Saturday, August 8, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

1997 Subaru Legacy vs 1999 Subaru Legacy

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric1997 Subaru Legacy1999 Subaru Legacy
NHTSA complaints13994
Recall campaigns11
Service bulletins (TSBs)3839
Investigations10
Crash reports1818
Fire reports21
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)21–2421–22
Median reported incident mileage92,000 mi101,000 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentSubaru LegacySubaru Legacy
Engine and Engine Cooling3111
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2712
Power Train1718
Air Bags1011
Vehicle Speed Control912
Electrical System172
Suspension98
Fuel System, Gasoline75

Symptoms owners describe

Hesitation / surging911
Rust / corrosion90
Stalling56
Vibration / shaking50
Overheating50

Compare all Subaru Legacy vs Subaru Legacy years →

Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.