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Research · Compact Cars

1999 Subaru LegacyRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 97 owner complaints for the 1999 Subaru Legacy. Most complaints involve power train (20) and service brakes, hydraulic (13). The EPA rates it 21–22 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
21–22mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jun 2001
Owner complaints
97
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 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

Service brakes

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Mar 3, 1999NHTSA 99V040000

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jun 8, 1998NHTSA 98V127000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

97 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 1998 – Sep 2019
  1. Power train20
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic13
  3. Vehicle speed control12
  4. Air bags11
  5. Engine and engine cooling11
  6. Suspension8
  7. Fuel system, gasoline5
  8. Tires5
  9. Structure4

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
1
Injuries reported
12
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

20 reports
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2014Power trainODI 10616335

Service brakes, hydraulic

13 reports4 crashes
“I HAVE A 1999 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON WITH 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES AND 15 INCH WHEELS. EVERY TIME THE FRONT DISK PADS ARE REPLACED, THE MECHANIC GETS THE PADS FOR 15 INCH WHEELS THE ARE INSTALLED AND THE CAR WILL NOT STOP. WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED IS THAT THE FRONT TAKE THE DISK PADS FOR 14 INCH WHEELS AND THE REAR TAKE THE DISK PADS FOR 15 INCH WHEELS. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2003Service brakes, hydraulic, EquipmentODI 10026024

Vehicle speed control

12 reports3 crashes
“STARTED NOTICING A PROBLEM WHEN COMING DOWN A LONG, STEEP HILL WITH EXTENSIVE SHUDDERING WHEN BRAKING. WHEN I GOT INTO TOWN, THERE WAS A EVEN MORE SHUDDERING WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I HAD TO PULL ON THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. WHEN WE STARTED UP AGAIN, IT PULLED VERY HARD SO WE PULLED OVER AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RACED UP ABOVE 4,000 RPM. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, BUT WHEN IT WAS STARTED AGAIN, IT RACED AGAIN. I EASED IT SAFELY HOME A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY WITH THE UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION PROBLEM CONTINUING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 27, 2014Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10668510
All 1999 Legacy problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
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 27, 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 AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202622$2,900404
Legacy AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,900404
Legacy Wagon AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,900404
Legacy Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,900404
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
182421$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
182421$3,050423
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 26 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    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 · 24 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 · 24 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 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 1999 Subaru Legacy as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 3940
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

1999 Legacy questions

How many recalls does the 1999 Subaru Legacy have?

3 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 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 1999 Subaru Legacy problems?

Owners filed 97 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (20), service brakes, hydraulic (13), vehicle speed control (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1999 Subaru Legacy get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Subaru Legacy at 21–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026