no report yet
Springs: coil springs
Risk. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.
1999 Subaru LegacyProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 94 owner complaints about the 1999 Subaru Legacy, most often about the power train. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 24, 2019. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1999 Subaru Legacy has problems
94 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
18Power train
12Vehicle speed control3 crash/fire/injury
12Service brakes, hydraulic4 crash/fire/injury
11Air bags11 crash/fire/injury
11Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
8Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
5Fuel system, gasoline
5Tires
4Structure
2413 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 18 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 3 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 12 | 4 |
| Air bags | 11 | 11 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 11 | 1 |
| Suspension | 8 | 1 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 5 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 1 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 24 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
1999 Subaru Legacy recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Foundation components: master cylinder
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Best & worst years
1999 vs. every other Legacy year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Legacy median. How we score
'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
1999 Subaru Legacy safety ratings
1999 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Legacy owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE LEFT LANE OF I-78, THE SHIFTER POPPED OUT OF 5TH GEAR BY ITSELF (THAT IS, WITHOUT ANY HUMAN INTERVENTION). THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY, AS IT WAS NOW IN NEUTRAL. *TR
HESITATION, SURGING, AND BUCKING AT MID-RANGE ENGINE RPMS. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRENT PROBLEM DESPITE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR X3. *TR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: HESITATES GOING INTO GEAR. GET STUCK IN NEUTRAL. SHIFT THROUGH THE GEARS TO SEE IF IT WILL GO INTO GEAR. THEN TRY REVVING ENGINE TO SLIP IT INTO GEAR. IT CAN SUDDENLY CATCH INTO GEAR AND THEN THE CAR SURGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.…
Own a 1999 Legacy?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.