO INDICATED THEY ALREADY HAD ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE IN THEIR SHOP THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN WAITING 3 WEEKS FOR A WINDOW, AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHEN ONE WOULD COME IN. VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AT TIME OF INCIDENT. FORCED TO GET USED TAILGATE/WINDOW FROM JUNKYARD. NO NEW REPLACEMENT WINDOWS EXISTED IN THE UNITED STATES, EVEN THOUGH THE WINDOW WAS THE SAME ON BOTH LEGACY WAGONS (LIKE MINE) AND OUTBACK WAGONS, AND WAS THE SAME FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS EVEN BUILT IN THE U.S. WINDOW ITSELF WAS NOT DEFECTIVE - PROBLEM WAS NO AVAILABLE REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TR

VEHICLE HAD COOLANT FLUSH IN DEC 2007 (39,924 MILES). COOLANT LEAKED AFTER THIS SERVICE. IN JAN 2008 (40,912 MILES) SUBARU DEALER PUT ADDITIVE IN COOLANT TO SEAL LEAK AND INDICATED MANUFACTURER EXTENDED DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY FOR THIS MODEL. IN DEC 08 COOLANT LEAKED. HEAD GASKET REPLACED 6 WEEKS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED (46,457 MILES). THERE WAS NO EXTENSION TO THE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY DESPITE BEING TOLD SUCH BY SERVICE ADVISOR (APPARENTLY THAT ENDED IN 2002). SUBARU DID PAY FOR ALL BY $500 OF WORK. SUBARU ALSO INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THE DRIVE TRAIN BELT FROM FAILING AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT AT MY COST. *TR

FUEL SMELL IN CAR WHEN TEMP, IS BELOW ~20 F. RECALL IN 2001 AND SERVICE BULLETIN IN WRX IN 2002-03. BUT NOT FOR THIS MODEL. SMELL IS OVERWHELMING AND FUEL LEAK IS VERY DANGEROUS. SOA SAYS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR THIS PART. CAR ALTHOUGH IT MATCHES SERVICE BULLETIN TO THE DOT. TAKING TO DEALERSHIP TOMORROW TO GET FUEL LINE CLAMPS LOOKED AT, POSSIBLY TIGHTENED. CAN'T DUPLICATE ISSUE UNLESS VERY COLD. *TR

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MY HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. WILL NEED TO REPAIR FOR $1,200-1,500. *TR

BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLOWN ON A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY WITH ABOUT 54,000 MILES AND REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER CAR JUST 6 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK. *TR

CAR HAS 78,000 MILES. DURING REG OIL CHANGE IT WAS DISCOVERED ;HAT MY HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL. IF NOT REPAIRED WILL CRACK MY HEADS. COST IS $2,2OO-$2,400. THIS SEEMS VERY PREMATURE FOR SUCH A SERIOUS, EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO BE NEEDED. OF COURSE WARRANTY RAN OUT @ 75,000 MILES. DIDN'T EXTEND WARRANTY BECAUSE IN THE PAST I HAVE FOUND THAT THEY NEVER COVER WHAT BREAKS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN; AND WHILE TRAVELING ON ROADS WITH SPEED LIMITS OF 45 MPH OR MORE, I HEAR SWISHES FROM THE 2 FRONT WINDOWS. THEY SOUND AS IF I HAVE THEM ROLLED DOWN JUST SLIGHTLY ENOUGH TO WHERE THIS CONSTANT, AND VERY ANNOYING, WHOOSHING IS HEARD. I TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY EVERYWHERE I GO, AND THIS SOUND INCREASES AS VELOCITY IS INCREASED. IT'S SO I'M CONSTANTLY CHECKING THE POWER BUTTONS TO MY WINDOWS TO SEE IF I HAVE THEM ROLLED UP ALL THE WAY. ONE DAY ME AND 3 OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS; RODE IN MY CAR TO SPEND THE AFTERNOON TOGETHER AND ONCE WE HIT THE HIGHWAY, THEY ALL COMMENTED ON THE ANNOYING NOISE. THEY EVEN ASKED IF MY WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP TIGHTLY. MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S SUPERLATIVE TO THE MUSIC COMING FROM MY RADIO. **TR

I OWN A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN. AS I PICK UP SPEED YOU CAN HEAR AN INCREASING WIND NOISE COMING FROM AROUND THE FRONT 2 WINDOWS. AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH AND ABOVE IT GETS REALLY BAD AND IT STARTS SOUNDING LIKE A REF BLOWING HIS WHISTLE. I TAKE MANY TRIPS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT GET REALLY BAD AND IT GETS WORSE IF THE WIND IS BLOWING. THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAD OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION HESITATING AND SHIFTING HARD UPON STARTING OFF IN DRIVE. OTHER THAN THESE 2 PROBLEMS IN IS A GREAT CAR. *NM

FOR THE SECOND TIME (SEE MY FIRST REPORT), MY 2003 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ENGINE STOPPED REVVING. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN "DRIVE" AND YOU ARE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN,FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE RPM'S INCREASE BY 200 TO 330 RPM'S AND THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD. THIS IS A CONSTANT ON-GOING PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO VERY CAREFUL WHEN PULLING INTO MY GARAGE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T RUN THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS "NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION". THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER DETERMINES WHAT THE RPM'S SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO THE ELECTRICAL DEMAND. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE EXPLANATION. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO LUNGE FORWARD. *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER IS NOT ACCURATE. I HAVE CHECKED IT WITH RADAR, GPS AND MULTIPLE MEASURED MILES WITH A STOP WATCH AND HAVE CONSISTENTLY CALCULATED AN 8-10% INACCURACY. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN THE CAR IS TRAVELING AT WHAT THE SPEEDOMETER READS AS 60 MPH, THE RADAR,GPS AND THE MEASURED MILE ALL INDICATE A SPEED OF 54-55 MPH. THE DEALER HAS NEVER TESTED MY VEHICLE OTHER THAN DRIVING IT NEXT TO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND COMPARING THE SPEEDS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT ACCURATE . I HAVE VOICED MY COMPLAINT NUMEROUS TIME TO THE DEALER AND TO THE FACTORY. THE FACTORY AUTHORIZED THE SPEED SENSORS TO BE CHANGED. NO CURE. THE PROBLEM REMAINS AND WORSENS AS THE TIRES WEAR AND THEIR DIAMETER BECOMES SMALLER. IF THE SPEEDOMETER IS INACCURATE THE ODOMETER COULD ALSO BE WRONG AND THIS WOULD MEAN THAT MY MILEAGE WOULD NOT BE AS GREAT AS IS INDICATED AND MY WARRANTY WOULD EXPIRE THAT MUCH SOONER. ALSO MY GAS MILEAGE WOULD BE LESS AND MY MAINTENANCE INTERVALS WOULD BE SOONER AND I NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT MY TRUE SPEED IS. THE FACTORY INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD ONLY ACCEPT DYNONMOMETER TEST AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DO THE TEST AT MY EXPENSE. THEY DO NOT HAVE SUCH A MACHINE AND WOULD NOT HELP ME ANY FURTHER. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER 2003 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK OWNERS AND MOST OF THEM INDICATED THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF THIS. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT 2003 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THE SPEEDOMETERS/ODOMETERS WERE ELECTRONIC. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT, BUT I'M VERY SURE THAT MYSELF AND OTHER SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS HAVE INACCURATE SPEEDOMETERS. HOPE YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS. *JB

2003 SUBARU OUTBACK DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE VEHICLE LUNGED WHILE IN MOTION WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING APPLIED, THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING, LACK OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION, AND ON OCCASION AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING, BRAKING, OR DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. *SC THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED.*JB

DT: SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE SUNROOF SHATTERED. THE SUNROOF WAS OPEN AND LOUDLY CRACKED AS IF IN AN EXPLOSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSISTED A ROCK MUST HAVE STRUCK VEHICLE. AFTER INSISTING THIS WAS NOT SO OWNER AGREED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. CURRENTLY, A YEAR AND A HALF LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT ANY FOREIGN OBJECT STRIKING THE SUNROOF, AND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY KIND. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT NOTICE AND WAS CLOSED WHEN THE CRACK WAS DISCOVERED. VEHICLE CURRENTLY AWAITING REPAIRS. CONSUMER FELT THIS SUN ROOF WAS DEFECTIVE WITH SOME SORT OF UNDUE STRESS. *AK

SERVICE WAS DONE AT 60,000 KILOMETERS AND BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH IN MY OPINON WAS PREMATURE ON A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED JETTAS AND HONDAS WHICH HAVE GONE 5 YEARS AND 125,000 KILOMETERS WITHOUT ANY MAJOR BRAKE WORK REQUIRED.

2003 SUBARU LEGACY IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. *MR COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE DESIGN. THE ALUMINUM BLOCK AND HEAD DID NOT CONTRACT TOGETHER CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

NOTICED PINGING NOISE FROM ENGINE. SUBARU REPLACED BLOCK. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, HAD PINGING NOISE AGAIN, AND CAR WAS STALLING AFTER COLD NIGHT, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. SUBARU SAID THEY DIDN'T NOTICE ANY PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE A FEELING I'LL BE GETTING ANOTHER BLOCK IN A YEAR OR SO.*AK

WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK THAT STARTS ON THE PASSENGER EDGE MIDWAY UP THE WINDSHIELD AND GOES IN TOWARD THE CENTER TOWARD THE REARVIEW MIRROR. NORMALLY I WOULD JUST THINK THIS WAS DUE TO A ROCK CHIP, HOWEVER I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE VEHICLES (SAME YEAR/MODEL) WITH THE EXACT SAME CRACK.*AK

WHEN ACCELERATING AT ANY SPEED HESITATES FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION OVER TIME. *NM

2003 SUBARU LEGACY, PURCHASED IN JULY, 2003, WITH FOUR FIRESTONE P20555R16 TIRES (POTENZA RE 92, M+S). LEFT FRONT TIRE BLOW-OUT @ 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE WHILE PASSING A SEMI, WITH VEHICLES BEHIND ON BOTH SIDES. AWD SYSTEM ENABLED ME TO SAFELY MOVE INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND OFF THE ROAD. TIRE FULLY EXPLODED, WITH ONLY RIM LEFT. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, TIRE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE TREAD WAS NOT WORN (22,000 MILES), BASED ON CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENT OF TIRE COMPARED TO SPARE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAME CIRCUMFERENCE. IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING, I NEVER EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD FIRESTONE TIRES ON A CAR. THE AUTO DEALER INFORMED US, AS WELL, THAT ALL 4 TIRES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE AWD SYSTEM, AND NONE WOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE NEW TIRES WITH LITTLE TREAD LOSS. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, ENGINE SURGING WHILE IN GEAR. *JB

THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. SUDDENLY I HAD NOTHING, NO POWER TO DO ANYTHING. THEN THE TRANSMISSION FROZE AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREEWAY OFF RAMP. I GOT OUT AND MOTIONED PEOPLE AROUND ME. I TOOK A DEEP BREATH. THE CAR EVENTUALLY UNFROZE AND AFTER SEVERAL TRIES STARTED UP LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL OVER. I TOOK ANOTHER DEEP BREATH, PULLED TOWARDS THE PARKING AREA BUT THE CAR DIED BEFORE I PULLED IN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES PARKED, IT STARTED UP WEAKLY AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT GOING. SO I DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE (THINKING IT WAS SOMETHING ODD AND WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN) AND PULLED BACK INTO TRAFFIC. IT STALLED JUST BEFORE I MERGED INTO 70 MILE AN HOUR TRAFFIC. I FELT ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES, GOT IT TO START AGAIN AND BACKED UP TO A SAFER PLACE, TREMBLING SO HARD I COULD HARDLY DRIVE. *LA

THE CAR HESITATED STARTING UP, BUT DROVE OK TO POST OFFICE ( 5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE). WHEN LEAVING THE POST OFFICE, THE CAR STALLS. IT THEN STARTED UP, AND THEN STALLED AGAIN AS IT ENTERED THE HIGHWAY. HAD TO PHYSICALLY GET OUT OF THE CAR, UNSCREW THE GAS CAP AND START CAR IN TRAFFIC. IT DIED 500 FEET LATER. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD , WHERE I UNSCREWED THE GAS CAP AND WAITED FOR 5 MINUTES. I GOT THE CAR TO START LONG ENOUGH TO PULL INTO THE NEAREST STORE PARKING LOT. IT STALLED AGAIN. CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL. WENT INTO STORE AND SHOPPED. CAME OUT AND UNSCREWED GAS CAP. CAR STARTED , THEN STALLED. REPEATED THIS THREE TIMES UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY RAN. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 7 MILES AND PARK THE CAR AT MY OFFICE. IT NEVER STARTED UP AGAIN. *LA

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN MVA THAT PROBABLY TOTALED MY 2003 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON(NO OFFICIAL WORD FROM ADJUSTER YET). HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER(BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL.3). HIT BY AN '83 CHEVY CITATION WITH NO FRONT BUMPER. HE WAS GOING 40-45 MPH, I WAS BRAKING MADLY FROM 42 MPH. SUBARU SAYS SENSORS ARE MOUNTED ON BUMPER, BUT EVEN SO, WHAT ABOUT SUVS AND TRUCKS. I WAS VERY LUCKY AND WALKED AWAY WITH MINIMAL INJURIES, BUT THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE ELSE. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT ASAP. *JB+

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE WHILE BREAKING. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPEND FIVE TIMES SINCE NEW CAR PURCHASE ON APRIL 29, 2003. CAR TOWED TWICE. IN LAST INCIDENT UPON APPROCHING TRAFFIC LIGHT, BUSY INTERSECTION, CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AS I TRIED TO COME TO A STOP. ROLLED UP OFF ROAD AND HIT SIGN TO AVOID DRIVER IN FRONT. *NLM

WHEN THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER BROKE THE TRANSMISSION PAN BOLT, WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK OUT, CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE INTERNAL DAMAGE.*JB

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BEAD BROKE RELEASING ALL AIR FROM TIRE. CAUSE OF THE BEAD BREAKING IS UNKWOWN. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH RIMS ON VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER.