1997 SUBARU LEGACY Electrical System Problems

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.

Mileage: 97,255

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY WAS JUMP STARTED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY TERMINAL DUE TO SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 02/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BATTERY CORROSION DESTROYED THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL. UPDATED 03/08/12

Mileage: 75,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY WAS JUMP STARTED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY TERMINAL DUE TO SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 02/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BATTERY CORROSION DESTROYED THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL. UPDATED 03/08/12

Mileage: 75,000

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REOCCURING ALTERNATOR FAILURES, AS A RESULT OF THE ALTERNATOR FAILING THE HARNESS WIRES HAVE MELTED AND BURNED, ALSO THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACE.*NLM

HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT DIFFICULTY WITH STARTING VEHICLE BETWEEN 03/2002 & 05/2002. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE ON COOL MORNING AND OCCASIONAL AFTERNOONS, IT DOESN'T START. THE RADIO, GAUGES FUNCTION BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T ENGAGE. THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND AND A PARTIAL TURNING OF THE ENGINE. AFTER 4-8 ATTEMPTS, VEHICLE STARTS AND FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE LOCAL SERVICE CENTER WHEN PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPEAT IT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO CONTACTED LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND CENTER OFFERED TO REPEAT EXAM. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IN SERVICE CENTER'S POSSESSION BUT PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED FOR THEM. UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE VEHICLE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ANNOYING SITUATION WHEN ONE HAS TO RELY ON PRIVATE AUTO FOR TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL AND WORK.*AK

CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE, AND IT WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND A PINCHED WIRE IN WIRING HARNESS. WIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 2200.00 . CONSUMER FELT SUBARU WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. *AK

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATED SEATS (LIGHT WHICH ILLUMINATES SWITCH HASN'T WORKED IN MONTHS, AND SEATS APPEAR TO REMAIN ON EVEN WHEN SWITCHED OFF), CONSOLE LIGHTS (CLIMATE CONTROL LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED AT NIGHT) & FUEL GAGE (STOPPED WORKING, HAD TO RESART THE VEHICLE TO GET IT FUNCTIONING AGAIN).

ALTERNATORS ON 1995 & 1996 MODELS WERE RECALLED, 1997 MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY NO RECALL?

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON - CAR DROVE WITHOUT INCIDENT - LIGHT WENT OUT- LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN, AND CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND MAKE KNOCKING SOUNDS. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND WIRING DEFECTIVE. *AK

BATTERY EXPLODED AND DAMAGED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE ALL POWER. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. MANUFACTURER DENIES PROBLEM. *AK *ML

ALTERNATOR BELT SNAPPED, CAUSING BATTERY AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON AND HARD TO STEER.

REPLACED THREE ALTERNATORS,HAZARD SWITCH SHORTED DRAINING BATTERY.

COMPUTER FAILED FOUR TIMES, RESULTING IN TWO ACCIDENTS.

COMPUTER MALFUNCITION ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, LAST INCIDENT RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF ABS AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

IGNITOR FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

IGNITER FAILED, CAUSING UNBURNED GASOLINE TO FLOW INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK