1999 Subaru Legacy problems
Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Subaru Legacy. Brakes is the most reported problem area, at 13% of complaints. After that come engine (11%) and cruise control (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 119 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 28 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 101,000 miles 34 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 5 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 34 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 101,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 28 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 15 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 91% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 14th most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Subaru Legacy with enough data (70 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While son was driving traveling at approximately 35 MPH, consumer went to apply brakes so as to negotiate a 90 degree turn, and brake pedal went to the floor, and failed to engage brake system. Vehicle went straight into a concrete wall . Driver and a passenger were injured. Please provide any additional information/attachments. *state farm insurance was investigating this case.
On 3/12/99 @ 0330 said vehicle was eastbound on I-70 and 3rd in topeka, kansas. The vehicle hit a patch of black ice and swerved out of control impacting the k-rail divider wall on the driver side front @ 55 MPH. The inertia generated by the force of the impact then caused the vehicle to slingshot back across the interstate and impact w/ the overpass wall on the passenger side front @ 45 MPH. The SRS airbags did not deploy.
While driving in snowy and cold conditions braking system malfunctioned at low speed, causing brake pedal to go to the floor and had no braking ability. This resulted in a crash. There is recall #99v040000, dealing with the braking system, but this vehicle was not included due to VIN. Recall 99v040, brake master cylinder. Please provide further information
Wife coming home from work spring blew and went through tire came to a sudden stop had it fixed when being fixed repair shop said other side was broke to so had both repaired later found subaru had a recall on this so called them on the 1800 number they said it was VIN spec and ours wasn't on there I wish it met that our car wouldn't have done the same thing.
The speedometer and odometer started working intermittently about one month ago. The dealer says the speedometer will have to be replaced at a cost of approximately $330+ (parts and labor). The vehicle is only 4 years old with less than 60,000 miles. Several other consumers submitted identical complaints. *nlm