1997 Subaru Legacy problems

“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”

“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”

“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.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN PARK. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO LUBRICATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE THE SHIFT LOCK MODULE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000. UPDATED 06/10/14 MA THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/23/14”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH MEANS THAT SHE COULD EXPERIENCE SPORADIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT OR IMPROPER DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.”

“1997 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH VEHICLES HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAST IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. THE CONSUMER DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECTIFIED. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T STATE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *JB”