1997 Subaru Legacy Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1997 Subaru Legacy.

19961998
Complaints
179
Crashes
22
Fires
2
Injuries
10
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 1997 Subaru Legacy Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#114 complaints

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Crash-related:6
#210 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Avg mileage:132,874 mi
Fires:1
#310 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Subaru Legacy.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
14
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
132,874
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
225,812
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
126,581
Automatic Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
113,000
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
64,941
Air Bags:Frontal
5
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
139,644
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
105,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Subaru Legacy. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Subaru Legacy Years

198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

1997 Subaru Legacy — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1997 Subaru Legacy reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1997 Subaru Legacy has 179 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Subaru Legacy?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (14 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (10 complaints, avg 132,874 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (10 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Subaru Legacy?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 133,974 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Subaru Legacy include 22 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Subaru Legacy as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Subaru Legacy?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Subaru Legacy reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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