RecallMyCar

1997 Subaru Legacy Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1997 Subaru Legacy, and owners have filed 139 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
139
owner complaints to NHTSA
18 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
21–24
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 1997 Subaru Legacy

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Coil springs (suspension)

    NHTSA 01V216000 Reported 180,000 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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,…

    Remedy: 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…

  2. Hanger, bracket (suspension)

    NHTSA 98V091000 Reported 29,442 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger station wagon, sedan and sport utility vehicles. Due to improper welding, fractures can occur on the support bracket of the front transverse link.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace if necessary the front suspension support brackets.

  3. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 98V035000 Reported 61,115 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The throttle shaft ball bearing on the sensor side of the throttle body assembly was not installed in certain throttle bodies.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the throttle body and replace the throttle assembly if the bearing is missing.

  4. Gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 98V042000 Reported 19,386 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Due to poor welds, ignition keys can stick, shift levers/linkages can break and shift levers can move.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission shift lever assemblies (except the handle grip).

  5. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 97V210000 Reported 19,730 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Insufficient clearance within the hazard warning light switch housing can cause a binding between the actuating button and the housing.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a modified hazard warning switch.

139 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Subaru Legacy have filed 139 complaints with NHTSA; 18 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 108,154 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 27 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Car was sometimes difficult to start, other times it would stall/hesitate when in motion on city street. Discovered to be caused by aged/worn fuel pump causing overcurrent draw that fails to blow fuse”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 17, 2020 · Electrical system

“1997 subaru legacy outback. Came out to my parked vehicle with the right front tire flat due to part of the suspension spring being snapped and sticking into inside of the tire. Spring was intact when”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 6, 2017 · Steering

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Subaru Legacy/Outback (Legacy, Legacy AWD, Legacy Wagon, Legacy Wagon AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined21–24 mpg
City / Highway18–21 / 24–29
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars, Midsize-Large Station Wagons
Engine4 cyl, 2.2/2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Subaru Legacy model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Legacy model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1987 Subaru Legacy01
1988 Subaru Legacy01
1989 Subaru Legacy01
1990 Subaru Legacy481
1991 Subaru Legacy378
1992 Subaru Legacy255
1993 Subaru Legacy177
1994 Subaru Legacy060
1995 Subaru Legacy2182
1996 Subaru Legacy3123
1997 Subaru Legacy5139
1998 Subaru Legacy4114
1999 Subaru Legacy394
2000 Subaru Legacy394
2001 Subaru Legacy777
2002 Subaru Legacy454
2003 Subaru Legacy1460
2004 Subaru Legacy1049
2005 Subaru Legacy9184
2006 Subaru Legacy787
2007 Subaru Legacy933
2008 Subaru Legacy965
2009 Subaru Legacy1365
2010 Subaru Legacy18150
2011 Subaru Legacy16167
2012 Subaru Legacy1690
2013 Subaru Legacy1266
2014 Subaru Legacy1053
2015 Subaru Legacy3160
2016 Subaru Legacy3147
2017 Subaru Legacy2119
2018 Subaru Legacy3117
2019 Subaru Legacy3123
2020 Subaru Legacy6121
2021 Subaru Legacy331
2022 Subaru Legacy234
2023 Subaru Legacy210
2024 Subaru Legacy017
2025 Subaru Legacy06

Checking a specific 1997 Subaru Legacy

How do I know if my 1997 Subaru Legacy has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1997 Subaru Legacy; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 01V216000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.