1997 SUBARU LEGACY Power Train Problems

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

Mileage: 75,000

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN THE PARK POSITION, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS IN ANY DIRECTION. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. *AK THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO POOR GROUND TO THE SHIFTER SOLENOID. THIS WOULD NOT ACUATE TO ALLOW THE SHIFTER IN GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MAKE/MODEL. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 113,000

VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT DURING A PERIOD OF TIME AND MECHANIC FOUND SEVERAL PROBLEMS. RADIATOR AND HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE MOTOR, AND THE AXLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD GONE BAD. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON A STEEP HILL GEAR WILL MOVE TO ANOTHER GEAR AS IF VEHICLE IS COASTING. *AK ENGINE DOES NOT HOLD CAR WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS OR STOPPING, HAD TO DECEND A STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD USING ONLY BRAKES, WHEN SLOWING VEHICLE ACTS IF THOUGH IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN IN 0,3,2,1. NEW TRANSMISSION COST $3000. *MJ

OIL LEAK FROM CRANK CASE SEAL DRIPS BACK ONTO EXHUST MANAFOLD DURING NORMAL DRIVING. ONCE CAR HAS STOPPED AND IS AT IDLE THE OIL BURNS OFF THE MANAFOLD AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE POUR FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE CAR. IF VENTILATION SYSTEM LEFT ON THEN SMOKE ENTERS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NUMBER 2: THE CAR SHUDDERS WHEN TURNS LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS (5MPH). NUMBER 3: THE METAL GUIDES FOR THE SIDE WINDOW (DRIVERS SIDE) HAVE SCRATCHED THE GLASS AND IT CAN'T BE REPAIRED MUST REPLACE. NUMBER 4: CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER OR MISS AFTER 61000 MILES. IT OCCURS ONLY AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS UP.

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. MALFUNCTION COULD POSSIBLY BE OCCURRING WITHIN SPEEDODMETER. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FOUND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN.*SLC

CRANK SEAL LEAK IS A FIRE RISK. OIL DRIPS ALONG OIL PAN AND ONTO Y SECTION OF EXHAUST WHERE IT BURNS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARUS WITH 50K MILES. ALTHOUGH TORQUE CONVERTER BIND IS NOT DIRECTLY A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS TOO COMMON AMONG SUBARUS WITH > 50K MILES.

SPONTANEOUSLY TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AT 19,000 58,000 AND AT 65,000 MILES, BUT IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE DEFECT, AND REFUSES TO FIX DEFECT.*AK

THE SCRATCH ON THE GLASS IS ON BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD IT IS FROM THE INNER DOOR METAL RUBBING AGAINST THE GLASS WHEN WINDOWS GO UP AND OR DOWN. THE MARK ON THE GLASS IS ABOUT AND INCH WIDE AND DEEP ENOUGH THAT IT WILL NOT COME OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE LOT. THE CAUSE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER WAS THAT THE CAM BELT SLIPPED OFF BY ONE TOOTH. THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO ABNORMAL WEAR AND CONSIDERING THE LOW 53,000 MILES - THIS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE DONE. CAR WHEN COLD IDLES ROUGH, HEAT SHEILD RATTLES, DASH LIGHTS IN CENTER CONSOLE NOT WORKING, EXTREAM CORROSION UNDER CAR EFFECTING SUSPENSION AND MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT.

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, STANDARD TRANSMISSION DROPS OUT FIRST GEAR,SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL.

TRANSMISSION SURGES AT 250-500 RPM WHEN COLD.

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN JULY FOR FRONT TRANFER CASE LINK. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND ARE ON BACK ORDER. RECALL # 98V091000. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND GRINDS INTO 2ND GEAR.

MY DEALER HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AND DID THE THROTTLE BODY RECALL CHECK WHICH TURNED UP NEGATIVE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHENEVER GOING DOWN A HILL. *AK

VEHICLE GOING DOWN HILL IN AST GEAR; WOULD POP OUT OF 1ST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL & TAKE OFF/ACCELERATE; WOULD LOSE CONTROL UNTIL SHIFTED INTO 1ST. HAPPENS INTERMITTENLY. DEALER SAYS CAN NOT FIX BECAUSE CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK