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Research · Compact Cars

1997 Subaru LegacyRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 143 owner complaints for the 1997 Subaru Legacy. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (31) and service brakes, hydraulic (26). The EPA rates it 21–24 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
21–24mpg
EPA · 10 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Jun 2001
Owner complaints
143
Top: engine and engine cooling
Fuel cost / yr
$2,700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: coil springs

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported Jun 25, 2001NHTSA 01V216000

Electrical system: alternator

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported May 15, 2000NHTSA 00I002000

Suspension: hanger,bracket

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported May 4, 1998NHTSA 98V091000
See all 6 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

143 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 1996 – Nov 2020
  1. Engine and engine cooling31
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic26
  3. Electrical system17
  4. Power train17
  5. Air bags10
  6. Vehicle speed control9
  7. Suspension8
  8. Steering7
  9. Fuel system, gasoline7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Legacy model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996129
1997143
1998116
199997
200094
200180
200258
2005184
200687
200733
200865
200965
2010150
2011167
201290
201366
201453
2015160
2016147
2017119
2018117
2019123
2020121
202131
202234
202310
202417
20256
Crashes reported
18
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
8
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine and engine cooling

31 reports3 fires
“1997 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5 L ENGINE. 118,000 MILES. CHRONIC OVERHEATING. MANY DOLLARS SPENT ONLY TO FIND THAT THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BLOWING HEAD GASKETS. SURE ENOUGH, THAT'S THE TROUBLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 24, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10293403

Service brakes, hydraulic

26 reports6 crashes
“IN COLD WEATHER (ZERO OR BELOW), THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 1997 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN BECOMES HARD, AND WHEN I PUT IT ANY GEAR, FORWARD OR REVERSE, THE IDLE SPEED WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO MOVE AND THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THE CAR-I HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I HAVE LEARNED THAT PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE CAR IS AT IDLE IN N OR P WILL USUALLY HELP, AT -20 DEGREES, I HAVE TO LET THE CAR IDLE FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AND THEN TRY IT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT THAT THERE IS NO EASY FIX FOR THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY WINTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2001. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10226565

Electrical system

17 reports
“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 CAUSING MELTDOWN IN WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WHERE PIGTAIL FROM PUMP CONNECTS TO THE CHASSIS SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. HEAT/SPARK POTENTIAL IS CREATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO FUEL TANK THAT HAS MANY REPORTED CASES OF FUEL FILLER NECK RUSTING OFF AND LEAKING FUEL. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALS THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, WITH PHOTOS, HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE. PHOTO PROVIDED IS FROM INTERNET BUT THE RESULT IS THE SAME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 17, 2020Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11375007
All 1997 Legacy problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

10 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Midsize-Large Station Wagons
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Legacy
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$2,700370
Legacy Wagon
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$2,700370
Legacy AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
212823$2,800386
Legacy AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,800386
Legacy Wagon AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,800386
Legacy Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,800386
Legacy AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182421$3,050423
Legacy AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,050423
Legacy Wagon AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182421$3,050423
Legacy Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,050423
  • Legacy
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    21 city · 28 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Subaru Legacy as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 3763
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1997 Legacy questions

How many recalls does the 1997 Subaru Legacy have?

6 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1997 Subaru Legacy problems?

Owners filed 143 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (31), service brakes, hydraulic (26), electrical system (17). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1997 Subaru Legacy get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Subaru Legacy at 21–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (10 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026