Newest first. Many cover only part of a model year, so check your VIN with NHTSA or Subaru before booking a repair.
NHTSA · listed for this model year
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, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
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 NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
01V216000 · 180,000 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM THAT CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF CHARGING CAPABILITY.
IF THE ALTERNATOR FAILS, THE ALTERNATOR WARNING TELLTALE WILL ALERT THE DRIVER TO THE PROBLEM, GIVING AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK REPAIR BEFORE A LOSS OF BATTERY POWER, WHICH, IF THE WARNING WERE IGNORED, COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER (ENGINE STALL).
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR WITH A MODIFIED ALTERNATOR. OWNERS WILL ALSO BE CAUTIONED THAT, SHOULD THE ALTERNATOR TELLTALE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATE, THEY MUST SEEK IMMEDIATE REPAIR TO AVOID THE EVENTUAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL.
00I002000 · 223,520 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
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.
SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.
98V091000 · 29,442 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
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.
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
98V042000 · 19,386 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
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.
OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH A MISSING THROTTLE SHAFT BEARING CAN EVENTUALLLY LEAD TO AN INCOMPLETE RETURN OF THE THROTTLE VALVE RESULTING IN A HIGH IDLING CONDITION.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY IF THE BEARING IS MISSING.
98V035000 · 61,115 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE WITHIN THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH HOUSING CAN CAUSE A BINDING BETWEEN THE ACTUATING BUTTON AND THE HOUSING.
THE SWITCH COULD STICK IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION WHEN DEACTIVATING, RESULTING IN THE TURN SIGNALS BECOMING INOPERABLE.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED HAZARD WARNING SWITCH.
97V210000 · 19,730 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
Canadian records (Transport Canada) · 6
These are Transport Canada campaigns for 1997 Subaru Legacy vehicles sold in Canada. A Canadian campaign may have no US counterpart, or one under a different number covering different vehicles. For a vehicle sold in the United States, go by the NHTSA listing above and NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with front coil springs.The front coil springs were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive salt, can result in breakage of the spring. Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring. Correction: Dealers will notify 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.
2001183 · 12,569 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
Certain vehicle do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. Compliance label was not expressed in both official languages in regard to vehicle classification. Correction: No corrective action will be taken for existing vehicles. Correct compliance label will be affixed in current production vehicles.
2000069 · 46,003 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
A WELD FRACTURE MAY OCCUR ON THE HANGER BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINKS. THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET WITH SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CORRECTION: FRONT TRANSVERSE LINKS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.
1998107 · 1,866 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES ON THESE VEHICLES MAY FAIL DUE TO POOR WELDS WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY. THIS CAN RESULT IN STUCK IGNITION KEYS, BROKEN SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES AND IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF SHIFT LEVERS. CORRECTION: AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE FURNISHED BY A DIFFERENT SUPPLIER.
1998030 · 1,393 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
THE THROTTLE SHAFT BALL BEARING ON THE SENSOR SIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO INCOMPLETE RETURN OF THE THROTTLE VALVE AND CONSEQUENTLY A HIGH IDLING CONDITION. CORRECTION: THROTTLE BODY WILL BE INSPECTED AND IF THE BEARING IS MISSING, THE THROTTLE BODY WILL BE REPLACED.
1998029 · 3,364 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
THE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER BUTTON CAN BIND IN THE HOUSING CAUSING CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS, OR THEIR BEING TURNED OFF BUT THE TURN SIGNALS BECOMING INOPERABLE. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED HAZARD WARNING SWITCH.
1997200 · 1,360 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
1997 Subaru Legacy recall questions
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 1997 Subaru Legacy model year. That counts campaigns naming this model year, not recalls on your vehicle: many cover only a VIN range or production window. Transport Canada lists 6 Canadian campaigns for the Canadian-market model, shown separately.
Enter your VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup or Subaru's own, or call a Subaru dealer with your VIN. Cardog uses your VIN only to find the model year; the recalls shown here are listed for that model year and are not matched to your VIN.
Not necessarily. Transport Canada campaigns cover vehicles sold in Canada. For a vehicle sold in the United States, go by the NHTSA listing and NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Safety recall repairs are normally done at no charge by an authorized Subaru dealer. The manufacturer's notice for each campaign sets out the remedy and any conditions, so confirm with the dealer when you book.
Once Subaru's lookup or a dealer confirms a recall applies, book the repair with an authorized Subaru dealer and bring your VIN. If the manufacturer's notice says not to drive the vehicle or to park it outside, follow that instruction. Parts can take time, so book early.
Follow the manufacturer's notice for that recall. Most allow normal driving until the repair; some tell owners to stop driving or to park outside until it is fixed. Cardog does not grade recalls by severity: the manufacturer's notice and your dealer are the source.
Manufacturers must notify owners they have on record. If you bought the vehicle used or have moved, update your details with Subaru so notices reach you, and check NHTSA's lookup from time to time.
Related recall checks
Compare recall listings with alternatives to the 1997 Subaru Legacy.